The Augustinian Theodicy Essay Example for Free

The Augustinian Theodicy Essay Throughout history, the problems of evil and suffering have always been prevalent in the world. The problems can be split up into two types: moral evil and natural suffering. Moral evil is generally viewed as anything that is caused by humans and inflicts pain (physical or psychological) or death or obstructs lifes freedom and/or expression; for example, murder, war, crime. Natural suffering is generally viewed as events that occur because of the physical world or environment; for example, earthquakes, volcanoes, flooding. Evil and suffering therefore present believers in the God of Classical Theism with a logical problem- one of them being the Inconsistent Triad. The Inconsistent Triad consists of three premises: 1- God is omnipotent; 2- God is omnibenevolent; 3- there is evil in the world. All three premises cannot be true at the same time which means either God does not exist or there is no evil in the world. St Augustine of Hippo, who lived from 354 to 430 AD in the Roman Province of Africa, was a Manichaean (Persian and Dualist religion) in his early until he later converted to Christianity. Augustine proposed a theodicy, which is an attempt to reconcile the existence of an omnibenevolent and omnipotent God with the undeniable fact of evil and suffering in the world; it is derived from the Greek words theos or God and dike or justice. Augustines theodicy explains that according to Genesis, God being perfect created a perfect world where because of His goodness and perfection, God gave humans free will. Therefore, the possibility of evil is necessary as the world can never be as perfect as God. The Fall is also central to his theodicy because when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, mans original purity was lost and all their descendents inherited original sin and original guilt because they were seminally present in the loins of Adam. As a result, we all deserve the consequences which means moral evil is a misuse of our freedom and natural evil is punishment for all mans sins. The theodicy goes further in explaining that we cannot blame God for evil as evil is not a thing in itself but rather privatio boni, which is Latin for the privation of good. This means evil is not an entity, but a lack of goodness or righteousness therefore evil only happens when good goes wrong. Augustines theodicy essentially says that God is right not to interfere with problems of evil and suffering in the world, as it is perfectly justified that we should suffer and at the end of our lives- if we have accepted that Gods forgiveness is necessary- we will go to Heaven, otherwise all non-believers will be punished in Hell for eternity. For some Christians- mainly fundamental Christians- Augustines theodicy succeeds in justifying evil and suffering in the world. However, for non-Christians and even liberal Christians, the theodicy fails for a number of different reasons. The theodicy fails in some ways because of the advance in science. Augustines theodicy is based on the Bible being interpreted as literal which opens him up to two scientific criticisms. In contrast to evolution theory, which is now widely accepted as an explanation for the existence of complex organisms through the gradual process of natural selection and random mutations over generations, if the Bible is taken as literal truth, then the theodicy is the reverse of evolution as it prescribes humans were created first. Another scientific criticism is whilst Augustine says we were all seminally present in the loins of Adam, our genes suggest otherwise. Not only does each person have their own unique DNA (with the exception of identical twins), other factors contribute to how a person develops, such as their socialization, which can create psychological differences too. Therefore it would be wrong to say that all humans are the same as Adam. Furthermore, there are logical criticisms of Augustines theodicy. If evil is not a thing in itself, then good and evil would unknown to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. So in Genesis, when Eve ate the forbidden fruit, she had no concept of evil. Schleiermacher, a late 18th/early 19th Century German philosopher, agreed the theodicy is flawed because he said it was a logical contradiction to say that a perfectly created world had gone wrong, since this would mean that evil had created itself ex nihilo, which is impossible. Either the world was created imperfect or God allowed it to go wrong. Perhaps the most important criticisms are moral as they challenge God. Being omniscient, God should have known that things would go wrong and being omnipotent, He could have made creation better and less flawed. Also, the creation of Hell is puzzling because surely God would not create it unless He knew that The Fall would happen which further questions His perfection. Not only that, the selection process for Heaven is discriminate as Heaven can be viewed as an exclusive club for people who have turned to Christ and accepted the need for Gods forgiveness. Therefore, God is wasteful of good souls as they would be punished eternally for having no Christian belief- even if they had been morally good people their whole lives. This clearly questions Gods omnibenevolence and fairness. At first evaluation, St Augustines theodicy appears to make some good points about the reasons for evil and suffering in the world, particularly his comparison of evil to darkness and them being an absence of good and light respectively. However on closer inspection, there are some clear flaws with the theodicy which challenge the God of Classical Theism as they criticise His creation and more importantly- Gods omnibenevolence. The theodicy works well for fundamental Christians, but is not effective in convincing other Christians and non-Christians into the reasons for the existence of evil and suffering in the world as it presents us with an arbitrary and flawed God.

