Christianity Crisis Essays - Hermeneutics, Continental Philosophy

Christianity Crisis There was a time, not long ago, when the evangelical community had considerable consensus on lifestyle questions and social issues. We generally agreed on what we should eat and drink and how we might spend our weekends. There was little debate over definitions of vulgarity or morality, and questions of fashion were rarely a matter for discussion. In those days, everyone knew how a family should be raised, and aberrations such as divorce and abortion were simply that: problems found only among hose outside the fold. All of that has changed. Today there is considerable disagreement on such questions, and where there is not disagreement, there is often a reluctant silence or unwillingness to enter into discussion on these questions. The problem is complicated by the fact that these issues do not always fall neatly into those familiar gaps found among genders, generations, and geographies. Too often we find uneasy disagreement among parishioners or even among clergy in the same denomination. Similarly, tensions are found among teenagers or among parents and not simply between those two groups. In each case where such tensions exist, clear biblical and objective bases for evaluating our modern society are usually not found. Consequently, theological answers to these questions have generally not been helpful. That is not to say we should expect them to be. Much of the difficulty in dealing with contemporary social issues can be attributed to modernity with its tendency to pose problems that all outside of theological answers. Theology is designed to defend the faith and not to interpret modern culture or to help the believer live in it. It is the province of social science to understand modernity and to explain how it affects all of us. Theology cannot be expected to interpret the impact of computers on modern life any more than social science can be expected to explain the Trinity. What theology can do is to elucidate those universal principles given to us by God that social science may then interpret for modern living. My claim is that modern life has re-defined many of the practices that theology traditionally addressed. State lotteries, for example, have defined gambling in ways unfamiliar to theology. The revocation of blue laws concerned with Sunday openings has challenged the traditional meaning of the Sabbath. In a modern economy, the biblical meaning of poverty differsgreatly from the meaning found today. In each of these cases, traditional biblical interpretations do not address the questions experienced today. Consequently, there is a lag in theological thinking when contemporary social issues fall outside the boundof traditional theological answer. Our problem is to locate some common ground where theology and social science can join forces, some bridge between biblical truth and the application of that truth to modern social problems. I would argue that concepts found in scripture as well as in social science form a common, hermeneutical base for the analysis of modern social issues. Referred to here as "hidden threads," these concepts tie together, so to speak, the meaning God intended us to find in the world with meaning as we find it today. What is the meaning in the modern marriage that is faithful to God's plan and what has been added by humans? What is the meaning of money that God would have us keep and what modern thinking should be discarded? These questions can only be answered when theology and social science join forces. The harmful impact made by modernity on society and Christian thought justifies such an approach. To support that claim, I intend in this paper to: l) clarify the crises posed by modernity, 2) develop the conceptual foundation referred to here as "hidden threads" as it relates to these crises, and 3) encourage the development of a hermeneutic which benefits from the interpretations offered by theology and social science. Crisis of Meaning Much of traditional life was governed by the belief that society's rules and norms were appropriate for governing human relationships and were worthy of respect, if not full acceptance. Developments in Western culture over the past 30 years or so have reversed much of this belief and substituted the notion that people shape rules as they interact. Instead of fitting relationships into normative expectations, those relationships may now be used to define new norms for behavior. Consequently, there is no clear agreement on the meaning of either the norms or the behavior. In effect, modern culture is re-defining much of the meaning attributed by God to social life. Divorce has increasingly been accepted as the norm rather than the

Chinese Legal System essays

Chinese Legal System essays One of the most interesting forces in modern world trade and globalization is China. Indeed, while its presence in the world market is not a recent phenomenon, the globalization effect has necessitated recent changes in Chinas trade system, specifically in the private enterprise sector. In this, the greatest challenge China faces is realizing its goal of encouraging enterprise and trade while at the same time retaining the centuries-old traditions on which the country has historically thrived. China appears to be thriving on several arenas of the global trade paradigm. In terms of imports, the countrys membership in the World Trade Organization since 2003. In the same year, it was listed as the third largest commodities importer. This, along with the countrys willingness to open its policies to create a more friendly environment for foreign traders, has rapidly expanded the countrys total foreign trade volume. However, the country also faces several challenges in terms of its WTO membership commitments. One of these is its non-market economy status. This means that within the first 15 years of its membership, China is obliged to calculate its product prices in reference to other countries, rather than on the basis of its own production costs. This could mean significant losses in the countrys exports. Another challenge is the safeguard mechanism for specific products. This means that any member country could request a consultation with China if one of its export product prices increased dramatically. In terms of its domestic products, China also appears to experience a period of great prosperity. Several factors are responsible for this. These include political, cultural and economic factors that affect domestic product manufacture. A political and cultural factor relates to the improvement of private enterprise climate via offering membership in the Communist Party of China to ...

