Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Symbolism and Moral...

In the opening lines of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Gawain-poet predicates the numerous dualities—which lead the reader through questions of moral seriousness—that exist in the poem. The opening historical recounting, according to Richard Hamilton Green, reminds the reader that â€Å"the greatness of the past is marred by reminders of failure† (179). The paradox of triumph and greatness arising out of failure foreshadows Sir Gawain following the same pattern of fate as his predecessors. While the completion of Gawain’s quest reaffirms the historical paradox of greatness, his journey to renown is fraught with situations and symbols that develop the poem’s main concern of moral seriousness. The Gawain-poet skillfully reveals his†¦show more content†¦While GGK is an entertaining romance upon the initial reading, as Prior claims, a retrospective reading reveals Christian meaning and the implications of Gawain’s actions, even if not discussed overtly, are central to the poem. In order to discover the poem’s moral significance, the reader must concentrate more on what is unsaid than what is said by focusing on the meaning of symbols and the significance of setting. After the history of great men, the poem opens at King Arthur’s court during Christmas time. Having the poem begin and end during the Christmas season, the beginning of the liturgical calendar, has underlying significance (to be discussed in more detail later) because it marks the First Coming of Christ, the model of perfection. Befitting this major event in Christian history, the mood of the court is one of revelry. However, even with the merriment of the feast, King Arthur demands a marvelous event before he will eat: But that day he was driven by a different resolve; He had nobly decided never to eat at feasts Such as these, until someone had told him A strange story or a splendid adventure— Something marvelous and beautiful that he might believe, With the clamour of battle, attacks, the clash of arms—. (90-95) Arthur’s desire to see â€Å"something marvelous and beautiful that he might believe† reveals a misconception of a marvel’s nature. Hearing a marvel for the first time inspires

Affirmative Action needs to be Changed not Ended Essay

Affirmative action: Should it be mended or ended? Affirmative action is an attempt to correct unequal distribution of benefits (status, income and wealth, power and authority), and burdens associated with ethnic and gender differences. Affirmative action has been promoted by the Federal government since the mid 1960s, when president Lyndon B. Johnson ordered federal contractors to adopt affirmative action plans. (Congress and the Nation, 748). This paper will focus on the relevance of affirmative action in the American society. It is important to acknowledge the truth of affirmative actions main claim: historically, African Americans and women have been victims of discrimination. Theoretically speaking, African Americans enjoy the†¦show more content†¦( Do Racial preferences help, 1 of 2). Debates have been held even at the federal level. The Reagan administration was the first one to challenge federal affirmative action policies (Congress and the nation, 748). The history of the United States has brought forth both good and bad socio-economic relations, just like in any other nation. Pathetic social circumstances during the colonial era for example, encouraged slave trade and from this inhuman practice arose racism. The people of the European descent thought of themselves as superior because of slavery. Blacks were thought to be of very low intelligence level. According to an Anthropological view, people of the African descent were thought to be taxonomically closer to the apes (Statement on Race, 3). This degrading ideology is a major contributant to the rank and status differences that still exist between blacks and whites. So, affirmative action should not be ended as it ensures that people are given equal opportunity to participate in the society. One positive role that affirmative action has played is ensuring diversity in the workplace, schools, plus other institutions to which it is applicable. With the increase of diverse communities and cultures in the United States, diversity has filtered into daily social life. Providing equalShow MoreRelated Its Time to Put and End to Affirmative Action Essay1586 Words   |  7 Pages Affirmative action should be changed or ended altogether In the late Sixties, Martin Luther King Jr. fought hard for equal rights. Before he was assassinated in 1968, he made a speech about his vision of human equality. â€Å"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.† (King) The Sixties were a turning point for racial equality. Because of leaders like King, many blacks and minorityRead MoreAffirmative Action Should Be Changed or Ended All Together1605 Words   |  7 PagesAffirmative action should be changed or ended altogether In the late Sixties, Martin Luther King Jr. fought hard for equal rights. 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It allows university admissions officials or employers to take race, ethnicity, or gender into account whenRead MoreThe Federal Government’s Role in Education Essay848 Words   |  4 Pageslaws that have been passed, the removal of the church from public schools, and the role of federal government that has evolved and changed over the years. These three factors have transformed education over the years. Over the course of history, several different cases have changed education and become laws. Brown versus the Broad, of education in 1954 drastically changed education. There were schools for children of color and separate schools for white children, these were supposed to equal, but theyRead MoreThe New Yorker s Lee C. Bollinger s Brown V. Board Of Education1338 Words   |  6 Pagesto terms with the legacy of centuries of mistreatment of African-Americans and other minorities.† (â€Å"Sixty Years Later†¦Ã¢â‚¬  1) Eloquently put, this quote represents the struggle America had with the case. Brown v. Board was revolutionary, it not only changed the students bodies of schools but also opened America s eyes to the inherent racism they had been living with for decades, causing the case to play a big part in America’s history in the 1950’s and even to this day. It is difficult to understandRead MoreAffirmative Action Does Not Help1858 Words   |  8 PagesMa tthew Diaz Prof. Jones English 1A 30 November 2016 Affirmative Action Does Not Help Affirmative action does not have any real benefits; on the contrary, it is detrimental to both minorities and students who would be passed over in favor of minorities. It runs contrary to the spirit of different treatment based on race. Any system where employees or students are selected based on race, and not qualifications, is deficient. All college and hiring criteria should be based solely on academic achievementRead MoreAffirmative Action Should Not Have Any Real Benefits1844 Words   |  8 PagesAffirmative action does not have any real benefits; on the contrary, it is detrimental to both minorities and students who would be passed over in favor of minorities. It runs contrary to the spirit of different treatment based on race. Any system where employees or students are selected based on race, and not qualifications, is deficient. All college and hiring criteria should be based solely on academic achievement, not any kind of racial preference. There are 3 major institutions t hat affirmative

