IQ Testing Essays - Intelligence, Psychometrics,

IQ Testing Many times in our society intelligence is judged by test scores, careers, and success. Although these methods of measuring intelligence are not always accurate they are still used. IQ tests are given to people and the scores on these tests are supposed to reflect the level of intelligence a person has. What makes these tests so accurate? What about intelligent people who do not take tests well? They may become nervous and may not work well under pressure. I believe there are many forms of intelligence, some more important than others are. A person may be very smart but when it comes to subjects like math and science, but when it comes to English and writing they may not know much about it. Also, some people may not do very well in school but can fix almost anything that you put in front of them. Often times those who are smart in school subject lack the common sense needed to survive outside of work or school although that is not always the case. Others who may very intelligent when it comes to common sense and making the right decision on the street lack the wisdom need in school or work. This is a critical part of survival and I believe common sense is needed just as much as anything else. There are those people who are naturally smart, who grasp concepts well, and do not need to study much at all to do well. There are others who need to work hard to do well. They need to study and concepts do not come as easily to them as others. Are they not considered intelligent because of this? Also many people may be very intelligent yet they are either lazy or uninterested, therefore their natural mental ability never is shown. Many cultures have their own opinion of intelligence. If you are born and brought up as an Indian, to them intelligence comes with age and strength. If you can hunt well and survive on you own then you are considered intelligent, you are not given a written test and judged buy the scores. Many other cultures also have their own definition of intelligence too. Social status also has a very big impact on people perspective of your intelligence. Upper to middle class people not only have a better chance of getting a good education, but are thought of as more intelligent because they have money. Lower-middle to lower class people do not have all the opportunities that the others do and are also perceived as unintelligent because of their lack of money and those opportunities. Judging people on their level of intelligence, mental ability, and level of success through tests and careers gives you a very poor judge of character. I do not agree that intelligence can be measured at all. To me it is not only how smart you are, but also your attitude, who you are as a person, and the decisions you make in life. Your intelligence should not only be graded through a test but rather on how you live your life.

