...Life of St Paul: St Paul was born in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia, given a Jewish name Saul. At the age of 5 he studied the Hebrew language and the Old Testament. Growing up, he lived a strict life of a Pharisee persecuting Christians, but on the road to Damascus, Jesus had confronted him “Saul why do you persecute me?” He blinded Paul for 3 days finally healed by an apostle, regaining his vision. Soon after he was baptised, changed his name to his Roman name Paulus (long for Paul), knowing he had to spread the word of God. After seeing the light of God, St Paul started to work as missionary travelling thousands of miles trying to convert people to Christianity and spreading the word where ever he went. He wrote important letters. He worked...
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...Megan 9/24/14 Gods to Ithaca The Trojan War has ended and all of the remaining Greek heroes have returned to their home of Ithaca, except for one important hero, Odysseus. Trapped on an island, after ten years, Odysseus makes an effort to return home and leave Calypso’s island. His journey has been a long one, leaving wife Penelope and son Telemachus at home fending off suitors. However, it seems the time has come for him to take another long journey home, but not without the guidance of the gods. Of all the ideals and customs that the Greeks share in this story, particularly Odysseus, their religious beliefs and ideals are the most important and defining of their culture. The religious beliefs and ideals that the Greeks hold of the Greek gods are what guide the individuals in this story over any other ideal or custom of their culture. As seen from early on in the book, The Odyssey, the gods play a heavy role in the lives of the Greeks. Athena, goddess of wisdom and battle, is the main goddess who is master of disguises. In The Odyssey, Athena comes to Telemachus as “Mentes” and explains that the “great Odysseus is not dead” (Fagles, pg. 85). Athena disguises herself as this lord of the Taphian men as to convince Telemachus that she is friend of his father’s not just a stranger. Unaware that “Mentes” is in fact Athena, Telemachus prepares to leave for Pylos and Sparta to not only set a name for himself but to seek information of his father. Telemachus was given a lot of motivation...
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...death is a part of life. Once his dearest friend Enkidu dies, death becomes a fear to him. The fear of not knowing when he will die is too much for him to bear. The episode of Gilgamesh losing the prospect of being immortal is a consequence of karma. First, by himself, then by a serpent. The long journey to find immortality begins on the quest to find Utnapishtim, followed by a loss of the hope for immortality when Gilgamesh falls asleep, followed by another gain of the hope for immortality when he is given the plant of eternal life, only to finally end in the loss of the hope for immortality when the plant is taken by a serpent. With Gilgamesh’s hope to become immortal and the subsequent...
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...Everyman has disregarded his spiritual life, the neglect is evident, yet as the play unfolds Everyman asks for forgiveness of the sins he has committed, and for his oversight of spiritual matters for so long. The turning point in the play is when Everyman is summoned by Death, he realizes that he is not ready to die, nor does he want to do so alone. Outline: i. Introduction ii. Summary of Characters iii. Author’s Perception of Death iv. Conclusion i. Introduction Everyman is an English morality play that the playwright uses characterization and conflict to represent values humans adhere to during the course of their lifetimes. The play makes use of allegorical characters to represent the everyday person. Everyman is a morality play which is “an allegorical drama popular in Europe especially during the 15th and 16th centuries, in which the characters personify moral qualities (such as charity or vice) or abstractions (as death or youth) and in which moral lessons are taught.” (Morality Play, 2013) In the play Everyman, the author uses metaphoric names for the characters, in order to emphasize morality. The main character Everyman believes himself to be content with where he is in life, until God sends Death to him, who lets him know his end draws near. At which point Everyman sees that his life has not been as meaningful as he had thought it to be, and realizes the error of his ways in neglecting his spiritual life. ii. Summary of Characters In a morality...