Psychoanalysis vs. Person-Centered Therapy Essay -- Psychology, Worth,

Person-Centered Therapy is an optimistic theory that is categorized in the humanistic approaches to therapy. PC therapy believes that human beings are intrinsically good, and are motivated to be the best that they can be (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p. 346). The theory embodies respect for individuals and values of tolerance and understanding (Brodley, 2007, p. 140). As the name implies the client is responsible for his or her own growth and improvement (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p.344). Rogers' stated that the main assumption of his approach is that â€Å"individuals have within themselves vast resources for self-understanding and for altering their self-concepts, basic attitudes, and self- directed behavior† (Rogers, 1980, p.115). One of the underlying assumptions, and main motivation, of Person-Centered Therapy is that human beings possess an innate tendency to grow and meet their full potential, or to self-actualize. Self-actualization is the inherent motivation to reach our hi ghest potential, both emotionally and intellectually (Kosslyn & Rosenberg, 2004, p. 464). Self-actualization moves one towards autonomous behavior and self-sufficiency, it enriches one’s life and enhances their creativity. It also promotes congruence, wholeness, and integration of the person. Rogers describes self-actualizing people as the fully functioning person (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p.322). Another central construct to PC therapy are conditions of worth. The conditions come from the need for positive regard. These are â€Å"conditions under which the person is judged to be worthy of positive regard† (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p. 323). Conditions of worth arise by the positive evaluation of actions or feelings from an important loved one. Initially external, they... ...entation, or several, in which they choose to practice in their professional career. Psychoanalysis and Person-Centered Therapy are just two, out of over four hundred types, of counseling approaches in use today. The constructs and theories are extremely different, however, neither can be considered right nor wrong. They are simply based on different beliefs, assumptions and viewpoints of human development and their behavior. Although, however different and unique, there are still similarities between the two types of therapy approaches. Through case examples, such as the case of D and the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder, the techniques and outcomes of different treatment approaches can be see in real life examples. Past research and writing support brings about contradictions, criticism and treatment outcomes to the theories and those who developed them.

Test Test

1. Chapter 1? The Business and Society Relationship Question TF #1 Business can do just about anything it wants because we do not live in a socially conscious environment. a. True *b. False 2. Chapter 1? The Business and Society Relationship Question TF #2 The business environment in current times, the first decade of the 21st century, can best be described as turbulent. *a. True b. False 3. Chapter 1? The Business and Society Relationship Question TF #3 When speaking of business in the collective sense, the textbook will most often be focusing on big business. *a. True b. False 4. Chapter 1?The Business and Society Relationship Question TF #4 Pluralism is a condition in which there is a concentration of power among society's groups and organizations. a. True *b. False 5. Chapter 1? The Business and Society Relationship Question TF #5 Stakeholders are the owners of shares in a corporation. a. True *b. False 6. Chapter 1? The Business and Society Relationship Question TF #6 Common Cau se and the U. S. Chamber of Commerce are examples of general purpose interest groups. *a. True b. False 7. Chapter 1? The Business and Society Relationship Question TF #7 Business interacts with only a limited number of stakeholder groups. . True *b. False 8. Chapter 1? The Business and Society Relationship Question TF #8 Affluence refers to the level of wealth, disposable income, and standard of living of a society. *a. True b. False 9. Chapter 1? The Business and Society Relationship Question TF #9 The authors of the textbook lay the primary responsibility for business's problems on the media. a. True *b. False 10. Chapter 1? The Business and Society Relationship Question TF #10 The common perception of business power is that there is too little of it to provide a balance with other social institutions. a. True *b. False 11. Chapter 1?The Business and Society Relationship Question TF #11 Power is only manifest when it is used purposefully. a. True *b. False 12. Chapter 1? The Busi ness and Society Relationship Question TF #12 The social contract is the set of rights and duties imposed on citizens by their government. a. True *b. False 13. Chapter 1? The Business and Society Relationship Question TF #13 The social contract in the modern era is changing rapidly and dramatically. *a. True b. False 14. Chapter 1? The Business and Society Relationship Question TF #14 Ethics refers to issues of right and wrong, fairness, and justice. *a. True