Religious Studies Research Paper Topics and Ideas

Religious Studies Research Paper Topics and Ideas The sphere of religious studies is quite a complicated issue because the student has to be deeply involved in the topic and understand all interconnections in a separate set of views. In general, a religious studies research paper can be aimed at the investigation of a particular religion and controversial issues connected with it. In such papers, it is important to pay attention to the main postulates and concepts of the specific religion to be accurate in statements and ideas. Writing the research paper, try to avoid subjective opinions, be logical and rational in structuring the paper. The main aim of such work is to explain the topic completely and provide a clear explanation of the analyzed issue. Choosing the topic for the religious research paper can become quite a controversial process due to the variety of themes and to student’s sphere of interest. Topics Ideas for Religious Studies Research Paper 1. Impact of Greek Myths on the Formation of European Religion This topic should include an accurate analysis of several Greek myths that made the most significant impact on the formation of religion and culture in Greece. Among the myths to explore can be Heracles and the Heracleidae myth, the story about Argonauts, myths about the mountain Olympus, and myth about Prometheus. The second part of the research paper should be concentrated on the modern attitude of people in Europe to myths and its impact on the development of religion and culture in the region. 2. Interconnection Between Science and World Religions Interdependence between the scientific and religious world was also an issue of interest due to its controversy. If you choose this topic for the research paper, pay attention to the historical development of interrelation between these two spheres of human life. Analyze also the attitude of a church to science and all notorious periods of conflicts between representatives of both spheres. 3. The Phenomenon of the Theocratic States in the Modern World There are seven theocratic countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Vatican City, and Yemen among all countries of the world. These countries have a special political and social order that is caused by the determining role of religion. The research paper can analyze the development of such states, the efficiency of their authorities, their place in the international community, and the religion that is followed by its citizens. 4. The Development of Christianity This topic is connected with the formation and establishment of Christianity as a world religion. The issue is important and interesting to explore due to the role of Christianity in the modern world. The research paper should include information about the establishment of the religion, analysis of its main concepts and images, history of the religion and periods of its strength and weakness. Besides, it is possible to compare Christianity with other world religions to find similarities and differences. 5. The Development of Islam Islam is one of the largest world religion that has numerous followers. This religion is interesting to explore due to its special ideas that differ from all other religions. Besides, in the modernity, Islam is considered quite controversial due to the establishment of communities with fundamental Islamic views. The research paper should include all these aspects starting from the history of its creation and the development of the religion in general. 6. The Development of Buddhism This topic is interesting because Buddhism is one of the world’s religions that has numerous followers. Buddhism is a unique worldview that is based on the nature of human and balance of the human spirit. In the course of the essay, it is important to pay attention to the history of the religious development, its establishment, main images of the religion, and core concepts of Buddhism. Besides, it is interesting to analyze the attitude of Buddhists to nature, human, sins, and the sense of people’s lives. 7. The Role of Women in Islam The topic related to women and Islam is studied by various experts because it is quite controversial and special. The problem can be explored from historical and ideological points of view. It is important to take into account the diversity of approaches to the positions of women in Islam. The student can also compare traditional and fundamentalist approaches to the treatment of women and how these ideas are interconnected. 8. Religion in People’s Daily Life Modern people differently accept religion in their daily life and live in accordance with a defined set of ideas and beliefs. This topic is interesting to explore because modern society is divided into communities that follow particular religions and communities that do not follow religious worldviews. Besides, acceptance of religions often depends on the location, where people live, and it is interesting to establish interconnections between the territory and the specifications of certain religions. 9. Modern Interdependence Between Religions and Laws The research on this topic should explain how religions influenced the formation of laws in different countries of the world. It is important to consider various religions including Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. Additional attention should be paid to the influence of Islam on the creation of national legislation system in countries of the Middle East. Research on this topic will introduce various legislation systems and their interconnections with religions. 10. Systems of Animalism and Totemism Animalism and totemism originally come from ancient times. This topic is important and thought-provoking because it represents the attitude of people to nature and various objects. The religious research on the stated topic will represent animalism and totemism as religious systems. Main concepts and ideas people were taking into account following such world views should be appropriately considered. Additionally, the research can also include an explanation of how animalism and totemism influenced modern religions. 11. The Idea of Soul in Various Religions The soul is one of the central concepts in different religions. However, it is perceived differently by various worldviews including not only the biggest religions but also Judaism and Confucianism. The research paper should comprise an explanation of the concept by different religions and comparison of these ideas. Additionally, it is possible to consider how the concept of the soul defines human lifestyles in different countries of the world. 12. Influence of Hinduism on the Formation of Culture in India As separate concepts, religion and culture are closely interconnected. In fact, religion influences the formation of the country’s culture, and India is an example of such a state. In fact, the culture of this country is a system of unique traditions, customs, ideas, and beliefs. The culture of India is quite special because the country has one of the biggest populations in the world. The research about Hinduism should be connected with the history of Indian culture and of the religion with the definition of religion’s influence on the culture. 13. The Position of Atheism in the Modern World Among modern communities, atheism is a popular phenomenon due to a set of various factors. Specifically, atheism is connected with disbelieving in the existence of God or gods. This topic is interesting to explore because of the popularity of such belief. It is interesting to compare atheism with religion to understand how atheists perceive all natural concepts and processes. The research paper can include a definition of the issue, an explanation of all its concepts, and an exploration of the future development of the situation with atheism. 14. The Development of Confucianism There is a perception that Confucianism is a system of social and ethical norms rather than a complete religion. Confucianism is specific due to its understanding of nature and a human as a part of nature. Confucianism is followed by less amount of people, and it is interesting to compare it with other religions. 15. Religion and Evolution These two concepts are quite controversial because of historical conflicts between followers of different views of evolution. This research topic should include information about the interconnection between these two issues, main conflicts, and followers of various approaches to the process of evolution. 16. Religious Education The aspect of religious education is interesting to explore because of its controversial character in connection with religious freedom. The research paper should explain the idea of religious education and describe the situation with such education in different countries. 17. Religion at a Workplace This topic is connected mainly with aspects of discrimination at a workplace regarding the religion of the employee. The religious research should be based on cases of discrimination and an explanation of normal attitude to religion at a workplace. 18. Creationism Exploration of this topic should be based on literature such as â€Å"Creationism and Its Critics in Antiquity† by David Sedley. The research paper should include an explanation of the topic and attitude to the idea in the course of history. 19. Fear in Religions The majority of religions talk about the fear and attitude toward God or gods. Such aspects as an interpretation of fear by various religions and challenges connected with the understanding of fear by religion followers can become a part of the religion research paper. 20. African American Religions The topic is interesting to explore because it allows defining specific features of the religious life of African Americans. The research paper can include statistical data about African American religions and represent the roots of such organization of their lives. Conclusion Various religion research essay topics are connected with specific aspects of particular religions. Writing a religion research essay, it is important to pay attention to history, main concepts, believes, and followers of the religion. Feel free to either extend or narrow the topics in accordance with your interests or the task of a professor.

