Jesus Essays - Christology, Prophets Of Islam, Jesus And History

Jesus There has never been a man like Jesus. He is considered to be the most unique person of all time. Jesus' teachings have influenced many people and have changed mankind. According to Marcus J. Borg in Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time, Jesus was in a way four different people fused into one. He was a spirit person, which is a person with a deep unexplainable connection with the spirit of God. Jesus was a teacher of wisdom. He used parables and one-liners to teach about the Kingdom of God. These parables and aphorisms are the only direct connection we have with the historical Jesus. We get to read what came from him directly and we get a better sense of whom he really was. Borg also describes Him as a social prophet, which is characterized as a person that has conflicts with authority, that criticizes the elites of his time, and that promoted a different "social vision." The last identity that Borg gives Jesus is that of a movement founder. He started a renewal movement for Judaism that went past the social barriers of his time. We do not know much about Jesus until he was about thirty years old. We do however know that Jesus was a Jew, which is surprisingly not known by quite a few Christians. He grew up in Galilee and spoke Aramaic, or Hebrew. The Torah was his primary reading in school and he probably became a tekton, a Greek word that means carpenter. Borg explains that Jesus probably went to follow a prophet named John, but when John was arrested he carried on with God's Word. The historical Jesus was nonmessiac, which means that we do not know if He thought of himself as the Messiah or the Son of God. His message always pointed away from Himself and towards God. Borg give some major impressions of Jesus and what kind of a person he was. For example, Jesus was a right and left-brained thinker. He was an eloquent speaker that was great at debate and story telling. Jesus was not always liked. People would try to trick Him with questions, but he always managed to come back with an amazing answer. He used extraordinary actions to make statements, like eating with social rejects and the diseased. He was an amazing healer that always had a crowd. Jesus healed Simons mother-in-law, a Roman officer, a servant, a crippled woman (just to name a few) and even raised the dead. Another thing that we know about the historical Jesus was that he did not live a long life and died in his thirties. Jesus was a remarkable teacher. His main teachings were of God's kingdom, prayers, wise and foolish lifestyles, and love and forgiveness. Jesus challenged people to question their values and that is why He was an effective teacher. There were many ways that Jesus would teach the Kingdom of God. He would wander around, heal, and eat with people. He would have table fellowship with anyone because He refused to see any abnormalities in someone. David Kantor explains on his website that Jesus had very effective techniques to teaching. One technique was social contact with people to draw them into the story with questions. Another technique that He used was telling parables and using symbolism. Jesus made the heroes of the stories that he told a person that the people detested. He always built on what the people already knew and did not over teach. He taught with authority and used memorable illustrations to reinforce his point. Jesus' teachings were more influential that any part of His life. Stephen Johnson explains on his website that the essence of Jesus' teachings were "love and unselfish social service." In teaching people the Kingdom of God and how He led His life, Jesus led people to God. There were five main teachings of Jesus. He taught the "Fatherhood of God," which is that God is our Father that loves all as a whole and as individuals. He knows us all, knows what we are thinking, and gives us the free will to know Him back. Jesus taught the "Brotherhood of Man," or to "love our neighbors as ourselves." He said that through exercise of faith we can experience God's kingdom. Jesus characterized the Kingdom of Heaven in many ways, one example is Him saying, "the Kingdom of Heaven is within you." Another teaching of Jesus was the importance of an individual's personal relationship with God. He taught that God's love