None Provided Analysis Essay Example For Students

None Provided Analysis Essay The quality of American television has become a national disgrace. Young women in America who are displeased with their appearance more likely then not can trace those feelings directly back to images from the mass media on television.The unrealistic representations of women that the mass media bombards young women with indicates that the television has become a source for a distorted understanding of gender roles among adolescent women.These images warp young womens views of their own gender identity. The mass media on television should in an attempt to provide more positive gender identities for adolescent women depict women on television in more realistic ways, should stop reinforcing negative stereotypes of women, and stop portraying women as sex objects in advertising. Television is unrepresentative of the real world. Since most major directors on television are males, they depict a world, which agrees with their concepts of society on television. Young women see women in roles on television as being submissive to men or as not as intelligent as men are. For example, the case of the female mayor on the comedy shows South Park. She went to Princeton, yet she makes moronic decisions for the town and flagrantly poses for photos. The mass media should show positive roles that young women could identify with and imitate positive behavior from strong female role models. Television besieges women with portrayals of old women fearing the youth of young women. The result of these images is that these ideas create competition among women and divides women. The mass media ought to be aware of the images of women depicted since young women in other countries also see the American television. In developing countries television ownership is rising and as much as seventy one percent of television programming is from more affluent countries (Wolf 80). Equally important would be to stop reinforcing negative stereotypes of women on television. Television still represents tr aditional views of society. Women are often still generally represented as inferior to men on television. Television shows have to stop representing women as being neurotic like Monica on Friends, or difficult and bossy like Amanda on Melrose Place, or ditsy like Phoebe on Friends. Women should be represented as more than the standard stereotypical negative and simplified character viewers generally see.Television allows people to see more and choose what they want to be. Women need to be shown in occupations that are not the stereotypical, such as the occupations of nurse, maid, sales assistant, or models. Men are often shown as the breadwinners while women are shown as being emotional and domestic caregivers. Television ought to demonstrate strong older women instead of feeble grandmothers baking cookies. Teenage girls should be represented on television as being able to have serious conversations and feeling that their brains are as important as their looks. Women are often shown as only being able to get what they want by using sexuality. Television audiences certainly must demand more from the television shows the audience watches. Additionally, advertisers see women as parts. Advertisers represent women as lips, legs, breasts, butts, and as creatures that become overly excited about soup. For example, in the commercial for an herbal shampoo a woman is so excited by the shampoo she is moaning and groaning because of the shampoo. According to Mia Adjali, a womens division executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries in an article by Shanta M. Bryant for the Official news agency of the United Methodist Church, The media often focus on legs, breasts and mouth of a woman, so in essence women are looked at in pieces. If this happens continuously it makes it legitimate, and also acceptable, to do violent things against women (Bryant). Advertisers should produce high quality, entertaining socially conscience ad campaigns. Women are featured predominately in weight- loss advertisements. Women on television commercials are most often portrayed as housewives. As a result, women are shown as not being in c ontrol. Furthermore, girls in advertisements are often seen playing house while little boys are seen with trucks and action figures. .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe , .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe .postImageUrl , .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe , .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe:hover , .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe:visited , .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe:active { border:0!important; } .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe:active , .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud39dcabbece75b218c9a2932954c3fbe:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: management (2273 words) EssayJudging from these viewpoints the mass media has reflected negative images of women on television to the point of distorting womens views of their own gender identity. The ramifications of the images that the mass media bombards young women with indicates that the television has become a source for negative understanding of gender roles among young women. The conclusion of the above stated facts is that young women are exposed to gender stereotypes on television causing negative understanding of gender roles. As has been shown television should make an attempt to provide more positive gender identity is for young women and represent women on te levision in more realistic ways, should stop reinforcing negative stereotypes of women, and stop portraying women as sex objects in advertising. For all these reasons, society should have a deep concern with the gender roles that young women are learning from televisionBibliography:

American Imperialism Research Study free essay sample

S was building a corporal empire to increase peace between areas such as China and Japan in order to maintain overall trade. Trade between these areas and the U. S. would also change America’s economic situation completely. †¢ What were the benefits of America’s imperialistic actions for the people in these countries or areas? What were the disadvantages? How would you describe their experiences in terms of being conquered, assimilated, or marginalized? America’s imperialistic actions in other countries have both benefits and disadvantages. Countries that received imperialistic ctions from America have increased trade options between the U. S. and other nations. There is also the benefit of having American protection during times of revolts or having America as an allied during times of war. Disadvantages to American imperialistic actions are that the governments of these nations no longer have control over their government. American influences centralize ev ery nation’s government into one government abiding by American rules. We will write a custom essay sample on American Imperialism Research Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Another disadvantage is that if a country is not controlled by American Imperialistic actions then they are in danger of retaliation from America in times of war. Each nation that the U. S. sought to control for whatever reason was done so either by brute force or through the manipulation of peace treaties and trade agreements. For example, when Japan would not increase trade with the U. S. and closed many of their shipping ports, the U. S. posted the Navy at the ports and eventually forced the ports to re-open for trade. If America sought to control or expand to an area it did so in a way that would benefit America. †¢ What were the moral implications of American imperialism? How did imperialists justify their actions? How did the anti-imperialists justify their position? Consider the role of race, economics, science, and religion. American Imperialism began in the late 1800’s as a means for America to build more wealth, gain more power, and acquire more territories. Imperialistic ideas came in the form of extending the nations authority to other nations. The implications for extending the United States authority to other nations in some aspects was in relation to morals were neither justified nor ethical in some cases. The United States involvement in other countries was justified by the United States effort to make these countries more civilized. Anti-imperialists strictly opposed any form of Imperialism. Anti-imperialists believed that it was unjust to try to rule or conquer other nations. They also felt that the Imperialist effort was unjustified. They also believed that by conquering or expanding into foreign nations for the purpose of foreign trade was a racial discrepancy. The efforts of Anti-imperialists to change American imperialism were weak and never made it as a viable part of American history but their belief system was greatly contrasted to American Imperialism. What significance did the Spanish-American War have in the development of the United States as an empire and world power? The Spanish American war was a result of Cuba’s struggle for independence from Spain. The United States wanted to see Cuba rise as an independent nation based on the economic investments the United States had in Cuba. During the war between Cuba and Spain, Spain had offered concessions to Cuba; Cuba refused and demanded their fu ll independence. Peace negations between the United States, Cuba, and Spain ultimately failed leaving the United States no choice but to intervene in the war efforts on Cuba’s behalf. The United States naval force defeated Spanish troops. Cuba’s long seemed independence was now a reality and the United States had acquired two new territories (Guam and Puerto Rico). The United States now had expanded as far as the Caribbean to the Far East. Therefore making the United States an empire along with a world power. †¢ Do you think the United States is currently an imperialist country? Why or why not? Yes, I do believe that the U. S. is currently an imperialist country. The United States spends much of its time creating peace treaties with other nations, between other nations such as China and Japan, and creating trade agreements between other nations. The United States has also established many alliances with other nations. Whenever there is a war between two nations the United States steps in to either fight the same war or to help create peace between the two fighting nations. When American Imperialism began the main purpose was to civilize other nations of the world and America still does that today when they step into a war that is based on one countries suffering. Early American Imperialism also centered on America superiority and power over other Nations. This too can still be seen today. Whenever a war or revolt breaks out in another country the United States government intervenes in such a way to create peace or to join the war effort. America has significantly grown since American Imperialism began and such areas as Hawaii and Alaska, once considered their own nation, are now states in the United States. Cite and reference all information sources consistent with Associate Level Writing Style Handbook guidelines.

