Evolution And Its Impact On Students Worldview - 1310 Words

Perhaps the greatest challenge in the Christian academic community surrounds the question of evolution and its impact on students’ worldview. Trepidation concerning the topic of evolution and its implications may launch students into a pit of uncertainty and doubt. This outcome is certain if the topic at hand is presented in such a way that fails to encounter students’ questions in an academically enriching environment. Historically, the act of challenging notions of familiarity results in outcomes that can strengthen previous assumptions or reveal new possibilities in which the mind can unravel the natural world’s many mysteries in its function. Consequently, new discoveries and questions regarding the order of the natural world initiate†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, humility is the key to the approach to biblical hermeneutics and the workings of evolution. Accepting that we do not have the necessary knowledge obtained through scriptural analysis to prove or disprove evolution is the first step in this endeavor. We as humans do not possess ultimate scientific or hermeneutical knowledge. The acquisition of such knowledge would ultimately eliminate our belief in God. The origins of Earth and humanity cannot be confirmed via first person accounts or a YouTube video upload. The age of our race, planet, and universe pale in comparison to the message of the Gospel. Our redemption from sin through Christ is the foundation of our faith, as well as our key to salvation. However, such statements must be made following the critical analysis of historical, hermeneutical, and theological elements. Saint Augustine recognized that non-believers were exceptionally aware and knowledgeable in many facets of scientific discovery and thought. In Mark A. Noll’s Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind, Noll explores Saint Augustine’s role in encouraging Christians to maintain awareness and caution when engaging with non-believers in top ics that they are not knowledgeable of. Augustine also claimed that science and faith should work together in a harmonious relationship. Early scientific discovery did little to question literal interpretations of the

Do Animals Have Minds - 774 Words

Humans have for centuries pondered on the mind, its existence, its beginning, it’s limit, it’s substance, and fought many different arguments against them all. But how do we know if any animals have a mind? Is intelligence unique to humans? Professor Donald Griffin has pointed out that â€Å"consciousness is not a tidy all-or-nothing entity, it varies with age, culture, experience and gender. And if animals have conscious experiences, these presumably vary widely as well.† If humans have minds, it must be possible that animals also have minds. And though no one would believe that earthworms and earwigs have thought processes like our own, it has been proven that chimps share 98% of genome with humans. Chimps have also shown that they can lie†¦show more content†¦By saying this we would have to wonder why other animals have not also adapted to our level. What could be stopping them? If we are all made of the same chemicals what has held the others back an d why are we the only creatures to make it this far? There are many strong counter- arguments to animals also having minds. We would have to wonder what else could be making the difference, and only by stepping totally out of a materialist view and into a realm beyond science can we begin to figure this out. Rene Descartes through the Cartesian method of thinking from the very foundations of what he was sure, established ultimately that he is thinking, that it is the only thing he is sure of. We can only be sure of what is self- evident. He argues that ‘the senses are not designed to give us knowledge at all, but are rather meant to help us move through the world in a very practical way’. So can we be sure at all that animals have minds, as intellect may be the only truth and we can not communicate clearly enough with animals to know this? Most animals rely on their senses rather than judgement (something tested by science in various tests on animals), something which Descartes believes separates humans from animals. And if senses are not at all a help to the mind but a guide for the body to move through life in a practical way, animals surely do not have minds, as they are lacking the ability to judge. In evaluating these two arguments, I wouldShow MoreRelatedUnderstanding the Capacity for Reasoning in Humans and Animals799 Words   |  3 PagesWe have concluded that mind and body work together as one. In humans, we have a mental experience happen with a biological experience together whether we are conscious of it or not. This has led to recovery from illness, like an optimistic person with cancer or someone to become ill, like an aggressive type-A personality with cardiovascular problems. Our bodies work with the mind in the opposite direction as well. While it cannot be denied that humans display behaviors not seen in nonhuman animalsRead MoreA Brief Biography of Rene Descartes1580 Words   |  6 Pagesto past notions. The seventeenth century was a pivotal point in history, which can be attributed by through works of philosopher Rene Descartes, who had endorsed the mechanistic conception of the world and the human body by coining notions such