Political Corruption

The main forms of corruption are bribery, fraud, embezzlement and extortion. These concepts do sometimes overlap, but through them, some of the basic characteristics of corruption can be identified.The reason why young people should fight corruption has to do with the fact that it destroys the system of values in society. Youth is part of civil society and carries the future in its hand and the fact that you are able to look at society in a refreshing way allows you to find alternative solutions for abstract problems. This part of the booklet is about concrete initiatives on how to fight corruption. In the whole world, there are many young people who stand firm and choose not take part of the vicious circle of corruption. But still too many young people are not well aware or think that they cannot make a difference. There are many success stories in fighting corruption: itis not an impossible thing! Of course we cannot expect it to disappear overnight, but every step we undertake con tributes to limit its harmful effects! In Hong Kong for instance, through a School Education Program, students are now better aware of the problem of corruption and do not tolerate it any longer.The International Youth Network against corruption (YNAC)This network links you to other young people worldwide and gives you the possibilities to air your concerns, to disseminate knowledge about corruption and to share ideas about the best ways to fight corruption. For its purposes, the Youth Network has a website with an interactive e-forum to discuss corruption related questions and to link together with youth from around world. This forum is openly accessible to everyone. The internet portal is designed for students and maintained by their input and content.2- Responsible organizations: In 2003, an international platform for youth was created in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The IACC12 Youth Forum integrates young people into the international movement for transparency and accountability in public and private spheres. In 2001, the Youth Network Against Corruption, YNAC, was founded in The Hague. Final declaration of the IACC Youth Forum: The participants of the IACC 2003 Youth Forum formulated a final declaration about their vision.After several days of workshops and discussions, they were able to identify the key issues concerning young people and to draw an Action Plan for their future commitment. Those young people envision â€Å"A World without Corruption† and are convinced of the need for an international youth anti-corruption movement. The Youth Action Plan drawn in Seoul includes among the main point that the organization of anti-corruption workshops, presentations and discussions have a predominant position.Sharing an action plan with other youth, developing the current website to conduct online surveys and share documents, approaching governments to ensure effective civic education programs and implementing the concepts of our network in local institut ions are other key issues. The participants also recommend the creation of a corruption index of educational institutions. Perhaps the most important point is the strong will to build linkages with other youth networks so as to be able to work together efficiently and to share experiences and ideas on fighting corruption.Together, the unique contribution and participation of young people will help enhance good governance through raising both local and global awareness. d- Youth for Good Governance, the World Bank Institute's nine modules Brief Description: During this distance learning program, students from various countries study important principles of political and economic organization and how those ideas relate to governance and anti-corruption strategies. The program highlights the important role that young people can play in improving governance in their countries.Ultimately, participants develop locally relevant and feasible plans of action that will enable them to apply th e knowledge and skills they acquire to their immediate society. Responsible organization: The World Bank Institute Implementation: The learning program was implemented in three phases between fall 2002 and the end of 2003. Schools in eight countries participated, namely: Ghana, Uganda, Ukraine, United States, Russia, Tanzania, Yugoslavia, and Zambia.

How to Make an Edible Water Bottle

How to Make an Edible Water Bottle You dont need to wash any dishes if you put your water in an edible water bottle! This is an easy spherification recipe that involves making a gel coating around liquid water. Once you master this simple molecular gastronomy technique, you can apply it to other liquids. Edible Water Bottle Materials The key ingredient for this project is sodium alginate, a natural gelling powder derived from algae. The sodium alginate gels or polymerizes when reacted with calcium. Its a common alternative to gelatin, used in candies and other foods. We have suggested calcium lactate as the calcium source, but you could also use calcium gluconate or food-grade calcium chloride. These ingredients are readily available online. You can also find them in grocery stores that carry ingredients for molecular gastronomy. Materials and equipment: Water1 gram sodium alginate5 grams of calcium lactateLarge bowlSmaller bowlHand mixerSpoon with a rounded bottom (soup spoon or round measuring spoon works great) The size of the spoon determines the size of your water bottle. Use a large spoon for big water blobs. Use a tiny spoon if you want little caviar-sized bubbles. Make an Edible Water Bottle In a small bowl, add 1 gram of sodium alginate to 1 cup of water.Use the hand mixer to make sure the sodium alginate is combined with the water. Let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes to remove any air bubbles. The mixture will turn from a white liquid to a clear mixture.In a large bowl, stir 5 grams of calcium lactate into 4 cups of water. Mix well to dissolve the calcium lactate.Use your rounded spoon to scoop up the sodium alginate solution.Gently drop the sodium alginate solution into the bowl containing the calcium lactate solution. It will immediately form a ball of water in the bowl. You can drop more spoonfuls of sodium alginate solution into the calcium lactate bath. Just be careful the water balls dont touch each other because they would stick together. Let the water balls sit in the calcium lactate solution for 3 minutes. You can gently stir around the calcium lactate solution if you like. (Note: the time determines the thickness of the polymer coating. Use less time for a thinner coating and more time for a thicker coating.) Use a slotted spoon to gently remove each water ball. Place each ball in a bowl of water to stop any further reaction. Now you can remove the edible water bottles and drink them. The inside of each ball is water. The bottle is edible too its an algae-based polymer. Using Flavors and Liquids Other Than Water As you might imagine, its possible to color and flavor both the edible coating and the liquid inside the bottle. Its okay to add food coloring to the liquid. You can use flavored beverages rather than water, but its best to avoid acidic drinks because they affect the polymerization reaction. There are special procedures for dealing with acidic beverages.