Juvenile Justice Reform Essays - Legal Procedure, Criminal Procedure

Juvenile Justice Reform Essays - Legal Procedure, Criminal Procedure Juvenile Justice Reform Law Juvenile Justice Reform Massachusetts Juvenile Justice Reform: A Step in the Wrong Direction Juvenile Justice THESIS STATEMENT: The Great and General Court of Massachusetts has erred in reforming the juvenile justice system by implementing policies and procedures that will harm juveniles and place society at risk. On July 23, 1995, an intruder brutally attacked and stabbed Janet Downing approximately 100 times in her Somerville home. The revolting Downing murder and ensuing arrest of Edward O'Brien Jr., a 15-year-old juvenile whom prosecutors say committed the heinous crime, sent shockwaves through the state. When Somerville District Court Judge Paul P. Hefferman ruled that the Commonwealth try Mr. O'Brien as a juvenile, those shockwaves grew in intensity, and the citizens of Massachusetts, fed up with increasing youth violence and perceptions of an ineffective juvenile justice system, demanded the enactment of tough new laws to deal with repeat and violent juvenile offenders. The Great and General Court of Massachusetts headed these demands for reform of the juvenile justice system and enacted legislation that, among other things, abolishes the trial de novo system in the juvenile courts, requires the trial of juveniles charged with murder, manslaughter, aggravated rape, forcible rape of a child, kidnaping, assault with intent to rob or murder and armed burglary in adult court and permits prosecutors to open to the public juvenile proceedings when they seek an adult sentence. Although proponents tout these measures as a sagacious solution for the vexatious problem of juvenile delinquency, abolishing the trial de novo system, providing for automatic adult trials and opening juvenile proceedings to the public when prosecutors seek an adult sentence works to the detriment, not the benefit, of juveniles and society. Therefore, the policy makers of Massachusetts should repeal most sections of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act and develop other policies to deal with the rising problem of juvenile crime. I. A SINGLE TRIAL SYSTEM PREVENTS COURTS FROM PROVIDING RAPID ASSISTANCE TO JUVENILES IN NEED, DOES LITTLE TO SERVE JUDICIAL ECONOMY AND PLACES A SIMILAR BURDEN AS THE DE NOVO SYSTEM ON VICTIMS AND WITNESSES. Proponents of a single trial system for juveniles argue that the trial de novo system wastes judicial resources by giving defendants a second bite at the apple and traumatizes victims and witnesses by forcing them to testify at two proceedings. However, these proponents fail to acknowledge that the de novo system allows judges to quickly provide juveniles with the rehabilitative help they need. The proponents, unsurprisingly, also fail to acknowledge that a single trial system may place a greater burden on judicial resources and a similar burden on victims and witnesses. The de novo system benefits juveniles by encouraging bench trials, which frequently result in the swift administration of rehabilitative help. For many juveniles, delinquency is a reaction to a variety of situational stressors. Statistics indicate that the vast majority of juvenile delinquents are exposed to abuse and neglect, harsh or erratic parenting, and socioeconomic deprivation. Experts believe that if the juvenile justice system is to rehabilitate juveniles and make them productive members of our society, it must address these problems as swiftly as possible. A de novo system encourages juveniles, many of whom want judicial help, to request a bench trial. Likewise, under a de novo system, defense attorneys are encouraged to recommend an initial bench trial because the court's decision does not bind clients if it is not in their interest. On the other hand, a single trial system discourages juveniles and defense attorneys from requesting a bench trial. Because jury trials are more lengthy than bench trials and may drag out for over a year, the current policy of encouraging juveniles to seek an initial jury trial denies them the rehabilitative help they need for a significant period of time. Therefore, the de novo system is the preferred choice when dealing with juveniles because it encourages bench trials and, concomitantly, the swift administration of rehabilitative help. As noted earlier, one of the primary arguments for doing away with the de novo system is that it wastes judicial resources. However, upon closer examination one realizes that the de novo system actually furthers judicial economy. Under a de novo system, procedural safeguards can be done away with or relaxed at bench trials without fear of violating rights of defendants. Courts have found the elimination of procedural safeguards at bench trials in a de novo system to be constitutional because the judiciary will extend all safeguards to the defendant at a new jury trial if he/she so chooses. Although no statistics could be found which indicate the number of defendants appealing de novo bench trial decision, a court

