Philosophical Taoism

Philosophical Taoism A series of weak emperors in China from 500 to 600 BCE left the previously powerful empire in state of war and chaos. The Chinese people were desperate for an escape from the pandemonium. One solution came in the form of a new religion: Taoism. Popular belief amongst followers is that Taoism was founded by a man named Lau Tzu, which translates to "old man". It is said that he lived during the time of Confucianism, which was another religion that sprout up in response to the conditions in China at the time. Lau Tzu was actually a librarian who lived a simple life in accordance with nature. He was discouraged by the non naturalistic attitudes of the people around him and therefore decided to ride away on a water buffalo toward Tibet. According to the story, he was stopped at one point by a man who tried to persuade him to stay. When Lau Tzu refused he asked him to at least leave the people with a record of his ideas. He agreed to this request and the Tao Te Ching was produced (Smith). The lifestyle and attitude that has evolved from the philosophy of this text are extraordinarily interesting and admirable. Tao Te Ching translates into English as "The Way and It's Power". It is a compilation of "poetry, philosophical reflection and mystical speculation" (Zhao). Taoists follow this text as "a testament to humanity's at-home-ness in the universe" (Smith).

  • Word count: 1765
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Exegesis on Job 42:1-17 In the passage of Job 42:1-6 there appears to be an interpretation of a divine speech to be supported by Jobs response.

Exegesis on Job 42:1-17 In the passage of Job 42:1-6 there appears to be an interpretation of a divine speech to be supported by Job's response. There also occurs to be a conclusion about Job's debate with God as Job acts humbly in acknowledging his presumption about God. God, however, acts displeased by Job and his friends because of Job's friends presumptions about God as they didn't speak about God in the "right" way. When Job gets confronted by God, he surrenders, yet acts without sorrow. One may question the response that Job had towards God in verses 1-6 as he acted in a peculiar unexpected manner. In most reactions towards God there comes a reaction of fear; however Job seemed calm with his reactions towards God. Job doesn't have a proper response to God in verse 4 he says that "I will question you, and you will declare me." In the form criticism of the text the verses 1-6 are being presented as a form of prayer to the Lord. Job never says that he was wrong to question God's justice. Job feigns submission and accepts that he will never get a straight answer from God. Source criticism is being used as the verses in three and four, Job quotes the Lord's words which were also used previously in Job 38:2-3 and uses them to make his surrender appear to be in defence to God's power. Job's true attitude however is revealed in verse six "therefore I despise myself, and repent

  • Word count: 2170
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Pro-Abortion.

PRO-ABORTION Abortion is a very controversial subject that has been continually argued over in the past and will be argued over for many years to come. To talk about abortion we must understand what it is. Abortion is the removal of a fetus within the first couple of weeks of pregnancy, before it is viable. Abortion is a very fragile issue to discuss because of the many conflicts involved with pro-abortion and anti-abortion. It has many negative and positive responses from many people. The reasons why some people are against abortion are of both moral and religious reasons. In contrast, the reasons why many are for abortion is because of women's rights and the debate whether the fetus is considered human. In our society, the church plays a big role in our beliefs and the way we think. It also has a great impact when it comes to law making. Some believe abortion is wrong because they believe that it is blatant murder of a life. Many of the propagators of this idea are usually associated with the belief system. They believe that every human has the right to life. The church says that fetus is considered human the very instance that it is conceived. However, the Bible never actually mentions the term abortion or that it is wrong in any way. So, we shouldn't follow the church's teachings when it isn't defined or presented within the teachings. Another controversy

  • Word count: 597
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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'Few Historians think no progress is being made towards truth, but even history's keenest devotees know objectivity is unattainable' (Lowenthal) Discuss.

