Christian Traditions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Christian Traditions - Essay Example Christian traditions have always been centralized around the provisions of the Bible most importantly the New Testament which contains the teachings of Jesus Christ. However, varied perceptions to the Biblical teachings have led to the emergence of different Christian groups. The Orthodox and Catholic Christians are an example of two such Christian groups. As evidence to their strong belief in the authority of the Bible the two groups share more similarities than differences. Both groups acknowledge the Bible as the word of God written by men who had been inspired by the Holy Spirit. However, Catholic Christians consider the Bible containing the law of God and that all people are bound to follow that law without question. On the other hand Orthodox Christians consider the Bible as playing the important role of teaching and guiding believers. The position of the Bible in both groups is that it is the source of their Christian Faith. However, Catholics demonstrated a more fundamental a pproach to the Bible due to its tendency to advocate for literal interpretation. On the hand Orthodox Christians believe in the mysticism of the Bible and that it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that Biblical interpretation can be perfected. With regard to the authority of the Bible, the general realization is that both groups perceive that Biblical authority should be accompanied by traditions that have been inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Organic food Essay Example for Free

Organic food Essay We asked Food Scientists a simple question: â€Å"What foods do you avoid? Experts from different areas of specialty explain why they won’t eat these eight foods. Food scientists are shedding light on items loaded with toxins and chemicals–and simple swaps for a cleaner diet and supersized health. Experts from different areas of specialty explain why they won’t eat these eight foods. Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables, and meats that are raised, grown, and sold with minimal processing. Often they’re organic, and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. But in some cases, the methods of today’s food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what’s safe–or not–to eat. † Their answers don’t necessarily make up a â€Å"banned foods† list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you better health–and peace of mind. 1. The Endocrinologist Won’t Eat: Canned Tomatoes Fredrick Vom Saal, is an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A. The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people’s body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. â€Å"You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that’s a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young,† says vom Saal. â€Å"I won’t go near canned tomatoes. † The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, likeTrader Joe’s and Pomi. Exposure to BPA Causes Permanent Damage In OffSpring 2. The Farmer Won’t Eat: Corn-Fed Beef Joel Salatin is co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable farming. The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. But more money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. â€Å"We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure,† says Salatin. The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers markets, and nationally at Whole Foods. It’s usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don’t see it, ask your butcher. 3. The Toxicologist Won’t Eat: Microwave Popcorn Olga Naidenko, is a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group. The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize–and migrate into your popcorn. â€Å"They stay in your body for years and accumulate there,† says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then. The solution: Pop organic kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes, or soup mix. Make it organic and use coconut oil. If You’re Still Eating Microwave Popcorn, You’re Not Fully Grasping The Health Consequences 4. The Farm Director Won’t Eat: Nonorganic Potatoes Jeffrey Moyer is the chair of the National Organic Standards Board. The problem: Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes–the nation’s most popular vegetable–they’re treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they’re dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. â€Å"Try this experiment: Buy a conventional potato in a store, and try to get it to sprout. It won’t,† says Moyer, who is also farm director of the Rodale Institute (also owned by Rodale Inc. , the publisher of Prevention). â€Å"I’ve talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals. † The solution: Buy organic potatoes. Washing isn’t good enough if you’re trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh. Budget tip: Organic potatoes are only $1 to $2 a pound, slightly more expensive than conventional spuds. 5. The Fisheries Expert Won’t Eat: Farmed Salmon Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany, published a major study in the journal Science on contamination in fish. The problem: Nature didn’t intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT. According to Carpenter, the most contaminated fish come from Northern Europe, which can be found on American menus. â€Å"You could eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer,† says Carpenter, whose 2004 fish contamination study got broad media attention. â€Å"It’s that bad. † Preliminary science has also linked DDT to diabetes and obesity, but some nutritionists believe the benefits of omega-3s outweigh the risks. There is also concern about the high level of antibiotics and pesticides used to treat these fish. When you eat farmed salmon, you get dosed with the same drugs and chemicals. The solution: Switch to wild-caught Alaska salmon. If the package says fresh Atlantic, it’s farmed. There are no commercial fisheries left for wild Atlantic salmon. Farmed Fish vs. Wild Fish: How Healthy Is The Fish At Your Favorite Grocery? 6. The Cancer Researcher Won’t Drink: Milk Produced With Artificial Hormones Rick North is project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society. The problem: Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. â€Å"When the government approved rBGH, it was thought that IGF-1 from milk would be broken down in the human digestive tract,† says North. â€Å"There’s not 100 percent proof that this is increasing cancer in humans,† admits North. â€Å"However, it’s banned in most industrialized countries. † The solution: Buy raw milk or check labels for rBGH-free, rBST-free, produced without artificial hormones, or organic milk. These phrases indicate rBGH-free products. Why Do Humans Still Drink Milk? 7. The Biotech Specialist Who Won’t Eat Conventional Soy: GMO Unfermented Soy Michael Harris is biotech specialist who has directed several projects within the biotech sector including those for genetically engineered food. He has been a consultant, manager and director for companies such as Xenon Pharmaceuticals and Genon Corporation. The problem: Genetically engineered food is a cause of great concern due to the manipulation of DNA and genetic code including transfers from one species to another. Fermented Soy Is The Only Soy Food Fit for Human Consumption and since almost 90% of soy in the world is genetically modified, if you are not ensuring sources are organic, long-term health problems are inevitable, especially since soy has been found to affect hormonal balance and even cause cancer. The solution: Check labels to ensure soy is Non-GMO or organic and never consume unfermented sources. If possible contact the company to find out exactly where the Non-GMO soy was obtained. 8. The Organic-Foods Expert Won’t Eat: Conventional Apples Mark Kastel, a former executive for agribusiness, is codirector of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods. The problem: If fall fruits held a â€Å"most doused in pesticides contest,† apples would win. Why? They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don’t develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently. The industry maintains that these residues are not harmful. But Kastel counters that it’s just common sense to minimize exposure by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples. â€Å"Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers,† he says. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides (from all sources) with Parkinson’s disease. The solution:Buy organic apples or apples from a farmer that you trust!