The Grocery-Store Purchase Situation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Grocery-Store Purchase Situation - Essay Example First, she recognizes either a problem or an opportunity. Perhaps she is checking the stocks of grocery items that she plans to buy and finds out that she is running out of food for her pet. There she recognizes the problem, where the decision-making for the purchase of pet food starts. Â  Depending on her level of involvement in choosing the brand of pet food, as well as the perceived risk of the decision outcome will determine how she would deal with the problem. If she is not actively involved in searching for information to solve her problem, this is what is more likely to happen: perhaps she would first look into the evoked set, those brands which she knows well and is choices for her to meet this problem. In any way, her decision would only be based on a small set of brands that she knows, aside from her loyalty brand for she is not actively involved in searching for information to solve her problem. Â  Perhaps, it has been the custom for her to buy a certain brand of pet food, and she sees that her pet is very satisfied with it—so she just buys another pack of that brand. Since the brand meets her expectation, she continues to buy it and writes it down on her shopping list. She has just taken the ‘habitual path’ of brand decision-making in this case, as the purchase decision is out of habit. Â  There are other instances where this kind of decision-making varies.

Exercise assignments Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Exercise assignments - Coursework Example All the three factors when combined give freedom to an individual and people start valuing their life. 2. I agree that without denying Individual freedom, unity and order in a moral system is a big problem. Once an Individual is given full freedom, the Individual does not realize his actions towards others. His act of freedom might hurt others which in turn causes dispute among individuals. Hence freedom of individuals has to be denied in order to attain unity in a moral system. 8. I use all the principles in my day to day life. I try to have my own freedom when required and that freedom is within my limits. I always try to value my life and make sure that I am good to others. Along with enjoying my regular activities, I also believe in being fair to the people and to the society around you. There have been times when I could not be good to people but I have always tried my best in being good to the people around

Electrical Rotary Actuators Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Electrical Rotary Actuators - Essay Example Actuators are devices used for driving various types of objects to obtain a desired amount of displacement. This displacement may be of a linear or rotary nature. The driving force of an actuator may be generated by either an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic input. The rotary actuators discussed here, are concerned with applications where a rotary displacement with a desired angle of rotation is required, and use electrical energy to generate the driving force. Construction: The basic components of an electric rotary actuator are a motor and a reduction gearbox mechanism. Electric rotary actuators drive components rotationally via electromagnetic power from a motor. The reduction gear translates the speed and torque of the motor to the required scale. Suitable damping and spring return mechanisms are also built in. The rotational element can either be a shaft or a table. Circular shafts often include keyways, while tables provide a bolting pattern to mount other components. They usually provide control and indexing capabilities to allow multiple position stops along strokes. Other auxiliary components include return springs, seals, limit switches for both ends of rotation span, etc. A simple rotary actuator model using a DC motor is considered for the study and analysis of the device. The DC motor directly provides a rotary motion. For practical application, this rotary displacement is transmitted into suitable transitional motion by attaching an output coupling mechanism, consisting of wheels or drums and cables. The figure 1 shows the electrical circuit of the armature, and the free body diagram of the rotor of the DC motor.Electrical circuit of Armature Free body diagram of rotor Figure 1. In the electrical circuit of the armature, the resistance of the armature coil is represented by R in ohms, and the inductance is presented by L in henrys. The input source is shown as a voltage V. The back EMF produced, is shown as a voltage source, which opposes the input source. For the rotor free body diagram, the torque developed is T and rotation angle is . The effect of the moment of inertia of the rotor and damping method employed is also taken into the account. The damping is provided to avoid large overshoots of the rotational displacement. For the purpose of sample study, the following values of other parameters are initially assumed as: 1. Moment of Inertia of the rotor, ( J ) = 3.2284E-6 kg m^2 / s^2. 2. Damping ratio of the mechanical system, ( b ) = 3.5077E-6 Nms 3.