'Few Historians think no progress is being made towards truth, but even history's keenest devotee's know objectivity is unattainable' (Lowenthal) Discuss. Alex Eisenberg V11101 Learning History Dr Karen Adler School of History 'Few Historians think no progress is being made towards truth, but even history's keenest devotees know objectivity is unattainable' (Lowenthal) Discuss. The ultimate conclusion for an historian is to conclude that he or she has found the truth. This however is an unattainable goal. No historian will ever be able to find what was the real truth because we cannot know the reality of the past. Two reasons help us explain this, firstly, because the past has gone we are unable verify any claim that we make, therefore we cannot be sure what the 'truth' is. Secondly, whatever evidence the historian cannot be using is not objective. It has been created by other humans who are subject to the same fallibility that the modern day historian is also subject to. Lowenthal's statement recognises these two ideas but also present is the idea that the historian is 'progressing' towards the truth. The idea of 'progress' simply suggests that historians are moving towards 'truth'. In order to understand this we have to realise that 'history is less than the past because only a tiny fraction of events have been noted...'1, so to know the truth we, at the very least,

  • Word count: 2164
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Describe the visit in the Quaker Meeting House and assess the relevance of visiting religious communities for the study of religions.

Describe the visit in the Quaker Meeting House and assess the relevance of visiting religious communities for the study of religions. In order to try and give a full and balanced account of my visit I have attempted to discuss what I observed, what occurred, the experience of my revisit and practical participation in a normal Sunday "Silent Worship", and my conclusions. The Quaker house Set in a quiet backstreet of Central Bangor in the middle of a row of terraced houses, sits the plain, unassuming Quaker house. Through a small porch way, leading to an entrance hall furnished with a wooden plaque containing several different pamphlets and booklets, all informing us about the U.K. Quakers. Once inside the building is set on two levels, the downstairs consisting of a mainly unfurnished large room with adjacent kitchen, and the worship / business room where on arrival we were directed to enter. Approximately 45 ft by 25 ft with high ceilings, decorated with modern wooden beams and mainly bare walls with the only reference to religion being a copy of the bible which sat on a sparse wooden table in the room's centre alongside a plant. All the seating was arranged facing inwards towards a "space" with the table resting at the centre. Two large patio doors on one side and several high windows supplied ample light. An upright piano rested in one corner of the room which

  • Word count: 1428
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Ethics in Religion

Interviewing someone of another religion, not the easiest task, especially when in some form or another religion is deeply rooted in almost all humans. To interview someone from another religion takes patience, understanding, the ability to listen, and above all tolerance. Those are just a few of the keys I noticed myself using during my interview with a man whom I not only respect but also call a friend and co-worker. His name is Nick. Nick grew up in Waupun, WI. One in a family of four, he attended a Methodist church as a child until the age of ten before he was not made to go any longer. Nick now considers himself nothing (Atheist), at twenty seven years old church means nothing to him; he doesn't use the term or concept of God except to swear with. When the question "Why don't you believe in God" was asked Nick simply stated "Never saw him do anything worth believing." The largest religious influence in Nick's life and the one who took him to church is his mother, who still attends church services on holidays. The only tradition is she gives Nick and his brother one present on Christmas. The gift exchange is one sided he tells me as his brother and him do not give a gift back for Christmas although they do give their mother things throughout the year. Nick enjoys the presents he gets from his mother at Christmas but he never had much interest in the Christian aspect.

  • Word count: 1093
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Source and Form Criticism of the Bible. Both types of criticisms are helpful by trying to understand the biblical content of the Bible and where it originated. By raising questions such as, are the stories that are told in the bible just parables or did

Words: 2431 Methodology: Source and Form Criticism The bible is perceived as a historical text; however there is no historical evidence that proves biblical events ever occurred. This is why critical analysis of the bible is essential in the understanding of the events that occurred in the bible. As form criticism plans out the "life setting" of the text, it helps to develop an understanding of where the text came from. Whereas source criticism helps to decipher fact from fiction in the events that occurred, by viewing two different sources of the same text and deciding which one is true and which isn't. Both types of criticisms are helpful by trying to understand the biblical content of the Bible and where it originated. By raising questions such as, are the stories that are told in the bible just parables or did they actually happen? Come the understanding of biblical studies. Form criticism is a translation of the word Formgeschichte, which literally means "history of form." Gunkel noticed that many stories in the bible were often causation and why things are the way they are. For example, in there Genesis 35 Jacob meets God at Bethel in a dream, and this story explained why the later Israelites made there pilgrimage to the cult centre at there site of Bethel. Gunkel recognised that each type of genre had its introductory formula. This is where the Sitz im Leben or