Churches Tax Exempt A Matter Of Constitutional Right Religion Essay

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A Rock n Roll Ulysses :: Free Essays Online

A Rock n' Roll Ulysses In a letter to Carlo Linati, James Joyce wrote, "Each adventure [in Ulysses]. . . should not only condition but even create its own technique" (Dettmar, from Joyce, 143). Written nearly three decades before "long players" (phonograph record albums) were to invade the marketplace, Ulysses stylistically resembles a pop album (or the other way around). Ulysses was composed of eighteen "adventures" that created their own technique. The same principle applies to pop albums, which contain separate and distinct tracks that musically reflect the lyrical content (or parody that content). One album that is as stylistically challenging to the conventions of pop music as Ulysses was to the novel is The Beatles' eponymous 1968 album (commonly referred to as The White Album). Albums are generally composed of a group of songs from one recorded group of sessions (anywhere from one day to years) that carry separate narratives within each. Across an entire album, the songs can change singers, styles, points of view (first, second and third person voices), and even include songs written by other songwriters. The first album to sell a million copies was Elvis Presley's self-titled debut album in 1956, over a decade after the end of World War II. In both date and concept, the album is a postmodern invention and artifact. Many theorists assume postmodernism was initiated at the conclusion of World War II, after the introduction of the atomic bomb by the United States to the rest of world. Just as "the bomb" erased one hundred thousand living "narratives" with one plausibly fictive hot flash of light that was indeed real, postmodernism claims that "'history' and 'reality' [are] no longer possible, since both have been 'textualised'" (Selden and Widdowson, 174). Some of the stylistics of postmodernism include hybridity, non-linearity, the questioning of identity, self-reflexivity, excess, and the telling of the unspeakable. These stylistic modes, however, are not exclusive to postmodernism, and combinations of some of these styles exist in numerous books written prior the end of the second World War. Notable texts before this period using "postmodern" techniques include Sterne's Tristram Shandy (1767), Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865), Joyce's Ulysses (1922), and Woolf's Th e Waves (1934).