Policy Sciences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Policy Sciences - Essay Example It was more often that the advisors did not have any 'consideration of intellectual underpinnings, honesty, cumulative knowledge or independent evaluations' of the political and social scenario. There were also no recordings of the decisions and the reasons for such decisions written down. Most of advises, according to DeLeon, remained 'particularistic, ad hoc exercises' taken up when something was needed by the prince or the monarch. Documenting the decisions and supporting ideas were done during the later half of the nineteenth century. Subsequent growth of the policy science was based on the foundations and concepts that stemmed from these days. During and after World War II, there were major upheavals that were taking place all over the world. The concept of the nation state had taken firmer shape in the world and so did the concept of independence or freedom. The political economy and the political science itself underwent major changes in the way decisions were made. ... The advisors had to change their color based on the rising trend in these nation states and those states that were coming up just then. The fight against and for separatism is another major change in the thought process to become an independent state or nation! This was a serious motivator for the change in policy sciences in line with the thoughts that entered the circle. Similarly, the changes in the economic scenario and the rise of the new economic and political power in the form of the United States also meant that the entire political scene has to be reworked. While there are some uprisings that were anti imperialistic and others socialistic, all that it meant was that the advisors had a different role to play4. The social requirements and the needs of the people, had to be reflected to the monarch or to the heads of the government through these advisors or duly elected members of the parliament or governing council. Immediately after the World War II, the impact on the advisory policy took a major turn5. With more stress on economic growth and industrial growth, the rights of the labor and the people became more pronounced. In all the nations, the monarchies gave way to socialistic and democratic systems that took its power from the people. The advisory policy made a complete U turn here and slowly but steadily moved away from the monarchy and the power center shifted to the ministers or the advisory boards. And the major turn in the policy is the twist that could be visibly seen in terms of ethics and humanitarian issues6. Equality of human beings, racial equality and equality of nations were the main thrust of most of the policy advisors in this period of the policy making history. War on Poverty up to late 1970s War on Poverty was again

Power Structure, Family Dynamics, and Cultural Assimilation Essay

Power Structure, Family Dynamics, and Cultural Assimilation - Essay Example While this dynamic structure could hamper them as a family unit, it is tempered instead by a family support network. A closer examination of the text will reveal how these elements hinge upon each other. An important factor in the family dynamic of the Garca is the power structure, which is usually manipulated through distance or an intermediary source. This initially arises from their cultural background in the Dominican Republic and from the fact that their family is connected to the Torre bloodline. The Garcas are an upper-class family on 'the Island'; they are accustomed to having servants and their remaining family there still do. The servants frequently serve as semi-authority figures to the children, as illustrated on the first page by the description "When their squabbles reach a certain mother-annoying level, they are called away by their nursemaids" (p. 3). This power through distance is illustrated in the government as well, as in the case of the secret police coming to interrogate Carlos (Papi) Garca. Carlos's response is the classic response to the power-distance, for, being the weaker side of the power balance, he escapes authority by being "absent" (i.e. hiding). This passive aggressive defense can be used as an attack, as when the three older sisters show their disapproval of Sofa's boyfriend by returning home from a group outing before the couple could get to the rendezvous. This scene exhibits a delicate balance of both sides of the power-distance equation: the parents maintained control of their children distantly by having them as a group, while the sisters returning without the youngest made her absence all the more obvious and assured swift punishment. The children here are forced to act as intermediary authorities for each other, yet the three oldest sisters decide that, for their sister's best interest, "we're staging a coup we are blowing the lovers' cover." (p. 127). This power structure is again exhibited in Sofa's marriage to Otto, for she distances herself physically and emotionally from her father's authority. He, in turn, responds by becoming emotionally absent from her life. The birth of Sofa's children, especially the son named after Carlos, serve as the intermediary catalyst for their relationship to begin healing. Lastly, chronologically speaking, Yolanda uses these lessons of distance to try and reassume control of her life by returning to the Dominican Republic. She will follow the examples of her family and her heritage to escape the cyclical patterns of her American life and return to her roots. The Garca family structure provides a vital element of support for its members, yet this same structure reveals the evolution of gender roles. This evolution is rooted in the traditional gender roles in the Dominican Republic, as revealed through Manuel's efforts to limit what Sofa reads. This assumption of male dominance and female submissive domesticity are reinforced by Ta Flor's argument that she herself is a queen, for " My husband has to go to work everyday. I can sleep until noon I'm going to protest for my rights" (p.121) It is this tradition that demands that Papi provide the principal financial support and therefore be the nominal head of the