Agrarian discontent dbq

Between 1880-1900, farmers believed that the railroad companies were swindling away their profits and that the government favored big business. The farmers had every reason to feel some sort of discontent because of their predicament as well as the fact that the government saw a need for reform which created the notion that problems existed. Farmers were correct in arguing that the United States’ money supply was not what it should be; over 30 years the population nearly double while the money circulation rose by only 60 %( Doc C). Railroads had a monopoly on shipping which raised costs and affected profit, the value of crops deflated, and big business was a strong opponent to the much needed Free Silver Movement that farmers were relying on. The first major topic regarding farmers discontent with their economic situation involves the shipping monopolies controlled by the railroad companies. The cost of transportation was spiraling out of control, there was never any certainty when it came to exactly what it would cost for a farmer to ship his crop. Profit became a scarcity with the cost of shipping amounting to much more than the worth of the crop (Doc H). The ridiculous demands of railroad companies can also be compared to the crop deflation that made it that much more difficult to provide for one’s family, the companies claimed that the operating expense of the railroads demanded such intimidating shipping costs (Doc G). Farmer’s were left exasperated and often had no choice but to foreclose on their farms because no profit was to be made, this can also be seen within the fact that the United States’ money supply was not what it should have been, over 30 years the population nearly doubled while the money circulation rose by only 60 %( Doc C). â€Å"All his calculations as to a profit on his little investment he had based on freight rate of two cents a pound. Good money never made times hard (Doc B). Secondly, Farmers also struggled economically due to the value of the crop deflating and the surplus of crop that they were creating. This sudden, drastic increase of the supply without any increase of demand correlates directly with the economic downfall of the farming class (Doc E). In accordance with this, Europe had been able to compensate for their populations growth agriculturally, therefore eliminating the United States as a needed source for food and plummeting the Farmers into a deeper economic depression. This information however does not discredit the validity behind their plea. Farmers acted circumstantially and gathered more crop in order to stimulate more revenue, they did not intend for the dilution of the agrictural marketplace both here in the United States, as well as in Europe. Finally, there appeared to be a solution to the Farmers problems. The Free Silver Movement provided a way for those of a lesser income to stimulate their own revenue by converting their silver to gold. This would finally eliminate the Gold Standard and provide somewhat of an opportunity to farmers who were so desperately trying to recover from economic nothingness. It is mere pretense to attribute the hard times to the fact that all our currency is in a gold basis (Doc B) said William McKinley and with the institution of the Free Silver Movement his words would have done truth to Farmers. The supply of currency would no longer be used as a way to control those members who did not posses it (Doc A). In conclusion railroad companies, crop deflation, and big business created insurmountable barriers for farmers throughout the eighteenth century. There was little they could do to prevent the unavoidable fate; annihilation of any sort of economic success. The Farmers were no longer going to be slaves to the owners of monopolies and every effort made a difference in one way or another. (Doc D)

Undecided Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 4

Undecided - Essay Example ysis will consider the core components that defined the way in which the system evolved and held on to power only to eventually decline as all systems are bound to do in one form or another. As a further function of such an analysis, it is the hope of this author that the reader will be able to gain some very clear insights as to the reasons why and ultimately how this power evolved and eventually declined as a means of providing key insights into the nature, growth, and decay that all forms of governance will ultimately experience over the course of time. With respect to the creation of Gaddafi’s modern Libya, this was fundamentally centered upon the fact that a highly tribalized Libya was not effectively governed by the monarchy that loosely held sway over the various and far flung groups that defined the Libyan state. Longing for a sense of purpose and sensing the fundamental shifts that decolonization had effected on neighboring regions within the Arab world, there was a strong sense of unease and dissatisfaction that pervaded the society of the time; making it ripe for systemic change. Sensing the weakness, Gaddafi and others were able to organize a coup with a core cabal of willing individuals that had formed key and strategic alliances with many of the tribes that constituted Libya (Hauslohner 39). A further human need that was seemingly sought to be recognized within the context of the revolution was the ability of the individual citizen to have a say with regards to the way in which government undertook the process of governance. This right to self-determination has long been a central and key role in undermining existing systems of government; however, as was seen in the case of Libya, the extent to which this self-determination was ultimately realized was quite limited. As a means of creating the power that could seek to congeal this non-uniform and highly tribalized representation of a nation into a single unit, a unique coalescence of Islamic