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...the building blocks for a deeper spiritual relationship with God and how can we, if possible, be drawn into a mature and fully dependent loving relationship with Christ? Ashbrook says, “If we are to grow spiritually and cooperate with God fully in the process of becoming like Jesus, we must be intentional about our process of discovery, about who we are, and how we relate to God and others” (2009, p.226). Further, in this spiritual formation process, we must be intentional in our prayers, obedient in our walk, gather in community with other believers, study the Word of God, and focus on loving God. In Ashbrook’s Mansions of the Heart (2009), the spiritual transformation process is modeled by a journey through various mansions and rooms, which maps out the soul’s growth and ultimately lead to the divine and mystical...
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...but on the contrary, time owns us. Schopenhauer would argue that life is pointless, a meaningless journey with one final end which is to cease to exist. What would then be the ultimate purpose of life if we will all die in the end? Everything that we invested will be gone and everything we have built will be worthless? I would like to argue that it is not necessarily the end that matters the most but the journey. Dying in the end should not mean that we have to live our lives miserably. I believe that death and factitious freedom are deeply intertwined with the thesis question "Why did Jesus die on the cross?" In this paper, we carefully examine not just the father-son relationship between Jesus and God but Jesus as both God-Man through the hypostatic union (As given in the thesis question) , its relationship to people and the very purpose of His and generally an individual's death vis-a-vis human freedom. It is very difficult to try to elaborate this issue that has been going on for years without being theological. There is a gap between theology and philosophy in such a way that theology's main ingredients are faith and belief and philosophy is sheer rationality. Theology becomes rational only if the people have faith or belief in God. Philosophy challenges people through the premises grounded on reason and reality that usually come in conflict with those who believe in God. There is no concrete way to prove if God is real or not, but religion is that powerful that even if there...
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...Chance Journey Counseling Theory Laurie Hartlein Liberty University Abstract Throughout life we will all experience trials, heartaches, and discouragement. At some point in our lives we will strive to change the quality of our lives, build healthier relationships, and improve our communication skills. It is my belief that everyone deserves a second chance to build a strong and meaningful life. The journey through life forces us to deal with our past, present, and future. My theory is one of hope and will provide encouragement to focus on feelings and behaviors. The following research will provide an insight into Adlerian and Reality, Cognitive Behavioral, Solution Focused, Person-Centered, Gestalt, REBT, and Existential therapy. Keywords: journey, chance, encouragement, relationships, communication Philosophical Assumptions At some point in life everyone wants to feel as though they are truly being heard and understood by others. I believe empathy is at the core of understanding and developing a relationship with the client. Elliott, Bohart, Watson, and Greenberg (2011) re-emphasize Carl Rogers’ definition of empathy as “the therapist’s sensitive ability and willingness to understand the client’s thoughts, feelings and struggles from the client’s point of view” (Elliott, Bohart, Watson, and Greenberg, p44, 2011). Once empathy and a trusting relationship are established the ideas and skills for change and acceptance can be introduced. Change is not always...
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...Paul’s Journey to Rome and what it means to me. A Prosperous Journey Paul had a great desire to go to Rome. He knew however that if such an opportunity presented itself, God would have to open up the way. His prayer that God might do this for him is given to us in Romans 1:10: “Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.” He often shows his awareness of God’s involvement in the everyday affairs of his life by the use of the expression “if the Lord (God) wills” (Acts 18:21; 1 Cor. 4:19; 16:7). We have to be careful lest we find ourselves living on the basis of human willfulness rather than the Divine will. God’s providential will is not always according to our own wishes or desires. When Paul prayed that he might have a prosperous journey to Rome he likely had in mind a pleasant and comfortable journey. But let’s notice how God answered Paul’s prayer. Many Hardships Endured on the Way All was not easy. Things did not prove to be as pleasant and comfortable as Paul might have liked. After he prayed this prayer notice the kind of things that happened to him. 1. He was persecuted by the Jews. After Paul had come to Jerusalem for the last time, upon seeing him in the temple certain Jews from Asia “stirred up all the people and laid hands on him” (Acts 21:27). They accused him of teaching against the people, the law, and the temple. They also accused him of desecrating the temple by taking...