Asian Contributions Essay Example for Free

Asian Contributions Essay Many years ago, the laws of the United States prohibited Asian immigrants from entering the country. This law was eventually revoked and in 1952 legislation passed that allows people of all races to become United States Citizens. According to the U.S. Embassy website (n.d.), â€Å"today Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the country, currently approximately fifteen million people of Asian descent live in the United States† (para. 2). This paper will examine the influences these growing Asian-American communities have on the social and cultural structure of American society. According to an article by Lam (2009), â€Å"Asian cultures have evolved and fully integrated into the American culture in the twenty-first century to the extent it is often non-Asian Americans who practice and promote Asian cultures† (para. 9). Asian Americans are individuals whose ancestries and backgrounds originate in the Far East and Southeast Asia. Asian American communities and their cultural influences have made their mark on the social and cultural structure of American society. From herbal medicine to acupuncture, the Asian American impact is visible in numerous aspects of American society. Medicine – Herbal medicine and acupuncture are an alternative medicine for pain management that originated in the Asian culture. This along with meditation and India’s yoga as well as herbal massage therapy are viewed as a holistic approach to health and stress management. Exercise – Tai chi chuan as it is known is an ancient Chinese exercise that has been adopted by Americans as a graceful form of exercise. Tai chi as it is known in America focuses on deep breathing and focused movements. This exercise that has been adapted to American societies is also used as a form  of martial arts. Martial Arts – Asian American’s have influenced American societies with the incorporation of martial arts into American culture. From Jiu Jitsu to Judo to Karate or Mixed Martial Arts all are types of defensive training that remains prominent in Asian American communities. Asian cuisine – It is difficult to travel in any part of the United States without encountering some type of Asian cuisine. Some of the most likely restaurants are Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese. This Asian style of cuisine has offered Americans such dishes as fried rice, chow mein, egg rolls and teriyaki. Not to mention that many American homes now have woks as part of their kitchen utensils in order to prepare Asian dishes at home. Religion – While the largest portion of the Asian American population is Christian there are still some members that continue to recognize the religion of their homeland. This religiously diverse ethnic group has contributed to the growth of Hinduism and Buddhism among American societies and cultures. As stated by Lam (2009) â€Å"according to a survey completed in 2003, thirty percent of Americans state they are familiar with the Buddhist teachings and twenty-two percent claim to be acquainted with Hinduism† (para 23). This author is unfamiliar with the concept of Asian American television networks, periodicals or magazines; however it is uncommon to tune into a Saturday morning cartoon network without seeing the Japanese animes dominating these stations. It is the consensus of this essayist that the Asian American communities have in the past throughout their immigration to the United States and will continue to influence the cultural and structural framework of American society. References Lam, A. (2009). From philosophy to food, Asian culture inspires americans. Retrieved: December 21, 2012. From: www.america.gov United States Embassy. (n.d.). Retrieved: December 22, 2012. From: www.usembasy.de/society-asians.htm