Final Group Project Outline

Final Group Project Outline Final Group Project Outline Overview Working in groups of no more than four (4) students initially, your task is to research any industry and describe the top 3-5 competitors in that field. You should compare their marketing strategies and how they relate to each other. Your team will prepare a report and a class presentation that describes the key aspects of the companies and the industry in which they operate. You are required to work in teams of four (4); however a group may fire a team member if all are in agreement that the firing is warranted. That team member must then join another team. Students who work individually will receive a lowered grade for the project unless individual work is approved by Professor in advance. Format of Paper 1. 10-12 typed pages, double-spaced in Times New Roman 12 point font. 1† margins on all sides 2. Visual materials do not count as a part of the 10-12 pages 3. Use the most current information available 4. Late or handwritten papers will not be accepted. Papers will be accepted before the deadline. 5. Use the MLA Style of documentation throughout. 6. An electronic copy (MS Word) of your paper must be submitted in addition to hard copy. Writing Advice Plagiarism will result in a grade of zero for the project and possible disciplinary action. There is no need to restate the questions above just answer them 3. Dont describe each of their products mention product lines major categories. 4. Dont editorialize. Back up everything with facts. Your opinion, while very important to me, is not appropriate in this type of writing assignment. 5. Dont assume that â€Å"most people know† or â€Å"as everyone knows† Be explicit and cite your sources. 6. Avoid a conversational tone. Write as if you are submitting the paper for review in a magazine or journal. 7. Avoid the use of the first person. (I, me, we, us, etc.) 8. Do not hand in photocopied content. Your words are most important. 9. Cite appropriately or you will be penalized. 10. Use page numbers 11. Pay attention to formatting in all drafts font size, typeface, bold, etc. Make it uniform. 12. Use bullets where necessary use tables when presenting numerical or comparative data 13. Use section headings as shown in the outline above. 14. Be mindful of words like dominate, win, conquer, etc. 15. Do not get too granular; talk about the company and its strategy, not the warrantees on dishwashers, etc. This is an analysis of a company, not a product or product line. The structure of your paper should explicitly follow the outline below Outline I. Executive summary (1 page) To be written last it should include parts of each of the sections below. II. The Industry (1-2 pages) Briefly describe the industry in which the company operates. Who are the main competitors? What is the current state of the industry? Is this company a top player in the marketplace? If so, how do they differentiate themselves? III. The Companies (4-6 pages) Company 1 Address each of the four Ps (Price, Product, Place, and Promotion) Briefly describe their major product/service lines but do not describe individual products unless they only have one or two of them. What is their competitive marketing strategy? What is the overall image of the company in your opinion? How does this fir with the image they are trying to project? Global/international marketing issues -are there any? What do they do overseas? Other are there any other important facts that should be mentioned? Company 2 Address each of the four Ps (Price, Product, Place, and Promotion) Briefly describe their major product/service lines but do not describe individual products unless they only have one or two of them. What is their competitive marketing strategy? What is the overall image of the company in your opinion? How does this fir with the image they are trying to project? Global/international marketing issues -are there any? What do they do overseas? Other are there any other important facts that should be mentioned? IV. Social Responsibility (1-2 pages) Describe the companys social responsibility program or policy if they have one. Are there any significant current or past ethical issues as it relates to marketing? Is this firm both socially responsible and ethical in your opinion? Why or why not? V. Conclusion  © Richard Hyland 2009 Final Group Project 1-5-10

War in Iraq Essay -- Operation Iraqi Freedom

The war against Iraq began on March 20, 2002, when the U.S lunched â€Å"Operation Iraqi Freedom†. This was after President Bush called Iraq part of an â€Å"axis of evil†, also calling the country dangerous which is threatening U.S with the world’s most destructive weapons. The major phase of the war began when U.S troops marched within 50 miles of Baghdad with heavy aerial attacks on Baghdad and other cities. After the attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon which was believed to be the work of Al Qaeda, U.S was concerned about the security of the Untied States which lead to the war in Iraq. Even though U.S officials felt the war in Iraq is the main priority, but many people in U.S opposes the war which brings up a lot of controversial issues. Some people feel that lives of troops are put on risk for unnecessary reason, and people are also concerned about the innocent civilians getting killed in Iraq. Also billions of tax payer’s dollars are spent on the war which could be used for other major issues within our country such as poverty, education and security. I feel that declaring war with Iraq was unnecessary and that there are many other ways to resolve this conflict. As the war progressed many people were questioning President Bush’s decision to declare war in Iraq because U.S intelligence believes Iraq has weapons of mass distraction, I never agreed with the decision, and I always felt that the money and the effort should be used to catch Osama Bin Laden, who was the man, ...