as mind, substance, and the knowle dge argument; although his notions were not always accepted, he managed to provide valid support. Born in France, Rene Descartes, dubbed The Father of Modern Philosophy was, in a way, a Renaissance man having contributedRead MoreGeorge Orwell : Language As Tool Of Propaganda1300 Words   |  6 PagesLanguage as a Tool of Propaganda Throughout the story, you see the way that the pig, Squealer, gives information to the â€Å"lowly† animals. He tells them what the leading pig, Napoleon, wants them to know, but he tells it in a way that it seems they are benefitting. Squealer had a way of persuading the other animals to listen to him, through his actions and manipulation. â€Å"The best known among them was a small, fat pig named Squealer, with very round cheeks, twinkling eyes, nimble movements and a shrillRead MoreLanguage And The Human Language1235 Words   |  5 Pages scientists argue as to whether or not animals truly have language. In my opinion animals do not have language but rather they have a communication system. I believe language is specific to human beings and cannot universally be applied to the way animals communicate. While I believe animals all possess their own systems to communicate, because they cannot understand or apply the intricacies of the human language such as grammar, I do not believe they have language. First, in support of my stanceRead MoreDifferent Types Of The Mind : The Human, Animal, And Mechanical Theory1032 Words   |  5 Pages Introduction The mind is made up of numerous classes of procedures that can be studied empirically; this paper will limit this field to psychology. There are three different types of the mind: the human, animal, and the mechanic. The human mind is the paradigm of the mind; the mechanical mind exists as a challenge to materialism or mind-brain identity theory. This leads to the anti-materialist argument: intelligence is made up of levels of mental processes in which the mind is the genus and intelligenceRead MoreConsciousness : The Conscious Mind Essay1696 Words   |  7 PagesConsciousness in Animals The conscious mind is a complex thing that has many questions that science is yet to answer. The conscious is composed by awareness and responsiveness in one’s mind, it is expressed by one’s emotions, thoughts, and actions. Consciousness to me is defined by the ability to be aware and responsive. Awareness is an element that distinguishes the conscious from the unconscious. To be aware is to be knowledgeable of your surroundings and to know what is happening in the worldRead MoreOrwell s Animal Farm, By George Orwell856 Words   |  4 PagesStultifying to self-delusion In novel â€Å"Animal Farm† by George Orwell, he mentions the animals in the farm they all have the vision of freedom after Old Major’s prediction. They rebilled against the farmers and after their victory they tasted the revolution. The farm was renamed â€Å"Animal Farm† and made the constitution of the manor – â€Å"the seven commandments.† Soon there is a split on the revolution between the pigs, Snowball was declared as an enemies of the revolution. Since then Napoleon and SquealerRead MoreAnalysis Of Rene Descartes869 Words   |  4 PagesAristotle, he believes that mind is the first reality where idea and precipitations occurs. There are some absolute truths, which can be never be apart and they can be verified easily. He believes that truths which are absolute always have the simplest explanations. For example, 2+2=4 is one of the idea which no one can deceive, it will always be truth. The ideas which have simple explanations or are absolu te are also necessary ideas. There are some ideas, which have some possible chance that theyRead MoreHuman Nature And The Mind974 Words   |  4 PagesHuman Nature and The Mind Human nature and the mind have been studied for ages. As humans, we tend to think, feel, and act in certain ways that are often elucidated by nature and evolution. In fields such as Psychology, Philosophy, and Science, human nature and the mind have been extensively studied to develop theories about why humans act, think, and feel that way that we do. It is believed by some that humans are born a certain way by nature. There are three ways that people tend to believe humansRead MoreDescartes And Descartes s The Meditations987 Words   |  4 Pagesbased on your own mind and do not need to go to the outside world. Aristotle and Descartes wouldn’t agree. For example, a blind person. Aristotle would say he cannot know light so he would have to see it from some outside source to get knowledge. Descartes would say to not go to the outside world to find truth. Descartes would recommend meditation: self- reflection. First, you will look at your own mind, using your own mind to look at your mind. Then from that meditation on your mind you can figure

Comparing and Contrast Emilia and Desdemonas love for their husband free essay sample

