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Catholic Theology, 2008.
A discussion of the central points in Catholic theology.
1,185 words (approx. 4.7 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 40.95
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Abstract
This paper provides an overview of some of the main precepts in Catholic theology. It begins by discussing the relationship between God and man. It then addresses the gravity of committing sins against God. Next, the paper discusses the incarnation of Jesus Christ and the importance for Christians to be prepared to receive Christ as their savior. Finally, the paper concludes by addressing the issue of Christian atonement and reconciliation with God.
Outline:
God and Man
Sin
The Preparation for Christ
The Incarnation
The Atonement
From the Paper
"There are different types of sin but the sin against God is a sin that breaks the bond between God and man. Sinning against God will cause us to fall from grace and lose our eternal life and salvation. We mean by sin whatever is contrary to God's holy will, and we cannot think that God is the source of what is contrary to his own will. We find the root of sin in the misuse by man of the free will that is his noblest power, and we cannot think that it is God who has disposed us to turn his own best gift against him. But Christ came into the world to save sinners, and to save them out of the midst of their sin; and this can be expressed even in such a statement as the following: 'our fellowship with God rests for us on the basis not of holiness but of sin. It is important to live away from sin and strive for holiness, which Pomazansky defines as: "Holiness consists not only in the absence of evil or sin: holiness is the presence of higher spiritual values, joined to purity from sin. Holiness is like the light, and the holiness of God is like the purest light. God is the "one alone holy" by nature."
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The Life, Events, and Beliefs of Mohammad, 2008.
A discussion of Mohammad's life and beliefs.
2,030 words (approx. 8.1 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 64.95
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Abstract
This paper is a biographical overview of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. It begins with his birth, family and upbringing as a sheepherder. It covers his calling as a spiritual leader, his struggle against the dominant society, and the roots of the religion he founded. Finally, the paper criticizes some of the recent reinterpretations of Muhammad's teachings used to justify militant political motivations, such as in the case of Ayatollah Khomeini and Osama bin Laden.
From the Paper
"In time, Muhammad had developed a reputation for "honesty and trustworthiness" (Emerick 186) and moreover, he never developed a taste for "idol worship," which many during that time believed in. On pages 270-271, Emerick takes readers through Muhammad's early life, pointing out that his grandfather died a couple years after Muhammad's mother had died, and at that point he was given over to his grandfather's son Abu Talib. The young Muhammad thus had been orphaned three times by the time he was 10 years old (Emerick 271). And as was noted, Muhammad was raised a sheepherder; other boys his age grew up drinking, fighting, and paying visits to prostitutes."
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Life after Death, 2008.
Looks at various documentations of life after death.
1,245 words (approx. 5.0 pages), 5 sources, APA, $ 42.95
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Abstract
This paper explores the existence of life after death. One of the primary sources is Raymond Moody's book "Life after Life", which describes people who have Near Death Experiences (NDE's) and have survived to tell about them. The author relates that, for centuries, many individuals have experienced spiritual events throughout their lives. The paper relates that, for most religious people, including the author, the Bible and other scriptures are the final word on what they believe.
From the Paper
"Moody became known as the de facto expert on NDE's and his subsequent writings on the subject were greatly anticipated. One of his next books seemed to totally denigrate his earlier efforts and musings on life after life. One critic wrote, "By reducing the NDEs experience to a big joke, Moody in effect retracts the significance of the book that made him wealthy and gets the last laugh on the reader who buys his latest book expecting to see a serious philosophical analysis of NDEs." Does this mean that Moody completely changed his own viewpoint on life after death?'
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Women and Christianity, 2008.
This paper discusses the role of women within the Christian religion.
2,000 words (approx. 8.0 pages), 6 sources, APA, $ 63.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that Christianity developed, around the 1st century AD as a sect of Judaism, a faith that set women apart through the development of strict laws about gender roles. The writer maintains that these gender roles determined a subset of standards that were in many ways exclusionary of women. Though the faith spoke of the equality of men and women the woman's vocation as the mother limited in many ways her involvement in the faith and separated her from her male partner to some degree as women have inextricable different religious duties and life roles. The writer concludes that history gives proof to the idea that Christianity and the exclusion of women was an act of man, not of true doctrine or even the nature of the faith.
From the Paper
"The value of this stand is eternal, as it is clear that in a patriarchal society, and in a patriarchal faith, such as Christianity the foundations could still be solid but must be weeded out from the traditional values that deem women inferior and even moronic through the lack of her voice at their inception.