Asses the view, that working class children underachieve because they are culturally deprived Essay

Middle class children have a higher tendency of achieving more than pupils of the working class. A few explanations pay attention on the external factors outside school. This includes cultural deprivation – working class pupils are portrayed as having a lack of correct attitude, values, language and knowledge for educational success. Whilst material deprivation means that working class pupils are most likely to have poorer diets, health and housing and their parents are less able to meet the hidden costs of schooling. The middle class have mote cultural capital – they have a better advantage of their choices within the marketised education system. There are three main aspects to cultural deprivation. The first is intellectual development; theorists argue that many working class homes lack things such as books, educational toys and activities which would help to stimulate intellectual development. Douglas (1964) found that pupils of the working class scored lower on a test of ability than those of the middle class. He argued that because working class parents are likely to be less supportive of their child’s intellectual development this has an impact on them. This could then lead to underachievement as it would mean the child is always behind. Secondly, Bernstein (1975) looked at the difference in language between working class and middle class students. He identified that language can be categorised into two types of speech codes. This highlights the differences between both the working and middle class. The restricted code was typically used by those of the working class. It consisted of a limited vocabulary and is based on use of short, often unfinished, grammatically simple sentences. Their speech is predictable and sometimes consists of single words and hand gestures. The restricted code is context bound so the speaker makes the assumption that the listener shares the same set of experiences. Then there was the elaborated code which is most commonly used by those of the middle class. Vocabulary is a lot more varied and is based on more grammatically complex sentences; speech is more varied and communicates abstract ideas. It is also context free: so the speaker doesn’t assume that the listener shares the same experiences as them, allowing the use of a more descriptive language. This would lead to under achievement  because the language used in schools and in test papers tend to be in the elaborate code as it is seen as the ‘correct’ way of speaking and communication, so therefore middle class people are again at an advantage. Finally, attitudes and values, Hyman (1967) argued that values and beliefs of the lower class show a ‘self-imposed barrier’ to educational and career success. Hyman outlined between working-class and middle-class value systems Members of the working class place a lower value on education. They place less emphasis on formal education as a means to personal achievement, and they see less value in continuing school beyond the minimum leaving age. Members of the working-class place a lower value on achieving higher occupational status, In evaluating jobs, they emphasize ‘stability, security and immediate economic benefits’ and tend to reject the risks and investments involved in aiming for high-risks occupations. Job horizons tend, therefore, to be limited to a ‘good trade’. Compared to their middle-class counterparts, members of the working-class believe there is less opportunity for personal advancement. This belief is probably the basis for the lower value placed on education and high occupational status. Whilst Sugarman (1970) similarly argued that working class subculture has four key elements that create this barrier to educational achievement: Collectivism involves loyalty to the group rather than to emphasis on individual achievement which the school system demands. Immediate gratification emphasizes the enjoyment of pleasures of the moment, rather than sacrifices for future rewards, Will also tend to encourage early school-leaving for the more immediate reward of a wage packet, adult status and freedom from the disciplines of school. Fatalism involves an acceptance of the situation rather than efforts to improve it; it will not encourage high achievement in the classroom. Present-time orientation may further reduce the motivation for academic achievement, whereas an emphasis on long-term goals and future planning can encourage pupils to remain longer in full-time education by providing a purpose for their stay. Cultural deprivation theorists argue that parents pass on values of their class onto their children. Values of middle class will equip children for success, whilst working class values fail to do so. However Keddie (1973) describes cultural deprivation as a myth and sees it as  a victim blaming explanation. She believes that having a culturally deprived background can’t be blamed as the reason that certain pupils fail in school. She argues that there is no cultural deprivation but cultural differences; failure is due to the disadvantages that are pursued by an education system dominated by middle class values. She believes that schools should recognise and build on strengths, and also challenge teachers’ anti working class prejudices. Under achievement can also be subjected to material deprivation. This can also be classed as poverty. It is a lack of basic necessities such as adequate diet, housing, clothing or the money to buy these things. Material deprivation theory explains working class under achievement as the result of the lack of such resources. Unlike cultural deprivation theorists, who blame educational failure on the inadequacy of working class subculture, many other sociologists see material deprivation as the main cause of under achievement. Poverty is closely linked to educational under-achievement. Although external factors, such as cultural deprivation, material deprivation and cultural capital can play an important part as to why there is class difference in regards to achievement, there are also internal factors that can be put to blame. To label someone is to attach a meaning or definition to someone. Studies show that teachers often label pupils regardless of ability or attitude, by basing labels on stereo-typed assumptions about their class background, labelling working class pupils negatively and working class pupils positively. This can restrict pupils from achievement as it means teachers will refrain from giving pupils they have labelled negatively from getting the support they need, meaning they do badly at school. The self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that comes true simply by virtue of it having been made. Integrationists argue that labelling can affect a pupils achievement by creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. When a teacher labels a pupil, they make predictions about their abilities for example, ‘this child will do well’ – The child then gets treated in accordance to this prediction, the pupil then internalises the teacher’s expectations which becomes part of its self-image. This makes the child become the kind  of pupil the teacher perceived them to be. (e.g. if a child is labelled positively, the child will then gain more confidence and try harder with their work, thus leading them to success). This prevents children from having the potential to do well, rather than working hard to allow them to do their best they allow their teachers opinion of them to hold them back. Marketisation is the final internal factor that portrays class differences of achievement. Schools operate on a wide education system, whose policies affect class differences in achievement. Such policies include marketisation and selection. Marketisation brought in – a funding formula that gives the school equal funding for each pupil, exam league tables which rank each school according to its exam performance and make no allowance for the level of ability of its pupils, and competition among schools to attract pupils. Marketisation explains why schools are under pressure to do well. Some schools respond to marketisation by creating a traditional image to attract middle class parents – this has re-in forced class divisions. Schools have to spend more money on marketing themselves to parents, often at the expense of spending funds on special needs or other important areas. Overall I think it is clear that cultural deprivation plays a huge part in regard to underachievement. Pupils lack help both at home, and at school, meaning they have less chance at doing well. Internal and external factors both work alongside each other – putting middle class pupils at an advantage in contrast to working class pupils.