The Spirituals And The Blues Essay Research free essay sample

The Spirituals And The Blues Essay, Research Paper The Spirituals and The Blues Book Review The book, The Spirituals and the Blues, by James H. Cone, illustrates how the slave spirituals and the blues reflected the battle for black endurance under the rough world of bondage and segregation. The spirituals are historical vocals which speak out about the rupture of black lives in a spiritual sense, stating us about people in a land of bondage, and what they did to remain united and somehow battle back. The blues are slightly different from in the spirituals in that they depict the secular facet of black life during times of subjugation and the capacity to last. James H. Cone? s portraiture of how the spirituals and the blues aided inkinesss through times of adversity and hardship has really few defects and informs the reader greatly about the importance of music in the lives of African-Americans. We will write a custom essay sample on The Spirituals And The Blues Essay Research or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The writer aims to both analyze the spirituals and blues as cultural looks of black people and to reflect on both the theological and sociological deductions of these vocals. James H. Cone was born on August 5, 1938 in Fordyce, Arkansas. He attended three little colleges, including a theological seminary, before having his Masters and Ph.D. from the esteemed Northwestern University. Cone is married and has two kids. He has held rank to many outstanding boards and organisations including the National Committee of Black Churchman ( member of board of managers ) , American Academy of Religion, Congress of African Peoples, and Black Methodists for Church Renewal. His calling includes being a professor of faith and divinity at Philander Smith College, Adrian College, and Union Theological Seminary, where he now teaches. James H. Cone is now an American reverend and writer. Cone achieved his greatest acclamation in 1969 with the ground-breaking book, Black Theology and Black Power. This book attracted a great trade of attending due to its defence of the black power motion from a Christian point of position. He has since written many theological plants including Risks of Faith, where he provides critical penetrations into American worlds and the possibilities for American divinity. Cone has been the Charles A. Briggs Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminar in New York City since 1977. Cone? s The Spirituals and the Blues is split into two typical subdivisions, one which discusses the importance and impact of the spirituals and one which discusses that of the blues. The writer starts out by depicting the rough state of affairs slaves were put in and how the black experience in America is a history of servitude and opposition, of endurance in the land of decease. The spirituals are the historical vocals which tell us what the slaves did to keep themselves together and to contend back against their oppressors. In both Africa and America, music was straight related to day-to-day life and was an look of the community? s position of the universe and its being in it. The cardinal theological construct, which is the premier spiritual factor, in the black spirituals is the godly release of the oppressed from bondage. Further, the theological premise of black slave faith as expressed in the spirituals was that bondage contradicts God, and hence, God will emancipate black pe ople. This factor came from the fact that many inkinesss believed in Jesus, and hence, believed that He could salvage them from the subjugation of bondage because of his decease and Resurrection. The fact that the subject of godly release was present in the slave vocals is supported by three chief averments: the scriptural literalism of the inkinesss forced them to accept the white point of views that implied God? s blessing of bondage, the black vocals were derived from white meeting vocals and reflected the # 8220 ; white # 8221 ; significance of godly release as liberating one from wickedness ( non slavery ) , and that the spirituals do non incorporate # 8220 ; clear mentions to the desire for freedom # 8221 ; . The extent of enduring which the slaves endured could hold altered their religion in God. However, the black slaves? probes of the absurdnesss of human being was concrete, and it was done within the context of the community of religion. They did non inquire whether Go d is merely and right, but alternatively whether the hurting of the universe would do them to lose religion in the word of God. One of the major sorrows which the slaves went through was more of the loss of the community than the existent physical ferociousness of bondage. This is why most of the spirituals focused on # 8220 ; traveling place # 8221 ; to be reunited with their households which had been broken through bondage. Although black slaves feared decease, sing it as the antonym of life and hence immoralities, they besides accepted the inevitableness of decease, because they believed in Jesus? Resurrection and besides that decease was non ultimate. The writer besides conveys the fact that references to # 8220 ; heaven # 8221 ; non merely referred to a # 8220 ; transcendent world # 8221 ; beyond clip, but besides to earthly topographic points that inkinesss regarded as lands of freedom. These topographic points include Africa, Canada, and the northern United States. They believed that life did non stop with decease, because they thought that God would rectify the wrongs against black people and this hope in a radically new hereafter was defined the spirituals in two distinguishable