Linguistic Reading Response

It is interesting to note that contrary to popular belief, more often than not different pronunciations are the result of different contexts – variances in social settings, the use of formal and informal pronunciations, etc. Unfortunately, Americans have long labored under the misguided assumption, especially where language is concerned, that there is one right way to do something, and all other ways are wrong (Callary 118). Sounds used in language are produced by the human vocal apparatus, thus the term ‘Articulatory phonetics’ to refer to sounds described by the ‘articulations’ (actions) of the vocal tract. We produce speech sounds by modifying a stream of air as we push it by the lungs through the trachea and ultimately out of the oral or nasal cavities, or both (Callary 119). Stated this way the production of speech sounds seems trivial, obvious, and incredibly easy. But the facts of articulation prove otherwise, with the production of even the simplest sound the result of an amazingly complex activity involving coordination of muscles all working in precise timing. Studying language scientifically is quite a challenging and difficult undertaking (as the assigned reading pages illustrate, with all the allophones, phonemes, morphemes, etc.), though people might generally take the nuances of language for granted. Aside from the technical aspects of language, one needs to also consider its other socio-linguistic components – origin, cultural factors, and regional variations, among others. â€Å"A History of the Spanish Language† by Ralph Penny Considering that it is already a ‘dead’ language, it is still pretty amazing that Latin is the ancestor of Spanish (and, by definition, of all other Romance languages), spread by soldiers, traders and farmers of the Western Roman Empire two thousand years ago to the present population of the Spanish-speaking world. Interestingly, Romance languages do not descend from Classical (i.e. literary) Latin, but non-literary varieties, often referred to collectively as ‘Vulgar Latin (Penny 5). ‘Vulgar’ Latin differs only in the sense that is spoken by the Latin-speaking population with little or no school education. In the contemporary scene, there is a significant Spanish-speaking populace within the United States of America with the waves of human migration from Spanish-speaking countries, e.g. Mexico. To a certain extent, Spanish has influenced the development of the English language as it is being spoken in the USA, notably in states with notable Latino populations. â€Å"The African Heritage of American English† by Joseph E. Holloway and Winifred K. Vass In a similar vein to the Spanish-American experience is African-Americanism. Considering that at least 70 percent of the ancestors of Americans of African descent came from the Mande (West Aftican) and Bantu (Central African) ethnic groups (Holloway and Vass xix), it is not surprising that these two cultures contribute substantially to the diverse North American ethnic stock. This is evident in jazz closely associated with black musicians, whose history and origins can be traced to the Old Congo Square of New Orleans. Yet available dictionaries and related works on African-American culture, language and history do not provide comprehensive documentation of linguistic Americanisms, except perhaps for Turner's Africanisms in the Gullah Dialect (Holloway and Vass xix). Moreover, it would appear that the controversial debate over the survival of linguistic Africanisms in North American is still raging, led by the factions of E. Franklin Frazier and Herskovits. For Frazier, the institution of slavery completely destroyed any surviving African culture and consequently, African-American culture developed without any African antecedents. In this way he emphasized African discontinuity, advocating a deculturalization hypothesis. Herskovits on the other hand argued that African cultural influences survived in the New World, retained by process of acculturation and adaptation by the African slaves brought to the Americas (African continuum and continuity in African-American language). List of Works Cited: Callary, Edward. â€Å"Phonetics.† Eds. Clark, Virginia, Paul Eschholz and Alfred Rosa. Language: Introductory Readings. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1985. 113-133. Penny, Ralph. A History of the Spanish Language. 2nd Ed. London: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Holloway, Joseph and Winifred Vass. The African Heritage of American English. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1997.