buy custom Groupware essay

buy custom Groupware essay Groupware refers to a category of software designed with a purpose of aiding groups to collectively work together through facilitating the exchange of information among the members in the group who are either located or not located in the same work environment. Even though groupware can be used in sharing of information in an entire organization for workers collaborating on the same project, the same can be extended to suppliers, clients and other users who are located outside the organization. The use of Groupware is therefore a vital mechanism which can be used in sharing information that is less structured like for instance diagrams or texts. Technological advances in the contemporary world have greatly increased the functionality in the workplace of groupware solutions. Companies all over the world have thus continually viewed groupware as being ultimate solutions for competitive necessity. In order to achieve success in the planning and implementation of a groupware installation in any given organization, then such an organization is required to define its communication goals basing on corporate strategy and full support from all areas of management. This is because groupware is about people, whether be it in organizations, teams or whole enterprises. Groupware therefore aims at searching for better approaches which can be used in supporting work in group environments. Some key examples of groupware in an organization include among others; videoconferencing, desktop conferencing, electronic mail, meeting support systems, workflow systems among others (Holmes, 2006). In order for groupware to become effective in any given organization, then several conditions have to be met to ensure that it becomes an effective medium of communication in an organization. Some of the components or conditions that will ensure the success of Groupware packages in any given organization include and are not limited to Calendaring and scheduling, availability of client software, reference libraries, Email, discussion debates, e.t.c. Groupware software is normally classified as either being Server or Client. Buy custom Groupware essay