ways: linguistic communication about heav en as a different kind of topographic point after decease and linguistic communication about the â€Å"last days† . In spirituals, Eden was the topographic point for the griever, the despised, the rejected, and most significantly, the black. The spirituals, nevertheless, were non the lone types of vocals which inkinesss adopted as a solution to the job of black agony. The blues represent the secular dimension of black experience, significance they are â€Å"worldly† vocals which tell us about the inkinesss? agony and lasting while being oppressed. They are secular in the sense that they â€Å"confine their attending entirely to the immediate and affirm the bodily look of black soul† . Most believe that the blues began to take signifier in the late 1800s, but it is widely agreed that the spirit and temper of the blues stretch good into the bondage yearss. The blues are closely related to the â€Å"slave seculars† , which are non-religious and show the incre dulity of inkinesss who could non take white sermonizers? spiritual religion earnestly. The blues do non reject God, but instead ignore God by accepting the joys and sorrows of life. The biggest difference between the spirituals and the blues is that merely as strongly religious the spirituals are, the blues are worldly. Another of import differentiation between the spirituals and the blues is that the blues evidences black hope in history, non in a supplication for a better life after decease. The writer tells us that the blues can best be defined as an artistic response to the pandemonium of life uniting art and life, poesy and experience, and the symbolic and the existent. They describe the world of black agony without seeking to invent solutions for the job of absurdness and, put merely, acknowledge that inkinesss have been â€Å"hurt and scared† by the ferociousnesss of white society. The Spirituals and the Blues is a really well-written and enlightening book. One strength is the fact that the writer shows distinguishable differences between two types of vocals which, for the most portion, served the same intent: reflecting the battle for black endurance under the rough world of bondage and segregation. The cardinal subject in the black spirituals is the godly release of the oppressed from bondage, whereas the blues attempt to # 8220 ; carve out # 8221 ; a important being in a really seeking state of affairs. The blues had their foundation built upon historical experience and the fact that if it is lived and encountered, so it is existent. One of the most convincing tools used by Cone throughout the book are the extracts of several spirituals and blues used to better exemplify what function these vocals played in the black community. Another converting tool Cone uses throughout are responses from musical experts of different races to these rich, originative voca ls someway discovered by # 8220 ; these half-barbarous people # 8221 ; . Although many Whites recognized the musical creativeness of these vocals, their ain cultural experience frequently precluded their brushs with these deeper degrees of human experience reflected in the spirituals and the blues. James H. Cone? s account of how these types of music were accepted by different races, usage of extracts, and conveyance of the different foundations upon which these types of music were built aid to exemplify both similarities and differences which can be found between the spirituals and the blues. The Spirituals and the Blues is a really well-written book, but as is the instance with most books, does hold its failings. One failing I observed is that the subdivision of the book which talks about the blues is really little in proportion to that which talks about the spirituals. The spirituals do hold a longer, more extended history, but it does non look that this should reflect such a big proportion of the book. The lone other failing which I found the book to hold is that the writer slightly contradicted himself, in my position, when it comes to specifying the blues. In his # 8220 ; Concluding Reflection # 8221 ; , Cone tries to unify the spirituals and the blues and provinces that the two types of music should non be regarded as one being sacred # 8220 ; and the other secular # 8221 ; . Earlier, nevertheless, Cone explained how inkinesss held God in such high regard and this was the foundation upon which the spirituals were built and besides negotiations about how blues co uld be classified as # 8220 ; a secular religious # 8221 ; . His points can still be easy understood by the reader, but I feel that he nontheless contradicts himself while doing these statements. Overall, I thought the book was really edifying when it came to the point of uncovering the cardinal subject and foundation of these two distinct but besides similar types of vocals. The spirituals were built on a firm belief in God, while the blues ignored God and accepted the joys and sorrows of life. Although they were slightly different, both partake of the same black experience in the United States. The spirituals and the blues both aided inkinesss through times of terrible adversity and agony. It was interesting to me to happen out how even through subjugation, inkinesss who were considered # 8220 ; trusters # 8221 ; and those who were considered # 8220 ; non-believers # 8221 ; remained faithful to the fact that one twenty-four hours, they would crush their oppressors and state of affairs. I liked the book most when it came to the point of placing that the spirituals and the blues are non vocals of desperation or defeated people, but represent one of the greatest victory of a peoples in the history of the universe.