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... 2 I. Introduction To define yourself as a Christian is to believe in God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the text of the Holy Bible. Many believers think that this is all it takes to be welcomed into Heaven and enjoy the afterlife in peaceful bliss with their maker. Much of what has been learned in this class these past two months has given me the opportunity to explore Christianity beyond face value, as it should be explored. The true model Christian delves into the inner workings of the scripture and promotes the promises made by God when one lives their life as a messenger of that scripture. Education is the only way to make a person aware of what it truly means to be a Christian. In reflecting on the concepts learned in this class, a series of questions were presented, three chosen, then answered on the basis of what I have learned. The first question I chose was, Does the Bible have authority? Through the Doctrine of the Bible and arguments that the Bible is the Word of God, this question will be answered along with the information in Towns book. Secondly, I chose, Why are personal testimonies important in sharing the gospel? This topic was of great interest to me because I am capable of explaining it from a personal viewpoint. Lastly I chose, If a person is a Christian, does it matter how they live their life? According to Towns (2007) “There are a growing number of people who have mistaken ideas about Christianity because...
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...description of one man's journey through hell and back with the past poet Virgil at his side. This epic has lead many through the depths of Medieval Christianity, displaying its importance on every society since then. With this description, man is awakened to the ethical, political, social, and philosophical aspects of Dante's time, later introducing the Renaissance era. Society in the Middle Ages consisted of two focuses; survival and God. These focuses lead many to forget the developed areas of knowledge and reason before their time. This society's people were believed to be laborers, or otherwise known as the hands of God, as displayed in their art work and literature. All actions were taken not for themselves but for God alone. This was described clearly, by Dante's witnessing of the thirteenth circle of hell containing the suicides. Those within this circle committed an act completely self centered, altering their intentions from God to themselves, leading them to a circle lower then murder. God and the church were not only a primary religious focus, but a structured hierarchy system for all society to follow. With God at the absolute highest position, his principles created an ethical map structuring nine circles of hell along with a social structure in the Middle Ages. This social structure was a fixed hierarchy where individuals never questioned there status or holding in society. People were content with their placement never wanting to move up or succeed in life. If so, it could...
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...Everyman is a morality play of a secular’s life, the play presents surprising events in one’s perception of death and is relevant to one’s faith at their time of judgment and therefore serves God’s purposes. I. INTRODUCTION: II. BODY A. Characters: 1. Messenger, God, Death: Scenes I and II 2. Death approaches Everyman, Death forces Everyman to go to his reckoning with God: Scene III 3. Everyman meets Fellowship, Kindred and Cousin, Good: Scenes IV -VI 4. Everyman talks with God, Everyman meets Good Deed, Good Deeds forsake Everyman and Good Deeds gets her sister Knowledge to go on Everyman journey, Knowledge leads Everyman to Confession: Scenes VII - X 5. a. Everyman prays to God and Mary for mercy, Good Deeds rise and walk towards Everyman to accompany on his journey, Everyman clears his reckoning, Everyman calls forth Discretion, Strength, Beauty, and his Five-wits: Scenes XI-XII b. Everyman goes to the Priest and honors the seven Sacraments and receives the sacraments, Beauty, Strength, Discretion, and Five Wits deserts Everyman at the grave, Everyman has an epiphany; he understands he can take nothing with him when he dies, In the company of Knowledge and Good Deeds, Everyman commits his spirit in the hand of the Lord; an angel receives Everyman into Heaven: Scenes XI-XII 6. Relevant Character overview B. Author’s Perception of Death and the treatment of death 1. Everyman’s journey compared to Man’s journey in real life; Moral Lesson III. CONCLUSION TIME...