The First and Greatest Commandment

The First and Greatest Commandment Free Online Research Papers The Bible is the sacred text of all Christians. Although there are differences between the bibles of some Christian denominations, essentially all Bibles are divided into two parts – the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament gives the history of the Israelites, God’s chosen people. It is filled with myths, stories of love and hate, peace and war, adultery, murder, victory and loss. It also includes stories of Prophets, messengers of God, who came to remind the people of how God expected them to act, but more importantly to foretell the coming of a Messiah who would be a savior to the people. After years of compilation these stories and messages of prophets now make up the Old Testament. The New Testament is the story of the growth of Christianity, and the coming of the long awaited Messiah. This covers the time shortly before this coming, the birth of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, as well as his life and the lessons he taught during his time on earth. The New Testament also recounts his death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. The rest of the New Testament tells how his followers dealt with his absence, how they carried on his work and spread his message, and waited for the promised â€Å"Second Coming† of the Lord. The New Testament begins with four books called Gospels, which means â€Å"Good News†. They are (in order as in the bible): Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John . Although all four gospels recount events of Jesus’ life, the Gospel according to Mark is unique among these four. It is the shortest of all four gospels; however, one of its most important features is that (according to the Two-Source Hypothesis) it is thought that the gospels of Matthew and Luke took much of their information from Mark (as well as another hypothetical source â€Å"Q†). There are large sections from these two gospels that are word-for-word exactly as the same as sections are in Mark. This is significant because Mark was believed to be written first, therefore, it is considered to be a â€Å"cornerstone† for which the other gospels were built. Although the book does not officially have an assigned author, and it if officially labeled the â€Å"Gospel According to Mark†, the author is traditionally thought to be John Mark, a follower of Jesus some time after Jesus’ death and resurrection (most likely between A.D. 55 and 70, since this is the date that the book is thought to be written). John Mark traveled with Jesus’ apostles Peter as well as worked by his side in Rome. It is because of John Mark’s relationship with the apostle Peter that the gospel of Mark is categorized as having apostolic origins, meaning that it was written by either an apostle of Jesus or someone who had a close connection with an apostle. John Mark is also mentioned in some of Paul’s epistles, because he traveled with Paul and Barnabas (who was his cousin). Because of his close relationship with these influential figures in Christian history, particularly Peter the apostle, it is no wonder that the gospel of Mark is a narrative, and even a lot like a biography of Jesus, recounting very detailed events of his life and exact lessons that he t aught. While working with Peter he must have been privy to all kinds of stories of the man whom he was so devoted to and for whom he and all other Christians sacrificed so much. He, of course, also heard many stories of Jesus’ teachings, which he and other apostles, disciples, and missionaries were teaching others. One of those stories of Jesus’ message, recounted in the Gospel According to Mark, 12: 28-34, is commonly referred to as â€Å"The First Commandment and Greatest Commandment†. In this narrative gospel of Mark, Jesus is preaching when a scribe ventured to ask him which was commandment was the first, or in other words, which one was most important to follow. His response to â€Å"love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength† (Mk. 12:30) and to â€Å"love your neighbor as yourself† (Mk. 12:31) is what this passage centers around. At hearing Jesus’ response, the scribe who initially questioned him responded by stating that he knew these things were important above all other things, particularly, â€Å"burnt offerings and sacrifices required by the law† (Mk. 12:33). The importance that Jesus sees in understanding and abiding by these commandments is emphasized by the author, John Mark, by writing that when Jesus saw that the scribe understood he told him, â€Å"You are not far from the kingdom of God†. The location of this passage in the Bible is not surprising because it is surrounded by passages (particularly in chapters 11 and 12) which are similar in that Jesus’ authority to teach and beliefs are being challenged by the authority figures in the Jewish faith, particularly those who run the Jewish Temple. It is important to notice that Jesus answered by stating not one, but two commandments, that had been given to Moses and the Israelites many years ago – found in Deuteronomy 6:5, as well as in Leviticus 19:18. These passages are in not only what Christians refer to as the Old Testament, but are in the Torah (the sacred scripture of the Jewish faith), which Jesus would have been very familiar with as a practicing Jew. Equally important, is the fact that these passages are based on the core idea of love. As a result of these two details which cannot be overlooked, I think that the message of â€Å"The First and Greatest Commandment† is to establish Jesu s as the new lawgiver with the message to love God and to love others. We must know and understand these commandments, as well as apply them to our lives, and it is when we are able to do these things, that we may fully enter into the kingdom of God. When reflecting on Jesus’ answer to the scribe, one must notice that Jesus states two passages from the Old Testament. This may seem insignificant; however, it is highly significant. Also notice that in the surrounding passages, as well as in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, the books surrounding the Gospel of Mark, Jesus authority is constantly being questioned and he is being put to the test by Scribes and Pharisees. The Jewish leaders were uncomfortable with Jesus’ practices because he did not follow the Mosaic Law, or Covenant (the set of rules and regulations that strictly guided the Jews â€Å"religious and community life and acted as their ‘constitution†, which also includes the Ten Commandments) as strictly as they believed he should. Jesus healed the sick on the Sabbath and ate with sinners and lepers, things that the scribes and Pharisees would never dream of doing. In quoting the sacred texts of the Jews, it was established that Jesus was a devoted, and practicing Jew, something the Scribes may have been confused by, because with his teachings Jesus made a statement to the Jews that he was the new covenant, the new lawgiver. The thought of something with more authority than the Mosaic Law of the Old Testament was highly disturbing to the Jewish leaders because they neither knew, nor wanted another way. The Old Testament can also be referred