Leisure and Tourism Operation Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Leisure and Tourism Operation Management - Essay Example Another aim was to prove that the hypothesis of acceptance of this culture leads to devastating consequences and that high turnover must be prevented, minimized, and managed. In order to meet the aims of the study, it was necessary to examine the causes and nature of turnover, whether it is considered to be bad or if it is considered to be good and necessary in the operation of companies. Existing arguments were examined as some believe that high turnover is desired in the hospitality industry yet some do not believe it to be a positive thing. Another argument included turnover as a culture for the industry. Interviews from hotels/resorts owners and managers were used to provide which proved the writer's hypotheses and aims. Turnover is when employees stay only for a short time before moving on or becoming dismissed for one reason or another. (D'Announzio-Green, Maxwell, & Watson 2002, quote Barron and Maxwell, 1993, p. 5). "Turnover is the result of both quits and layoffs. Thus, some turnover is a result of jobs in one firm being destroyed and jobs in another firm being created- and hence due to the reallocation of jobs across the economy in response to changes Student's Last Name 3 in product demand. A majority of job changes, however, are because workers reshuffle across the same set of jobs, and this worker reallocation occurs over and above job reallocation," as written by Lane (2000). Some hospitality industry sources report that turnover rate is between 100 and 150 percent each year. This causes poor attitude amongst staff and affects the quality of service and care that is given to the customers. (Crabtree, 2005.) It is usually considered to be a bad thing; however, research has shown that a little turnover is essential to the well being of an organization. Scholtz (n.d.) reports that there are companies who have a turnover rate of ten percent or more and think it is a good thing because "they are replacing the bottom performers with new people will improve organizational performance." A certain amount of turnover may be desired by businesses. Some examples include high-pressured jobs with lots of customer contact such as working the counter at a fast food outlet or a high-volume cafeteria. (Mullins, 1998, p. 176.) At some time, pressure, difficult customers and repetitive tasks will affect performance. Therefore, some turnover is good. However, its negative con sequences far outweigh the positive and turnover can snowball and get out of control if not managed properly. There are many other consequences including lack of respect from the public, first experience on the job, harassment by customers, less than par working conditions, low wages, terrible work schedules, etc. A culture of high turnover in the company may consist of victimization at work. Whether it is by customers, other staff members, or management, this is extremely detriment to all. Victimized employees can experience a high level of stress, low tolerance of stress, tiredness, and headaches.