"Christianity, today has answered this call to varying degrees in different schools of the faith and in at least some areas has asked that women be allowed to give to the faith a perception that is more reflective of the modern role of women. Though there are still many "Christian" faiths that exclude women from the most revered roles of the tradition, such as the priesthood there are many more that have challenged this stricture either through allowance of women into the priesthood or by the establishment of an "equal" role through practical rather than dogmatic demonstrations. Rodgers points out that the allowance of women into the priesthood is still an exception rather than a rule, and the that the Roman Catholic faith has been particularly resistant to the move to allow women into their priesthood, change is still occurring and in meaningful ways in large mainline Christian faiths."
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The Historical Biblical James, 2008.
This paper discusses the apostle James and looks at the 'Book of James'.
1,256 words (approx. 5.0 pages), 7 sources, APA, $ 42.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that James was a preacher, a self-taught man who loyally followed his brother, Jesus Christ, and whose contribution to the Bible is the "Letter of James". The writer maintains that there was a historical Jesus, a historical James, and that the two were indeed brothers. From this, one can conclude that James wrote his epistle, and that the 'Book of James' is an authentic letter sent from the author to the Jews of the Diaspora to teach them how to live as Christians. The physical evidence of the ossuary of James simply adds weight to this discussion. The writer concludes that James was a brother of Jesus and he wrote the 'Letter of James', which then came to be seen as the core instructional tract on how to work and live as a Christian.
From the Paper
"While the Bible mentions several Mary's, and at least three different James', thus putting into question which, if any, of the James' wrote the letter, there was only one that was the brother of Jesus. This James is the one that became the head of the Christian church in Jerusalem and thus by extension the head priest for all of the Christian Jews in the Diaspora. Thus, for a letter such as this to have had any real impact, it would have had to have been written by a very powerful man - how else could it have been disseminated? Therefore, the authority of James the brother of Jesus is established as well as the appropriateness of that James in the authoring of the epistle. What then additionally supported the validity of the claim of James to have been Jesus' brother is not the references to that relationship in Mark and other parts of the Bible, but the 2002 discovery of the Ossuary of James."
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Divine Foreknowledge, 2008.
This paper discusses the concepts of divine foreknowledge and free will, concentrating on the beliefs of St. Augustine.
1,339 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 44.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the differing role of divine foreknowledge within the philosophy of St. Augustine. First an overview on the general concept of divine foreknowledge is given in order to understand its influential role during these times. Then the paper examines its role as applied to the philosophy of St. Augustine. The writer also looks at the theory that humans have the free will to make their own decisions. The writer concludes that what makes St. Augustine's work so important and successful, in both religious and philosophical circles, is its ability to understand the conflict and the importance of reconciling these concepts in order to preserve both the sanctity of divine foreknowledge and human will.
Outline:
Introduction
Divine Foreknowledge vs. Freewill
St. Augustine
Conclusion
From the Paper
"According to the theory of divine foreknowledge, god is omniscient and therefore holds knowledge of everything: past, present and future. In other words, divine foreknowledge is god's ability to know everything about all things. Further, since god has knowledge of everything, everything that god knows is necessarily a truth. For example, if god knows that X will go and do Y, then it is true that X will do Y, even if X has not yet done Y. Further, since it is a truth that X will do Y, it is also impossible that X will not do Y. In other words, in a pure system of divine foreknowledge, humans have no freewill. The two cannot co-exist.
"However, some theorists, including St. Augustine, have developed a non-pure system of divine foreknowledge and instead believe that although god has divine foreknowledge, he is not all knowing in a traditional sense."
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"The Egyptian Book of the Dead", 2008.
A discussion of the historical importance of "The Egyptian Book of the Dead".
1,640 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 53.95
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Abstract
This paper examines "The Egyptian Book of the Dead", writings sealed in ancient Egyptian tombs, which dealt not only with the pleasures of the afterlife, but also with the journey to that other place. The paper points out that this journey was fraught with dangers that must be overcome were the soul to survive to enjoy its eternal happiness. "The Book of the Dead" represented an early attempt to explain these dangers, and also to impart the esoteric knowledge essential to achieving everlasting contentment. The paper adds that the book also furnishes many clues about ancient Egyptian society and culture. It concludes that the book is an early triumph of art and literature, which continues to inform and inspire.