Timeline for Applying to Law School

Timeline for Applying to Law School As most people are aware, preparing to pursue a career in law involves a total of eight years of education, starting with a bachelors degree in a similar field. Therefore, it is advised that hopeful applicants to law school should begin preparing to apply at least a year ahead of time, during the junior and senior year of their bachelors program.   Discover the timeline below to find out the best methods for applying for and completing your law school degree, the first step into an exciting career in the field.   Junior Year First things first: do you want to go to law school? Around the beginning of the junior year of your bachelor degree, you should determine if a path into law is right for you. If so, you can begin researching law schools to apply to on the LSAC site  and schedule your  LSAT  for either February or June of the following semester.   During the following months, its best to begin preparation for this all-important test. If you are taking the LSAT in February, immerse yourself in studying. Consider taking a preparation course or hiring a tutor. Review test prep books and take as many exams as you have access to. Registration for each exam must be completed at least  30 days before the tests - remember that seats do fill up at testing locations, so booking early is advised. Developing relationships with professors in the field would also be advisable at this time. You will need them to write  recommendation letters  for your application. Cultivate relationships with these faculty, and they will have a positive response (and good things to say) when it is time for you to ask. You should also meet with a pre-law advisor or another faculty member who can provide you with information and feedback on your progress toward gaining admission into law school.   In the spring (or summer, depending on when you schedule it), you will take your LSAT. Your score will be available three weeks after the exam. If your LSAT score  is high enough for a good chance of admission, you dont have to worry with this again. However, if you feel you might do better, there are two more opportunities to retake the LSAT: once in June and again in October.   Summer Between Junior and Senior Year If you need to retake the LSAT, remember to register more than 30 days in advance for the June test. If you still dont believe the score is good enough to get you into your chosen  law schools, you may retake it in October. In that case, spend the summer studying up and meeting with other professionals in the field to get insight on how best to take the test.   At this time, it is essential that you register with the LSDAS and begin your Credential Assembly Service application, complete with having your higher education  transcripts sent to LSDAS. You should also start finalizing your list of top choices of schools youd like to apply for. Narrowing down your selection will prevent wasting money on applications to schools you dont want and help in understanding what you should be sending out in your resumes (each school is slightly different).   Spend the summer gathering each schools application materials, downloading applications and requesting additional information and materials as needed. Draft your  personal statement and review it with your advisor, other professors, friends and family and anyone else who will read it and give feedback. Edit this and draft your resume, again seeking feedback for both.   Fall, Senior Year As you enter your senior year, it is time to  request recommendation letters from faculty  who you have developed relationships with throughout your schooling. Youll typically want to send three of these letters along with each application. You will then need to provide the letter writer with  a copy of your resume, transcript and a summary of aspects of your academic, professional and personal life accomplishments for them to consider. If needed, continue updating your resume and take the October LSAT for your final chance to garner the highest score.   If you require financial aid, complete the  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which makes you eligible to apply for it. Triple-check your law school applications before finalizing them with the Credential Application Service. Then prepare and submit  law school application forms to each school. It is important now to confirm that each application was received and is complete. Typically you will receive an email or postcard. If you dont, make contact with the admissions office. During this time, also do not forget to submit completed financial aid applications. Acceptance, Rejection or Wait-Listed It is important to keep your LSAC profile up to date, so submit your updated transcript to the LSAC upon entering the final semester of your senior year. As soon as January,  acceptance, rejection and wait-list letters begin to roll in. You will now need to evaluate acceptances and wait-list letters to determine which ones you will pursue further. If your application was rejected, evaluate your application and consider  reasons why  and  how to improve, if you decide to reapply. It is recommended that you visit law schools youve been accepted to, if possible. This way you can get a feel for not only the academic environment of the schools curriculum but also a feel for the community, landscape, location and campus of your preferred schools. If youve been accepted to multiple institutions, these could be the determining factors that help you choose which law school youll ultimately go to.   In any case, you should send thank you notes to faculty who have helped you. Let them know the outcome of your application and thank them for their help. Once you graduate college, send your final transcript to the school that you will attend.   Then, enjoy your last summer before law school and good luck in your next higher institution of learning.

Career Exploration and Decision Making Assignment

Career Exploration and Decision Making - Assignment Example For instance, matching idealist and really creates a conducive environment for the business company. Again, artistic and rationalist when they work in the same environment produces wonderful counseling and social team. These indicators are the best to assist one to do self-assessment and lead in choosing a suitable and satisfying career. Having diverse temperament traits combined contribute to success in many ways because each trait has its strength and weakness (Johnston 54). Hence, when there are challenges the different traits which are manifested in different person in a unique way helps in handling the case. Possessing the trait of artistry and being determined in seeing things done in a systematic way counseling can be a gratifying career. This is because these are persons who can give all for their heartwarming. Again teaching need someone who understands and knows how to relate to others the temperament traits such as realistic, idealist and rationalist fits much. Effectiveness and competency can be realized in understanding one's temperament  traits.