Religion and Theology Introduction Over the years, man has struggled with finding his true identity. There are many doctrines than define man and how he is supposed to live in order to accomplish his purpose. All these doctrines are different and have a different set of beliefs which at times collide with each other. As such, man is at a dilemma since he must decide which doctrine to follow and what set of beliefs to choose. There are some people however who are not subject to any of the doctrines and have come up with their beliefs and live according to them. This trend has diffused the ideal truth and made truth a matter of personal opinion. This essay seeks to reflect on the readings from Pope St. John Paul II (Fides et Ratio), Plato (Apology, Euthyphro), and Pope Benedict XVI (“The Feeling of Things, The Contemplation of Beauty”) and then summarize the main ideas about rationality, truthfulness, and the human pursuit of true knowledge gained from these readings and discussions. Thereafter comment on how these texts may represent a…
The views that Bharati Mukherjee and James Baldwin have in common In his essay, “stranger in the village”, James Baldwin explains his experience in a small Swiss village. When Baldwin visits the village in Switzerland, he realizes that he is the first black person ever to visit the village. Although everyone in the village knows his name and that he is a friend to a local woman and her son, Baldwin experiences a sense of alienation and isolation from the people around him. Baldwin is treated as a stranger by the villagers; children shout “Niger! Niger!” and the villagers are curious about his physical appearance. In the essay “American Dreamer”, Bharati Mukherjee gives an account almost similar to Baldwin. Mukherjee moved from Calcutta India to the United States, where she experiences both self and cultural transformation. Being an immigrant, Mukherjee had to find a new cultural identity because she was no longer a “majority” but among the minority group of multicultural student. During her years in the University of Iowa, Mukherjee fell in love with Clark Blaise who was a…
Why should you visit Imperial Bhutan Bhutan is a land of paradise enclosed by lofty mountains, serene rolling valleys, refreshing greens, and ancient monasteries that will calm you from within. The abundance of flora and fauna in this small landlocked country makes it a refreshing retreat. It is akin to a kaleidoscope as whichever part of the country you turn to; you are going to be greeted by enthralling beauty. The majestic Himalayas standing tall and the colourful culture of the country truly make it imperial. Sailani Tours arranges tour packages to this imperial land of beauty, where you can experience a thoroughly rejuvenating time while enjoying the scenic panoramic views. Planning your itinerary in the Land of the Thunder Dragon won’t be difficult if you follow the excellent vacation packages made to give you an all-round taste of Bhutan. Here are some of the places that you must visit in Bhutan. 1. Thimphu Thimphu Valley is one of the most breath-taking sites to visit in Bhutan because of the stunning views it provides. You can have a panoramic…
The Scopes of Vedic Astrology and Nadi Astrology One of the Vedangas- or ancillary sciences connected with the Vedas, Hindu Astrology or Jyotisha has its roots in Vedic spirituality. The journey of man, in search of Self-knowledge, is the idea that forms the core of the Vedic worldview. The Hindu Astrology or Jyotisha explores astrological bodies and the power of the universe to help map out the spiritual journeys of men through arithmetic calculations and collected astrological data. While Vedic Astrology underlines mathematical findings as the source base for predictions, Nadi Astrology draws from an ancient archive of vastly curated data on men’s destinies. Vedic Astrology vs Nadi Astrology is a hot topic of debate among spiritual practitioners of India, both having different scopes and limitations. Consultations in both fields happen to enrich the seeking soul but in separate ways. To start with, Vedic Astrology relies on planetary positions to predicate the course of the native’s life but Nadi Astrology presents an intuitive analysis of what the native’s future has in store. Nadi Astrology is informed by codified…
Raphael, Ansidei Madonna This is a painting by Raphael, who was an Italian high renaissance painter. The painting was between 1505 and 1507 during his Florentine period. The painting shows an image of Virgin Mary sitting on a throne. From a closer look, the throne appears to be wooden based on its color and texture. Child Jesus Christ is on her laps. On the left side is Saint Nicholas who is reading a book and on the right stands John the Baptist who appears to be listening carefully to the words of Nicholas is reading. Notably, the poise of the painting is incredible and the lighting impressive. The white arch behind the throne illuminates the throne relatively well giving a sense of holiness and righteousness. A close observation of the throne, the internal architecture of the throne is not entirely logical in regard to the shape of a trivial throne. The throne has no arms, and the wooden stairs are too steep to be practical. The intention of the painter ate this level was to present the sense of a…