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...Seminar Life of Pi Introduction We are all the hero of our own lives, and we are given the opportunity to make choices and decisions that ultimately affect our own personal stories. Carol Pearson, in the Hero Within says the “Heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves. Although they may feel very alone during the quest, at its end their reward is a sense of community: with themselves, with other people, and with the earth.” The Life of Pi is a wonderful story about the voyage of life and learning for Piscine Molitor Patel, a boy from Southern India we come to know as Pi. Pi’s journey has many classic elements of a monomyth quest. The values and beliefs that create the framework we follow can shape our experiences and just as importantly how we perceive our experiences. As significant as Pi’s life challenges and experiences are, the real learning for those who travel with him is how he approaches them, endures them and ultimately survives them. Our belief in Pi’s authenticity is grounded in his beliefs and perceptions of life. Thesis Statement The Life of Pi is a classic study of the Monomyth Quest. Through discussion I will prove this claim by drawing from Joseph Campbell’s description of the essential elements of the “Hero’s Journey”. The story of Pi is broken into three parts and within these distinct parts there are elements of the Call to Adventure, the Initiation and The Return will be evident supporting the claim...
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...representative of all of God’s people and the subsequent journey each must take in order to make the Presence of God their dwelling place as well as the pitfalls that must be avoided along the way. Outline: Introduction Thesis Statement Summoning of Everyman God Death Author’s Perception of Death Biblical Concept of Death Everyman’s Perception of death Seeking Traveling Companions Journey Repentance Death Conclusion Morality plays were written to convey a simple moral lesson to the audience or the readers. One such example is the play “Everyman” which was written in the late fifteenth century by an unknown author. Everyman is an allegorical play because it has two levels of meaning. One level of meaning is seen through the eyes of God. The other level is seen in how Everyman views life. The main character known by the name “Everyman” is representative of all God’s people and the subsequent journey each must take in order to make the Presence of God their dwelling place as well as the pitfalls that must be avoided along the way. The protagonist is symbolic of people who seek salvation through their good deeds. One theme highlighted in this play is the transitory nature of human life. Life is transitory; which means it never stays the same. It is always changing and moving toward the end that God designed for this earthly life. The Messenger introduces the transitory nature of life when he made the following statement: “How transitory...
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...Hero's Journey: Dante's inferno In many stories that are told and taught, there is a protagonist that experiences the call to adventure. This character soon follows into the path of the Hero's Journey. There, they transform their beliefs and ideas. They go beyond their horizon and expand their knowledge. In Dante's Inferno, Dante Alighieri tells his voyage through Hell in a poem in order to display his journey to God in a time when he had lost his way. The Inferno, symbolizes Dante's recognition of sin and the need to deny the temptations of man in order to obtain paradise with God. The Hero's Journey is depicted throughout the poem. The Call: The Call is the beginning of the Hero's Journey. It is when the protagonist or hero of the book is brought out of their domain and into the unknown. They are called to pass the horizon and enter into a mystery that will lead them to their destiny. The poem of "Dante's Inferno" opens up with Dante being lost in his pathway to God. On the morning light of Good Friday he realizes the error of his ways and turns to go up the Mount of Joy in order to leave the Dark Wood of worldliness and enter into Paradise. After being denied entry into the pathway towards god by three beasts, Dante's...
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...and Treatment Jonathan Thomas Liberty University Thesis Statement: In this paper, this writer will evaluate the perception and the treatment of death in Everyman. Outline I. Introduction II. Purpose of Morality Plays III. Main Body: Discussion of Plays Characters a. God b. Death c. Everyman d. Fellowship e. Kindred & Cousin f. Goods g. Good Deeds h. Knowledge i. Confession j. Five Wits i. Beauty ii. Strength iii. Discretion k. Angel l. Doctor IV. Understanding on Christian faith and biblical scripture in comparison V. Conclusion VI. Reference Everyman and Death: Understanding the Perception and Treatment In life all people must deal with their life and the aspect of death, there is no escape. In Literature, authors often use imagery and experiences in life to help evaluate the human condition and ones’ own experiences in a different manner. The author for Everyman, even though anonymous, has presented an idea of how all individuals must face death and judgment that all will have to face in the presences of God. In this paper, this writer will evaluate the perception and the treatment of death in Everyman, the character usage and the role judgment play in death concluding with the Christian view of death and judgment in comparison. The importance in the play Everyman, understands the significance and purpose...
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