From the Paper
"The many faces of the Egyptian spirit world also related to the Egyptian concepts of daily life and thought that are so well portrayed in the Book of the Dead. Many of the copies of the Book that have come down to us were found in the tombs of high pharaonic officials. Their supplications of the divine are frequently likened to their duties as servants of Egypt's god-kings. For the pharaoh was both man and god, the "good god" who walked the Earth, and afterwards died and rejoined his divine brethren. Egypt, like the netherworld, was a hierarchical and efficiently-managed state with king and officials at its helm. As in the Egypt of this world, the dead expected to enjoy the bounty of their fields and herds, and also the labor of their dependents. Many passages of the Book of the Dead relate Egyptian concepts of the afterlife that are also idealized descriptions of Egyptian life on this Earth. By describing such actions or conditions, the Egyptians perpetuated them in the hereafter: "To copy, to forge, to double, to represent was as if the action or state was always in effect, at least that was the underlying desire." And the world that the Egyptians were re-doubling was in fact the one that they already knew in life. Modern archeologists and historians can use the Book of the Dead as a tool to unraveling the mysteries of Egyptian daily life. The illustrations serve as clear guides to the appearance of the Egyptians themselves, their dress and hairstyles - even the colors they preferred. One can also get some idea of the appearance of Egyptian houses, gardens, and the like. Even the food eaten by the Ancient Egyptians is carefully described in the rituals accorded the deceased - "The roast for the double rib is from the slaughter house, thy retch-bread is from the Wide Hall. As a god is supplied with the offering meal, Unas is supplied with his bread." It is a ritual formula that, nevertheless; makes clear the diet of the Ancient Egyptians and also the manner in which the gods were served in the temples. Egyptian society comes through clearly in amid the religious and ceremonial passages of the Book of the Dead."
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Superstition, 2008.
This paper discusses superstition within the occult tradition or the paranormal.
1,230 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 41.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses that the concept of superstition is often commonly understood only in a vague sense as a term that is somehow related to the occult, magic and the paranormal. One of the central aims of this paper is to show that superstitions are often the remnants of knowledge that has been lost or neglected by modern science and forgotten and that they are in many cases not just false beliefs. This approach to the meaning of superstition is one that will allow the reader to understand the term in the context of and in relation to the occult and paranormal traditions in the world. The writer concludes that in the final analysis, the term superstition should be seen as the possible remnant of a larger body of knowledge, which is commonly known as the occult tradition. In this sense, superstition is understood as a watered down version of some greater truth. However, the writer notes that it should also be borne in mind that not all superstitions can be seen in this light and that many are fictitious constructions of fantasy.
From the Paper
"These definitions point to two different ways of looking at superstition. The first and more conventional view sees superstition, as an empty and fanciful set of beliefs that have no foundation in any reality. This is a view that sees superstition as separate from the occult and paranormal traditions of knowledge.
"The second understanding of superstitions is related to the perception of superstitions as linked to other religious views or to the larger occult traditions in religious systems throughout the world. This meaning is more in line with the idea of occult and paranormal traditions. This view would therefore explain superstitions as being based to a greater or lesser extent on knowledge and lost traditions; or at least having its roots in such knowledge rather than seeing it as mere blind faith and empty fancy."
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Don DeLillo's "White Noise", 2008.
Looks at postmodernism and postmodernity as presented in Don DeLillo's "White Noise".
1,320 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 44.95
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Abstract
This paper explores the various meanings of both postmodernism and postmodernity, specifically in reference to Don DeLillo's novel "White Noise", which is in many ways emblematic of both phenomena. Thus, while the paper begins with a delineation between postmodernism and postmodernity, it also shows how the two concepts unite within the course of "White Noise", a postmodernist novel encompassing the postmodern condition.
From the Paper
"What is more, postmodernism also seeks to erase the boundaries that have traditionally separated high culture from popular culture. This came to the forefront most notably in the Pop Art of Andy Warhol. Many other writers and artists incorporate elements of popular culture into their work, whereas Modernists would have merely quoted elements of popular culture. By integrating these seemingly antagonistic qualities into their art work, the postmodern artists and writers effectively make it difficult to tell which "category" their work is meant to fit into."
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Constructivism and Rationalism, 2008.
A comparison between the philosophical strains of constructivism and rationalism.
1,010 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 5 sources, APA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts constructivism and rationalism, two philosophies that fundamentally oppose each other. The paper takes a particular look at Aristotle's constructivism and Plato/Socrates' rationalism. It argues that the core of this opposition is that, according to constructivism, human knowledge does not reflect reality, while rationalism believes that it does. The paper concludes that, despite its problematic nature, rationalism is a truer philosophical approach.
From the Paper
"Constructivist theory finds its roots in the ancient Greek philosophers, including Aristotle, who argued "man is the measure of all things". In other words, Aristotle believed that man, or the knowledge of man, is the accumulated result of the human experience, which is the cumulated result of the how humans have perceived their world as opposed to how their world actually is. Thus, human reality become reality not because its based in reason and rational thinking, but because it is what we have constructed it to be. As Kant stated in 1708: "The norm of the truth is to have made it" or simply the truth is what one makes true instead of what is actually true."
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