Prove cathartic Essays

Prove cathartic Essays Prove cathartic Paper Prove cathartic Paper Aristotle wrote in Poetics that tragedy should contain incidents arousing pity and fear and thus prove cathartic for an audience. To what extent does the plot of Arthur Millers play, All My Sons allow for this? Arthur Miller (1915-2005) in All My Sons (1947), journeys the key concept of catharsis through the intricate character of Joe Keller; our tragic hero and his hubris flaw, the concept of Hamartia, the generating of pathos through language and most importantly the formula of tragedy, described by Aristotle, bringing about catharsis. All My Sons starts at the end of summer in suburban America, after World War Two. The events of the play, described by Miller, occur on a single set, the backyard of the Keller home, a secluded atmosphere, considerably the American Dream. Furthermore there stands the stump of an apple tree, as its trunk and branches lie toppled beside it1. Miller here, emotionally engages us into the play with the use of pathetic fallacy, increasing our emotions by building tension and giving opportunity to the futures of tragedy. The audience no longer feel safe behind the American Dream but instead are presented with a faade of respect, somewhere much sinister , preparing the audience for the upcoming tragedy. Miller uses this same technique again when Joe Keller, our protagonist, notifies: Gonna rain tonight. 2 Miller builds fear in the audience, suggesting something unpleasant about to happen. Nevertheless as the audience learn more about Joe Keller, we see that he is an ego-centric man, whose mental attitude does not go beyond his own sphere. Where society is dysfunctional, Kellers choice simply remains to ignore them and their changing platforms: heres a guy is lookin for two Newfoundland dogs. Now whats he want with two Newfoundland dogs? . The audience in turn pity for Kellers character, understanding his lack of knowledge in relation to the macrocosm therefore leading us towards what may be a cathartic experience. Perhaps different audiences react differently to Keller as a character. It is debatable that Keller does not understand the subtleties of life because he is lazy, selfish and his outlook is materialistic, therefore perchance building exasperation in the audience and receiving no compassion. Or perhaps as an audience we become harsh and forget to realise that Joe Keller is financially comfortable. But beyond this the audience still pity Kellers inertia as he struggles to move on. Similarly Kate Keller cannot move beyond the inertia she is trapped within. She is in denial about Larrys death which has driven her to spirituality, her emotional crutch: Hes not dead, so theres no argument! 4 This makes the audience pity her sub-conscious state and empathise with her hope for Larrys return. It could be argued as to what extent we can cope with her denial and her rejection of reality. Progression sees Miller introduce us to the bliss of hope, this is important to the cathartic journey, as we hope for some re-alignment of morality or achievement of justice. Hope is first presented through Frank Lubey, a superstitious character, who brings us closer towards catharsis through the melancholic life he lives and the hope he brings within the play for fellow characters, besides the hope the audience already bear: (Looks up at the sky) These stage directions are evidence of Franks hope and transcendence into a world of his own. Nevertheless, Chris Keller is a warm man who cares for his father and becomes Millers mouthpiece in demonstrating the world beyond the Keller home. He strives for independence and security but constantly gets held back from his parents and is put into an inertia of his own: every time I reach out for something I want, I have to pull back because other people will suffer. 5 This is part of Millers plot where pathos allows the audience to feel emotions of pity evoked by Chriss helplessness and thus prove cathartic. The audience also fear as to what step Chris might take in the future because of his suffering: Ill get out. Ill get married and live some place else. Maybe in New York. 6 The audience also empathise with Chris, as the family secret prevents him from breaking free and therefore the audience hope for Chris life to be re-aligned and end happily with his marriage to Ann. However this news arouses trepidation in the audience and characters because they do not understand as to how Kate might react because of her fragile state and her stubborn will. This is evident through Kellers dialogue and Millers apprehensive language: Well, you want to be sure Mother isnt going to -7. At the very end of Act One the audience are left feeling a strong sense of fear for Joe Keller when he is made aware of George Deevers return. The audience understand Kellers vulnerability and his lack in understanding the complexities of life therefore he sees no harm in Georges return, but is it debateable as to whether Keller might know how much of a risk it could be on a sub-conscious level and as to what George might be here for? Miller has made this is evident through the stage directions, exemplifying the fear: (frightened, but angry): Yes, Im sure. The fear left with the audience to experience at the end of Act One becomes pivotal in the role of experiencing catharsis. Miller has instantaneously given us the opportunity to empathise with the characters and in turn fear for them thus we are given a sense of foreboding, vital for ultimately experiencing catharsis in any tragedy. In the opening stage directions of Act Two Miller, again, uses pathetic fallacy to suggest the progression in the plot and perhaps the catastrophe still to come suggested metaphorically by Miller: leaving stump standing alone 9 Though as the play progresses a growing sense of anxiety is created in the audience by Miller. We can see this through Sue Bayliss a character chosen by Miller to represent the wider community. This lets the audience fear even more for Joe Keller as a character because it becomes apparent that not everybody overlooks his guilt: Theres not a person on the block who doesnt know the truth. 10 In Act Two Miller finally decides to present a rush of emotions which soon psychologically engage the audience as well as the characters Chris, Ann and George. Millers use of short, forceful sentences build tension and anxiety in the audience that we soon become eager to reach some sort of resolution, where inner peace can be found. This is witnessed through Georges dialogue and we soon learn to identify with Georges character because we recognize his impatience to reach a cathartic ending: But the morning passed. No sign of Joe. So Dad called again. 11 Georges transcendental state also suggests trouble constructing an impression of fear upon the audience: (Calling as George pays no attention ). Considering Georges character we could deduce that he is a caricature used by Miller to start the tragedy and thus the journey to catharsis. After the anxiety we experience, Kates sudden entrance to the involvement of catharsis builds tension and hope for resolution. But then Miller entraps us into a network of terror once more when Kate slips her tongue disproving Kellers alibi, this brings hope for Chris and George as we, the audience, hope that they will find out the truth and move on out of the inertia: He hasnt been laid up in fifteen years.