East Asia essays

East Asia essays During the years between 1000 and 1400 the East Asian region saw extensive change and development concerning the nature of the elites that ruled respective countries. In China there was the growth of the examination culture, Japan experienced the emergence of the Samurai, Korea saw the growth of the Yangban, and Vietnam became content with a tribute system to China. Each of the respective countries grew and developed independently and for the most part were able to distance themselves from China and begin to form their own national identity along with their own system of ruling elites. In China there is a definite beginning to the new political elite which stems from the transition from the Tang to Song dynasties culminating in 960. The Zhao Brothers, who are the leaders of the revolution and the only ones able to consolidate power, know that they are only military strong men and realize that they need a system that will help prevent them from loosing power. As a result they look away from the landed aristocracy, that had previously ruled China and in the fighting has been greatly weakened, and focus their attention on creating a new political structure to develop government officials. The Zhao brothers institute the Confucian Examination System (CES), which no longer relies on recommendation but is merit based. The provincial exams are held every three years, with the number of people passing the final exam (Jinshi) being around 100-150 out of the original 100,000. Around this examination system there was now a rise of a new elite, the Literati. With the b eginning of the CES there began a steady decline of military power in China and the emergence of the Literati. During the Mongol invasion the exams were stopped, which led to cultural development of the Literati because they had no political power with the Mongols, but with the re-institution of the exams by the Mongols in 1313 the Literati again begins once again a...

Are Science and Religion in Conflict Research Paper - 1

Are Science and Religion in Conflict - Research Paper Example Many are the times when religion has various inconsistencies with science. While some people are alight with religion, some do not find this route appealing. As a matter of fact, there have been various debates that try to bring religion and science together. Many parties have come up with strong points that are aimed to settle the differences (Draper, 2010). However, not a single party is willing to water down their stand. As such, they have been in constant opposition as to which has a legitimate stand. Consequentially, some people are torn in between as they come to terms with issues raised by both sides of the divide. Most people only focus on the positive attributes of the two sides. As such, they do not have a concrete decision to fully settle for either religion or science. For these reasons, this paper answers the question as to whether there is a conflict between religion and science. Religion is based on religious practices and beliefs which are taught in defined settings a nd contained in various literature. Religious norms state that their followers have to uphold utmost faith in their beliefs. As such, they are to follow religious teachings and values at all times. One of the most outstanding issues in religion is that God is the creator of everything. Since He is the supreme creator, human beings have no legitimacy to compare themselves to the Supreme Being. In this case, humans have no reason to compare themselves to the Almighty through His mysterious ways (Radcliffe, 2012). The point is that religious fraternities are not in agreement with scientific innovations with scientists trying to compare their creations with those of the Almighty. The most outstanding example in this case is cloning. Science has made it possible for humans to create other humans through cloning, which is a scientific way of breeding humans through science. This is unacceptable to many religions as followers consider this to be mimicking their Creator. As a matter of fact , they consider the Almighty as a steadfast priority and should not be compared to anything else that exists or ever existed (Draper, 2010). For a human being to glorify cloning is ridicule to God as stated by the religious fraternities. Therefore, according to religious groups, the numerous scientific innovations are ill advised and should not try to compare their innovations with God’s creations. This has been a heated point of argument as scientists advance on their innovation in total disregard of the sentiments from the religious people. On the other hand, scientists state that there is no point of concern with their innovations in regard to cloning. In fact, some scientists state that the Almighty gave humans the brain as well as the right to fill the earth. As such, they are enhancing the Almighty’s task to multiply the human population and fill the earth. Since this is a strong point, scientists feel that they have an obligation to increase the human population in an easier and scientific way. Consequentially, religious fraternities state that this is not the intended approach to multiplication of the human kind. They state that the Almighty intended for the natural way of multiplying human beings. As such, these religious fraternities are totally against cloning of human beings. This creates a serious drift between the two parties as each tries to justify their opinions and approaches (Bury, 2010). Since they all have their supporting points and references, they seem to be in conflict. Apparently, this conflict seems to intensify with each development and cannot be solved on a round table agreement. Conflict arises between religion and science especially when there is such a profound contention. As a matter of fact, religious groups have one thing in common, which is their beliefs and faith in a superior being (Dennett & Plantinga, 2010). Therefore, all the people that interact with the religious groups will have to assert their beliefs