â€Å"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear. † (Martin Luther King, Jr. ) In the play Othello this quote shows relation to how love occurs among the main characters. This is highlighted though the relationship that Emilia and Desdemona have with their respective husbands. Throughout, the relationship of these characters with their spouses will be analyzed. The relationship between Emilia and her husband Iago will be expressed as well as the relationship between Desdemona and her husband Othello. Then the similarities and differences between the two relationships will be compared. Emilia and Iago had a very complex relationship. They do not have a strong and equal relationship displaying love. This is not what one would expect to exist between a man and his wife. Iago uses Emilia as his puppet; he mocks and disrespects her. He appears to not care much about her well being. This is seen in the lack of affection he shows to his wife. Iago seems as though he does not have the ability to love anything or anyone. However Emilias feelings towards her husband completely different from the negative feelings he has towards her. Emilias love towards Iago is filled with so much passion and devotion. She tries her utmost best to please Iago. I nothing but to please his fantasy. (Act 3. Scene 3) This is seen when she steals Desdemonas handkerchief hoping her husband would be appreciative. She is experiencing unrequited love. This is odd as the object of her affections is her husband,whom has no feelings towards her. He is undeserving of her love,as Emilia could be offering all this love to one whom actually deserves it. This is a good character trait in Emilia. Due to her not getting the love she wants from husband, she develops the belief that women should be able cheat on there husbands. Subsequently they had a rocky relationship,even though Emilia really did love her husband. In contrast, Desdemona and Othello had a powerful relationship. This is seen in the manner they chose to get married. To choose to elope and get married without your fathers blessing is a big undertaking for Desdemona. However she went through with it. She eloped with him because in her eyes she believed that he was the perfect man for her. They have strong â€Å"young love†. In the beginning of the play Othello would worship Desdomona â€Å"She lov’d me for the dangers I had pass’d, And I lov’d her that she did pity them. † (Act I. Scene 3). Emilia is in love with Othello and completely devoted to him. She is not with him for his looks,but with him for his heart. Othello cherished Emilia and treated her like a princess. However, Othello love for Desdemona was too strong that made him think Desdemona was cheating on him. Ultimately this pushes him into doing something that leads to Desdemonas death. Therefore Emilia and Desdemonas relationship with their husband was completely different. This is seen in the way they interact with their respective spouses and generally what their views on their spouses were. The major difference between Emilias relationship and Desdemona relationship is that in Emilias relationship the love she had for her husband was not mutual, while Desdemonas own was unlike that. Desdemona actually loved her husband,and he her. Also Iago used Emilia for his gain. â€Å"To have a foolish wife. †(Act 3. Scene 3) The manner in which Iago treats Emilia is terrible as he verbally abuses her. In contrast Othello and Desdemonas love was very strong. â€Å"But that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my unhoused free condition, put into circumscription and confine for the seas worth† (Act 1, Scene 2) He express his love for Desdemona to her father, even though he was against their love. Another difference between the two relationships, is that Desdemona is in an interracial marriage and Emilia is not. Othello is a black man,while Desdemona is white. This is not a usual union at this time. Desdemona refuses to marry rich, white men or handsome Veneration men that most would expect her to marry. She chooses instead to marry Othello. Emilia chose to do what is expected and marry a man of her own kind. Unlike Desdemona, who chooses to step outside of her comfort zone. As a result leaving the two with very different dynamics of a relationship. The similarities between Emilia relationship and Desdemona relationship is that they both are married to men who are involved in the army. They are both patriotic as they try to defend their nation, from anything that tries to. They both have a huge responsibility in protecting there country from war. Desdemona and Emilia both had downfalls in there relationship. The downfalls in Emilias marriage is the way in which she allowed herself to be treated. Since the beginning of the play, she knew that she wasnt getting treated properly by her husband,nonetheless she stayed with him. Desdemonas downfall began when her husband stopped trusting her. The way he began asking her so many questions and developing that huge rage towards her,led to the fall in there relationship. For him to accuse her of infidelity was the breaking point in their relationship, while Emilias fall started from the day she married Iago. Overall, love plays a huge role in the difference between these two dominant relationships in the play. It plays a big contribution to the characters downfalls. Emilia searches for love from the person ,whom should be offering it to her the most. This as a result leads her to think that adultery is okay. In addition Othellos love towards Desdemona caused a conflict between them and lead to the death of Desdemona, Emilia and Othello himself. Love has a strong impact to the characters relationship, and hence causes their ending. This play was able to show how love can alter persons perception of reality. Ultimately leading to decisions ran by our emotions. Instead of being well-thought out and planned.