Thor, the god of thunder What exactly comes into your mind when you hear or think of Thor, the god of thunder? Many people will argue that it’s just a myth or just another story altogether. Just as like other people would picture their God, Thor was a large, tall, muscular man with red hair and beard. In Germanic mythology, Thor was a prominently declared god. The people of Germanic saw Thor as the god of thunder who by his Hummer, which was known as Mjolnir, would produce thunder. He acted as the foremost of the gods to the people in the society. Thor’s hummer “Mjolnir”, in other words, the destroyer, initially was made by dwarfs who used to create magical objects for gods, known as Brok and Eitri, the Hummer would return to Thor’s hand magically whenever he needed it. Thor was the son of the earth goddess Odin and Jord, and he was the toughest of the Aesir. Thor is the god of thunder married to the Goddess of fertility, the golden-haired Sif; he; he also had a…
Tree of Life jewelry We can see that this centuries-old idea of Tree of Life has got deep roots in various cultures and religions. It’s the nature of man that it tries to make something spiritual or with religious significance a part of their lives. The answer to how one can incorporate it into their lives is by Jewellery. The symbols design of a tree inside a circle is simple and looks aesthetically pleasing as a piece of jewelry, so people started wearing. The symbol’s link to philosophy, spirituality, and religion made them feel more connected with their beliefs and the surroundings around them. Individuals who are into astrology or believe in the power of stones also incorporate their birthstones in the Tree of Life jewellery. In philosophical and spiritual teachings, the role of rocks in someone’s life is of high importance as they believe that the right stone could help and guide you in life. It is believed that the stones could change a person’s nature, help them heal, alleviate the financial problem, and various other stuff. In this…
Hundreds rally in US cities against anti-Muslim violence in Delhi Part 1: Summary According to the news article, ‘Hundreds rally in US cities against anti-Muslim violence,’ a great number of Indian Americans consisting of different faiths rallied outside Indian consulates in main American cities with the sole intention to protest against the current violence in Delhi that has resulted in the loss of forty-two lives, including hundreds of people being injured. It is worth noting that violence erupted in the Indian capital, something that triggered a three-day-long rampage, with Hindu mobs attacking Muslim homes, mosques as well as shops (Sadeque, 2020). As seen in the article, more than thirty individuals have been killed in what is described as a harsh police crackdown, and this has been on nationwide peaceful sit-ins against the ‘Anti-Muslim’ law. The police in Delhi have, to a great extent, been accused of looking the other way as Hindu mobs conducted attacks targeting Muslims homes. Many have expressed their concern stating that the violence being experienced has highly been normalized into the fabric of Indian society that…
The Effective Interests Rate Method The effective interest rate method is the alternative approach for gradual write off of discounted rate. Through the effective interest rate method, the interest expense amount in a particular period of accounting corresponds with the book value of a bond at the start of the accounting period (Roberts, 123). Thus, the increase in bond value consequently increases the amount of interest expense. For instance, “by selling a discounted bond, the bond’s discount amount must be amortized to interest expense over the life of the bond.” Through the use of the effective interest rate approach, the amount of debt in the discount on payable bonds is shifted to the interest account. Thus, amortization causes the expense of interest in every period to be higher than the interest amount paid in each year of the life of the bond. The effective interest method is utilized in the evaluation of interest generated by bonds as it considers the effect of bond purchase instead of accounting only for per value. The major advantage of using this approach is that…
Gun-Related Harm Statistically, America reports more gun-related deaths and causalities compared to other developed nations annually. According to the results from the U.S. Census Bureau, states that report many gun-related injuries include California, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Pennsylvania, among others. Gun violence in American states is more prevalent in low-income urban settlements, which reports more gun-related cases compared to the suburban rural areas. Moreover, gun-related harms are more associated with gangs, especially in the large city of Los Angeles, often involving young youths and juvenile delinquents. Groups engage in drug trafficking, firearm trafficking, and human trafficking activities that predispose them to buy guns to protect their businesses and lives. Historically, the first gun-related violence dates back to 1966 at the University of Texas, where a former marine sniper killed 16 civilians and harmed 31 in less than two hours. The mass shooting of 1966 remains one of the deadliest mass shootings recorded in the United States. Charles Whitman, known as ‘Texas Tower Sniper,’ used semi-automatic firearms and rifles, resulting in the high fatality rate. Charles Whitman fire…