Scientific Empiricism Essay -- Essays Papers

Scientific Empiricism In 1513, Nicholas Copernicus, composed a brief theory that stated that the sun is at rest and the earth is in rotation around the sun. In 1543, just days before his death, Copernicus published this theory in On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres. This theory was meant to dissolve the long lived belief in Ptolemyà ­s theory which stated, "The earth was at the center because it was the heaviest of objects(Kagan331)." This was a common belief at that time, which supported the religious beliefs that the earth was the center of the universe and God in the heavens were surrounding the earth. Copernicusà ­s theory was shocking, but he published such a controversial theory without sufficient evidence, it had to be considered invalid. Tycho Brahe, a Danish astronomer, held a great belief in the importance of empiricism in relation to scientific theories. He was one of the greatest opposer of Copernicusà ­s On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres. Brahe believed the Copernicus theory was not founded on a sufficient amount of "practice." Charles W. Morris, an author of The Encyclopedia and Unified Science who specialized in Scientific Empiricism, believes that practice is found at the heart of empiricism. Morris defines the importance of practice in scientific theories as: "The activity which gives rise to the sentences of science is, like any other systematic activity proceeding in terms of rules or canons(72)." It was based on these feelings of empiricism that inspired Brahe to, "collect the most accurate astronomical data that have ever been acquired by observation with the naked eye(Kagan331)." Brahe held the common belief among empiricist that, "It is willing and able to admit i... ... been the underlying factor in many scientific advancements. Morris believes that, "It is an empiricism which, because of this orientation and the use of powerful tools of logical analysis, has become positive in temper and co-operative in attitude and is no longer condemned to the negative skeptical task of showing defects in the methods and results of its opponents(Neurath68)." The great accomplishments of Brahe, Kepler, Newton and the many others are due to the advancement of scientific empiricism. Works Cited - Kagan, Donald, Ozment, Steven, and Turner, Frank M.. The Western Heritage. Vol. 2. New Jersey:Prentice Hall, 1996 - MacKinnon, Edward A.. The Problem of Scientific Realism. New York: Appleton-Century- Crofts, 1972. - Neurath, Otto, et al. Encyclopedia and Unified Science. Chicago:University of Chicago Press, 1938. Scientific Empiricism Essay -- Essays Papers Scientific Empiricism In 1513, Nicholas Copernicus, composed a brief theory that stated that the sun is at rest and the earth is in rotation around the sun. In 1543, just days before his death, Copernicus published this theory in On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres. This theory was meant to dissolve the long lived belief in Ptolemyà ­s theory which stated, "The earth was at the center because it was the heaviest of objects(Kagan331)." This was a common belief at that time, which supported the religious beliefs that the earth was the center of the universe and God in the heavens were surrounding the earth. Copernicusà ­s theory was shocking, but he published such a controversial theory without sufficient evidence, it had to be considered invalid. Tycho Brahe, a Danish astronomer, held a great belief in the importance of empiricism in relation to scientific theories. He was one of the greatest opposer of Copernicusà ­s On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres. Brahe believed the Copernicus theory was not founded on a sufficient amount of "practice." Charles W. Morris, an author of The Encyclopedia and Unified Science who specialized in Scientific Empiricism, believes that practice is found at the heart of empiricism. Morris defines the importance of practice in scientific theories as: "The activity which gives rise to the sentences of science is, like any other systematic activity proceeding in terms of rules or canons(72)." It was based on these feelings of empiricism that inspired Brahe to, "collect the most accurate astronomical data that have ever been acquired by observation with the naked eye(Kagan331)." Brahe held the common belief among empiricist that, "It is willing and able to admit i... ... been the underlying factor in many scientific advancements. Morris believes that, "It is an empiricism which, because of this orientation and the use of powerful tools of logical analysis, has become positive in temper and co-operative in attitude and is no longer condemned to the negative skeptical task of showing defects in the methods and results of its opponents(Neurath68)." The great accomplishments of Brahe, Kepler, Newton and the many others are due to the advancement of scientific empiricism. Works Cited - Kagan, Donald, Ozment, Steven, and Turner, Frank M.. The Western Heritage. Vol. 2. New Jersey:Prentice Hall, 1996 - MacKinnon, Edward A.. The Problem of Scientific Realism. New York: Appleton-Century- Crofts, 1972. - Neurath, Otto, et al. Encyclopedia and Unified Science. Chicago:University of Chicago Press, 1938.

Professors in My Student Life Essay

There are some situations in life that we would never forget. Since I began the school at 6 years old until I finish high school at 18 years old, I have had the opportunities to meet several professors. Professors become a close person for us because we share with them at least one year of our life. They spend more time with us, even than our parents. But no all of them are equal in terms of their way to teach. I classified them into three different groups, the group of responsible professors, unconcerned professors and facetious professors. Fortunately, during those years, I have met many responsible professors. This kind of teachers worries about their students learning. They do not care if they have to explain a topic once again when some students do not understand something. Also, they explain as clear as possible in order to make understandable what they are teaching. Others ways that teachers demonstrate to be responsible are reviewing and discussing the students’ homework assignments. Going through the exercises that students do at home is a good way to know if students are doing well or not. Professors can realize if students need more practice before taking the test. In addition, responsible professors also go to the classroom prepared on what they will teach to their students. They know what the last class was about and what will go after it. Also, they used to take some handouts and materials for the students to work on it. But unfortunately not all professors are responsible. Other kind of professors I met was the unconcerned professors. These teachers arrived always late to the classroom. This behavior was a bad influence for students. Also, the time of class was shorter; nevertheless, they gave the class until the time ran out and the rest, to study at home by our self. Moreover, these professors do not used to review the homework in class. For that reason, my classmates and I did not know if we were learning or not. In consequence, most of us lost our interest to study. Another way to demonstrate their abandon was with the students test. For example, when we took a test, the professor many times lost our papers. In the better case, he gave us the score one month later. I hope do not have this type of professor anymore. I had some facetious professors, overcoat in high school. These professors always had a joke or story to tell. They always were doing that students would laugh and relax. I remember when we had an exam, one of them, before give us the test, he used to joke telling us that we had faces of sheep’s slaughtered. Furthermore, they are never angry. To demonstrate, some students came out from the classroom to make phone calls and he did not care about that. Also, I remember one of them who arrived late because his car was crashed, and he seemed like nothing had happened. Another way to project their character was their way to teach. All topics were given a touch of joy which made s the class more enjoyable. He taught us to memorize the topics, singing them; it was very funny. I enjoyed this kind of professor because he inspired me to do my best. In brief, in eleven years many professors go through our life. I particularly, have found these three type of professors; responsible, unconcerned and facetious. All of them had their own way to teach and communicate with their students. I liked some more than others, for that, my advice to all of you is to think about what kind of professor you prefer and then you can go online to look for the best.