Women and Family in Chinese History

Historical Biography Meihui Huian was a woman born in the Ming and Qing period. Her first name Meihui meant beautiful wisdom while her last name Huian meant obliging and quiet.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Women and Family in Chinese History specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the context of her family background, she was born in a humble family of four children. She had two brothers and one sister. She was the elder of the siblings. This gave her several responsibilities among the family members. As a family, they used to live in the south part of the country. They were well up and were financially stable since her parents were educated and worked in institutions under the dynasty government. During her childhood years, she underwent foot binding. Foot binding was a tradition in China where the feet of young girls were tightly bound in order to prevent the feet from growing further. Meihui happened to undergo this painful process. During the dynasty days, foot binding was considered a very important tradition. The society supported it since bound feet were perceived to be intensely erotic. A woman who had bound feet was probable to make a prestigious marriage. Meihui was a beneficiary of the trait gained from bound feet. It was believed that women with bound feet had a swaying walk. This was due to the tiny steps they took while walking. Many men found this effect very erotic. When Meihui underwent the process of foot binding, she did not like. However, after growing up and learning more about the process, she felt right concerning it. In the context of marriage, she was married by a local resident. Her marriage occurred while in her late teenage. As she grew into a beautiful woman, the interest from men grew. The men came to home to inquire about her availability for marriage. However, her father valued her and felt that she will be married when she decided it was right. When time was right for her, she met a man that she felt love and affection for him. It was agreed that she has made the decision, and a marriage was set. She was married in a traditional Chinese marriage. The ceremonial ritual took place involving a marriage that was established on the basis of pre-arrangement between the two families. There were several factors that were considered before the marriage. This included religion, culture, reputation and wealth (Ebrey 35).Advertising Looking for essay on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the process of getting married, there were several traditional marriage rituals that were conducted. The key rituals were bride price, wedding gifts and the wedding ceremony. The marriage of Meihui was a ceremonial and colorful event. On the day of marriage, there was traditional band from Meihui’s home to her husband’s home. This included Meihui’s sedan and her maids of honor seda n. This was part of the wedding procession. They stopped at the door of her husband and ceremonies were conducted to welcome her into her new home. The ceremonies were a way of welcoming Meihui and her family to the bride’s home. The ceremonies include being offered wine and tea. All the wedding expenses were catered for by the groom’s family. Then finally came time to exchange vows (Ebrey 70). In her natal family, she played the role of training her siblings on the societal and cultural values. She was noticed to have good morals in her early teenage age hence her parents wanted her to pass these values into her siblings. She educated her siblings on the importance of being responsible and having good morals. While growing and becoming mature, she believed that there were womanly qualifications for a woman to be an ideal woman and thus she had to have these essential credentials in her life. The womanly qualifications mainly reflected on the woman’s behavior, m anners and character. She reflected on implicit obedience (Ko 143). In her marital family, she played the role of a wife. She took the proper roles of a woman. She had a strong affection and selfless dedication to her husband. She had respect to her husband. She worked hard and was submissive towards her marital family. Towards her marital family, she played the role of a moral woman by displaying proper conduct, proper virtue, proper speech and proper countenance. These virtues were viewed as morally upstanding qualities. They added individual greatness on the women who gained them. Through the knowledge she had, she maintained the precepts for women. These guidelines for women were mainly principles relating to the virtue, speech, manner and merit of a woman. All these were associated with the behavior characteristic of women. Concerning her virtue, she was reserved and did not express her intelligence and outwardly beauty. Also, she did not outdo others with her skills. Towards h er marital family, she showed respect to both the mother and father-in-law. She was obedient to the mother and father-in-law. She observed the role of the father-in-law and mother with full respect by obeying them (Ebrey 21).