  • Word count: 2953
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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What conclusions does More want his 16th century readers to draw about the Christian beliefs and practices in Europe

What conclusions does More want his sixteenth-century readers to draw about the Christian beliefs and practices in Europe? In past examinations of More's Utopia, questions have often been raised as to the aim of the presentation of religion on the island. The inhabitants of Utopia are essentially heathen, in contrast to the Christianity of Europe. However, this raises two points - firstly, that the Utopians may have been heathen, but they were virtuous heathen as opposed to the "wicked professed Christian" of sixteenth century Europe. Thus is More presenting the view that virtuous living should be chosen over the possibly corrupt nature of Christianity? Also, this suggests to that virtuous living can be achieved independently of Christianity or indeed any other religion. The second point which is raised is the question of how much of the historical context in which Utopia was written has crept into the work. Though Utopia was published before the major religious upheaval in England began, the reformation commenced really with the advent of Luther on the continent and his ninety-five theses on indulgences in 1517. Thus it would have been nigh on impossible for More to have written such a work with its many subtle attacks on the structure of society and its pointed references to religion without having been somewhat influenced by the contextual situation. It has been

  • Word count: 1743
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Ethics in Communication

Over the past week, I have observed myself as a communicator contributing to both "constructive" and "fruitless" techniques of communication. Constructive techniques that I have observed myself using include; thinking before speaking, showing respect by being attentive, and calmly explaining my position. On the other hand, my fruitless techniques that I have realized I mostly partake in are; withdrawing into complete silence, do not reveal many personal feelings in either paralanguage or body language, and I do not always use discussions with opposing views as a time to learn. Thinking before speaking is something I have always tried to do and is constructively most typical of me. My reasoning is so I may judge the most likely outcome that my words or actions will inspire. In a conversation this past week, on February 5, with my girlfriend over the phone, we were discussing certain aspects of what our parents have or have done in their careers and the money it took to get to where they are now. Here is a part of the conversation: -Me: "How much does your mom bring in a year? I know things changed after your dad died and she married Bill". (Bill - step dad) -KT: "I don't know, she only works one day a week". (Here is where I pause, stop all my comments on why that is and the opinions that I have developed with previous conversations and knowledge) -Me: "Hmm. Ok, So what

  • Word count: 1528
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Old Testament Summaries

Genesis The first book of the Old Testament, often refered to as "The book of Beginnings" because of its accounts of the worlds creation and the early history of the Hebrew people. Major events and subjects covered in the book include: 1. God's great creation of the physical world and also Adam and Eve's life in the Garden of Eden; where Adam and Eve's sin and introduction of sin to humankind is mentioned (chap. 1-3). 2. Adam's descendants and the great flood (chaps.4-9); 3. The tower of Babel and the scattering ofhumankind (chap.11); and 4. The life stories of the Hebrew patriarchs: Abraham and Isaac (chaps. 12-27),Jacob (chaps. 25-35), and Joseph (chaps. 37-50). Exodus The book of the Old Testament that recounts the release of the Hebrew people from Egyptian enslavement and the early years of their history as a nation in the wilderness. Important events covered in the book include the following; 1. God's call of Moses lead the people out of slavery (chaps.3-4); 2. the plagues on the Egyptians (chaps.7-12); 3. the release of the Israelites and the crossing of the Red Sea (chap.14); 4. God's miraculousprovision for His people in the wilderness (16:1-17:7); 5. Moses' reception of the Ten Commandments and other parts of the law (chaps.20-23); 6. the building of the tabnacle for worship at God's command (chaps. 36-40). Leviticus An Old

  • Word count: 502
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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