to as the â€Å"Law of Fear and Servitude† because it focuses primarily on rules, laws, and punishments. Jesus came to preach a very different message one of hope and love, which he summed up in two sentences. That is why the New Testament is referred to as the New Law, or the â€Å"Law of Love and Liberty†. As Sullivan explains, this is why St. Thomas Aquinas considered the New Law to be infused, to come from within. The Old Testament was about outwardly appearance, while the New Testament was about individual intimate relationships. Although Jesus certain ly taught the importance of obedience to God, he taught that instead it is better to do obey the Lord because of love, not fear of punishment. As a result of that love for the Lord, we are inclined from within ourselves to follow the law of God because we love him (thus, the title â€Å"Law of Liberty†). And with that same love, it is only logical that we would treat our neighbors with that same love, as we would want to be treated. Because the New Testament is a reflection on Jesus and his teachings, this passage in Mark is a perfect model of Jesus’ different form of teaching, and how he established himself as the new lawgiver, or new covenant to the people with his message to love God and to love others. As previously mentioned, the surrounding Gospels of Matthew and Luke also include this same passage; however, they differ greatly, as Agnes Norfleet notes in Between Text and Sermon. In the other gospels, the environment in which Jesus is questioned is very tense, accusatory, and unreceptive. The individuals questioning (more so challenging) Jesus are not questioning in order to receive answers, they are searching for a way to catch Jesus saying something that could be taken in an offensive way to the Jewish faith and tradition, in hopes of convicting him on a charge of blasphemy or another related crime. After hearing Jesus’ response his questioners are merely more aggravated and set on his conviction than before. The same passage, but in Mark, is a great contrast! The environment in Mark is pleasant and accepting. More importantly, the scribe who questions Jesus reflects on the answer he is given and finds that he agrees. When he states he thinks these commandments must be â€Å"more important than the burnt offerings and sacrifices required by the law†, he expresses understanding because he is able to apply Jesus’ message to his own life. Unlike the Jewish leaders in the surrounding books and passages, he is able to see the big picture and look past the â€Å"Law of Fear and Punishment† and see the message of â€Å"Love and Liberty† that Jesus preaches. This is exactly what Jesus wants all of his followers to do! He wants his followers to take his message and not merely accept it, but to judge for themselves and if in accord, to apply it to their lives! The importance Jesus places on this, as well as the desire he has for us to understand and act on his love is sealed when he tells the wise scribe, â€Å"You are not far from the kingdom of God†. The Gospel of Mark 12:2-34 can be interpreted and debated hundreds of ways, but I believe that the theological message of the passage was to establish Jesus as the new lawgiver, as well as to preach his message: to love God and to love others. Once able do this, his followers would be able to realize that they could live out his message by understanding and applying it to their everyday lives. When his followers could fully live out this â€Å"First and Greatest Commandment† they, like the scribe, would be in a place in which they longed to be, and Jesus longs for all of humanity to be, and that is â€Å"not far from the kingdom of God† (Mark 12:34). Bibliography Cory, Catherine A. and David Landry. The Christian Theological Tradition. 2nd ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc., 2003. The International Student Bible for Catholics: New American Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1987. Norfleet, Agnes W. Mark 12:28-34. Interpretation: Between Text and Sermon 51, no. 4 (October 1997): 403-406. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed March 8, 2008). Sullivan, S.J., John J. The Commandment of Love: The First and Greatest of the Commandments Explained According to the Teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas. 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Daniel R. Headrick, The Tools of Empire - Essay Example He argues throughout the book, with reference to many well-researched examples, that pre-Industrial Revolution, the journeying, living and conquering of such regions simply was not possible, as the technology was just not available for this to be achieved, managed or sustained successfully. However, as Headrick argues, with the onset of the Industrial Revolution and the technological advances this forged, these technological advances allowed people to travel and live in countries other than their own, such that the expansion of the Empire became possible at this period in history. Continuing on from this general introduction, throughout the book, Headrick analyzes the technological advances that allowed this dominance to proceed, both by presenting a straight-forward mechanical analysis of the actions of the people and the inventions and technological advances involved, and by presenting a detailed analysis of secondary sources, which allows him to offer an interpretation of the thoughts and motivations of the people involved; this e... Thus, the text moves forward apace, discussing what could be rather dry historical texts and documents, in a light and easy to read manner. This use of interpreting secondary sources for his own means, to present information from entirely his own perspective leads, however, to several major problems with the text, which will be discussed later in this review. In the book, Headrick spends a long time discussing inventions of relevance in this period; for example, much of the book is devoted to a discussion of anti-malarial drugs and how they enabled Europeans to travel, live and work in the tropical regions. This discussion is not, however, centred around why there was a desire to colonize and conquer these regions and its people; indeed, the book steers away from this subject at every opportunity, almost as if it is something not to be discussed. Yet this is precisely the issue that is opportune in such a tome: in scientific or technological achievements, it is usually the motivations which drive people to achieve leaps of progress, and not the leaps of progress themselves which drive people to want to achieve technological or scientific advancement. It would have been extremely interesting, as a reader, to be presented with alternate arguments for why at this particular point in history, aside from technological advances which enabled travel to these regions to become easier, Europeans decided to travel to these regions - what were they seeking Where did the funds for travel and expeditions come from How did they plan and execute journeys and colonisation strategies A more strategic analysis of the era, in terms of political and economic motivations would have been welcome, as this would have offered a complete picture of the events of the time, which