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Women and Family in Chinese History specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More During her marriage, she faced family tension. Though she observed key virtues that a woman must perceive, family tension was still evident. The family tension was mainly caused by her husband who at times did not show respect to her marriage. She also faced issues with her in-laws at times. Her family difficulties while in marriage were a challenge to her and her marriage (Ebrey 41). In the target of coping with the family tension, difficulties and crises, she showed humility, whole hearted devotion and implicit obedience in her marriage. She practiced the value of having or showing respect towards other people. This described the positions between her and her husband. She considered being more humble while in her marriage and thus she reflected on her life and that of her husband. She viewed the main role of a woman being a wife was to attend her husband. She believed that the woman was supposed to serve her husband in everything that he required and do all the activities that her husband wished to be accomplished. She alleged that respect and caution were key elements in marriage. As a wife, she showed full respect towards her husband. She offered respect and created a feeling regard towards her husband. As a wife, she had full dedication towards her husband. She expressed her whole hearted devotion through love and loyalty to her husband. When she faced family difficulties with her in-laws, she viewed the father-in-law and mother as particularly eminent people to her and the family context hence she showed acknowledgement and submission to them (Ko 144). She enjoye d her marriage a lot and was happy to be married despite her family tension and difficulties. She enjoyed being a wife and also the duties that were delegated to her. She adored showing her womanly qualities that gained her respect among many. Explanatory Note The biography I created is a reflection of Meihui Huian who was a Chinese woman character that I created. On reflecting on her as a woman and a wife, I believe that she had a solid idea and opinions in her life that could act as role models to other women. She also created the precepts for women with the target of guiding herself to live properly. I chose to discuss her because she had a significant influence on the lives of other women and their lifestyle.Advertising Looking for essay on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The significance about her story is that it is a unique inspirational story. The story about Meihui Huian reflects on having value as a woman and maintaining that quality. As a woman in the dynasty periods, she showed several sensibilities. These sensibilities were both aesthetic and spiritual. She was seen to be intellectual in activities that she was involved. This was evident through her good morals and respect to all. She also had good ideas, thoughts and opinions in matters that concerned women and family (Ko 144). Meihui Huian reflected on using conservative reaction in order to create peace in her life and marriage. Her lifestyle was intended at improving the perception of a woman. She wanted to show other people that living with certain qualities were fruitful and beneficial. In her life, she showed that a woman was to be a being with womanly qualities in order to create a good impression concerning her. She was also involved in the well upbringing of her siblings since she was the one who gave them lessons on virtues and good morals. Works Cited Ebrey, Patricia B. The Inner Quarters: Marriage and the Lives of Chinese Women in the Sung Period. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1993. Print. Ko, Dorothy. Teachers of the Inner Chambers: Women and Culture in Seventeenth-Century China. Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press, 1994. Print. Mann, Susan, and Yu-Yin Cheng. Under Confucian Eyes. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001. Print. This essay on Women and Family in Chinese History was written and submitted by user BartRozum to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.