Albert Camus the Plague Essay Example for Free

Albert Camus the Plague Essay Can God possibly exist in a world full of madness and injustice? Albert Camus and Samuel Beckett address these questions in The Plague and Waiting for Godot. Though their thinking follows the ideals of existentialism, their conclusions are different. Camus did not believe in God, nor did he agree with the vast majority of the historical beliefs of the Christian religion. His stance on Christianity is summed up most simply by his remark that in its essence, Christianity (and this is its paradoxical greatness) is a doctrine of injustice. It is founded on the sacrifice of the innocent and the acceptance of this sacrifice (Bree 49). Camus felt that Jesus Christ was an innocent man who was unjustly killed. This does conflicts with all of Camus values. However, Camus did not believe that Jesus was the son of God. Camus inability to accept Christian theology is voiced in The Plague by Riex and juxtaposed against the beliefs preached by Father Paneloux (Rhein 42). Panelouxs attitude toward the plague contrasts sharply with Rieuxs. In his first sermon, he preaches that the plague is divine in origin and punitive in its purpose. He attempts to put aside his desires for a rational explanation and simply accepts Gods will. In this way he is not revolting and therefore falls victim to the plague. Father Panelouxs belief that there are no innocent victims is shaken as he watches a young boy die of the plague. Camus purposefully describes a long, painful death to achieve the greatest effect on Paneloux: When the spasms had passed, utterly exhausted, tensing his thin legs and arms, on which, within forty-eight hours, the flesh had wasted to the bone, the child lay flat, in a grotesque parody of crucifixion (215). Paneloux cannot deny that the child was an innocent victim and is forced to rethink his ideas. During his second sermon, a change is seen in Father Paneloux. He now uses the pronoun we instead of you, and he has adopted a new policy in which he tells people to believe all or nothing (224). Father Paneloux, as a Christian, is faced with a decision: either he accepts that God is the ultimate ruler and brings goodness out of the evil that afflicts men, or he sides with Rieux and denies God. The conclusion formed by Camus is that because this is a world in which innocent people are tortured, there is no God. Samuel Beckett does not necessarily deny the existence of God in Waiting for Godot. If God does exist, then He contributes to the chaos by remaining silent. The French philosopher Blaise Pascal noted the arbitrariness of life and that the universe works based on percentages. He advocated using such arbitrariness to ones advantage, including believing in God. If He does not exist, nobody would care in the end, but if He does, a believer is on the safe side all along, so one cannot lose. In this play, either God does not exist, or He does not care. Whichever is the case, chance and arbitrariness determine human life in the absence of a divine power. This ties in with the two tramps chances for salvation. As one critic observes, For just as man cannot live by bread alone, he now realizes that he cannot live by mere thinking or hanging on in vain to a thread of salvation which does not seem to exist (Lumley 203). This explains Vladimir and Estragons contemplation of suicide after Godot remains absent for yet another day. One could also argue, in the absurd sense, that each man has a fifty-fifty chance of salvation. One of the two prisoners who were crucified with Jesus was given salvation. This element of chance for salvation can also be extended to Pozzo and Lucky in Waiting for Godot. When they come across the two tramps, Pozzo is on his way to sell Lucky because he claims that Lucky has grown old and only hinders him. In this way Pozzo is trying to draw that fifty-fifty chance of salvation for himself. One of the ways in which Lucky hinders him is that Lucky could be the one to be redeemed, leaving Pozzo to be damned. Even Luckys speech is concerned with salvation: Given the existence of a personal God outside time without who from the heights of divine apathia divide athambia divide apaia loves us dearly with some exceptions for reasons unknown and suffers with those who for reasons unknown are plunged in torment. (28) After removing all of Luckys nonsensical meanderings, the gist of his speech is that God does not communicate with humans and condemns them for unknown reasons. His silence causes the real hopelessness, and this is what makes Waiting for Godot a tragedy

Bad Or Good :: essays research papers

Bad or Good We live in a world in which our primary food is the information. We perceive the outside world through images, and each image has an echo in our brain, generating feelings, attitudes and sometimes questions. Although we belong to the same specie, thousands of differences or similarities divide and classify us. Each of us perceives in his own way the information he receives. For some of us, something could be beautiful, for others the same thing could be ugly. Behind these two words, beautiful and ugly, we can see another words or, better said, concepts: good and bad. But what do good and bad mean? Do they really exist? On one hand, good and bad are two words that express our opinion in terms of perceived images. We give the images values, which can be, as I already said, good or bad. On the other hand, being so many types of human beings, it is normal to be different kinds of perception and interpretation of information. Therefore, having many people who can interpret things in different ways, it is difficult for somebody to say what is good or bad, and in the same time to have his opinion shared by everyone. Trying to classify, we might come up with a result that might be true or not, depending on the point of view. In other words everything is relative. Paradoxically, when we start thinking we, we discover that we actually know almost nothing, or that there are many things left, to be known. On the other hand, the more we know, the more we want to know. This desire of knowing more and more might be expressed through questions. One big difference that separates the human beings from animals is that