Help Writing a Research Paper

Help Writing a Research PaperWhen you are asked to help write a research paper, it can be a frustrating experience. The problem is that the majority of us cannot write a convincing paper that will be able to persuade your readers to buy your product or service. The only way to overcome this problem is to find a way to help yourself become a better writer.Finding the right way to become a better writer can take you a long time, but it will definitely pay off in the end. Below are some tips that you may find useful when you try to help write a research paper.Find out what you already know. As you think about your research paper, do not forget to learn from what you have read and to put that information into your own words. Once you have learned to do this, you will find that you can do much more with your research.Identify a topic that interests you. Research papers can include many things. It is up to you to decide which topics to focus on and how to structure your research. For examp le, if you have decided to focus on social issues, you can make your research paper use topics like wealth inequality, poverty, racism, and hate crimes.Use one topic or angle to show how something can impact the lives of everyone. This is one of the most effective ways to help write a research paper. All you need to do is look at the problems of the world and figure out how you can address them in a different way.Another way to help write a research paper is to take notes from your conversation with your friends and family. Remember to take notes with interesting topics and activities that you have discussed with others. By taking notes, you can come up with ideas that are more detailed and more useful for your paper.Writing a research paper is an important task. There are many tools available to help you find the best way to write a research paper. If you try these tips, you will find that you can actually become a better writer.

Avignon Papacy - When the Popes Resided in France

The term Avignon Papacy refers to the Catholic papacy during the period 1309-1377, when the popes lived in and operated out of Avignon, France, instead of their traditional home in Rome. The Avignon Papacy was also known as: The Babylon Captivity (a reference to the forced detention of Jews in Babylonia c. 598 B.C.E.) Origins of the Avignon Papacy: Philip IV of France was instrumental in securing the election of Clement V, a Frenchman, to the papacy in 1305. This was an unpopular outcome in Rome, where factionalism made Clements life as pope stressful. To escape the oppressive atmosphere, in 1309 Clement chose to move the papal capital to Avignon, which was the property of papal vassals at that time. The French Nature of the Avignon Papacy: The majority of the men that Clement V appointed as cardinals were French; and since the cardinals elected the pope, this meant that future popes were likely to be French, as well. All seven of the Avignonese popes and 111 of the 134 cardinals created during the Avignon papacy were French. Although the Avignonese popes were able to maintain a measure of independence, the French kings did exert some influence from time to time, and the appearance of French influence on the papacy, whether real or not, was undeniable. The Avignonese Popes: 1305-1314: Clement V1316-1334: John XXII1334-1342: Benedict XII1342-1352: Clement VI1352-1362: Innocent VI1362-1370: Urban V1370-1378: Gregory XI Achievements of the Avignon Papacy: The popes were not idle during their time in France. Some of them made sincere efforts to improve the situation of the Catholic Church and to achieve peace in Christendom. Among their achievements: The administrative offices and other agencies of the papacy were extensively, and effectively, reorganized and centralized.Missionary enterprises were expanded; ultimately, they would reach as far as China.University education was promoted.The College of Cardinals began to strengthen their role in the government of church affairs.Attempts were made to settle secular conflicts. The Avignon Papacys Poor Reputation: The Avignon popes were not as much under the control of the French kings as it has been charged (or as the kings would have liked). However, some popes did bow to royal pressure, as Clement V did to a degree in the matter of the Templars. Although Avignon belonged to the papacy (it was purchased from papal vassals in 1348), there was nevertheless the perception that it belonged to France, and that the popes were, therefore, beholden to the French Crown for their livelihoods. In addition, the Papal States in Italy now had to answer to French authorities. Italian interests in the papacy had in past centuries resulted in just as much corruption as in Avignon, if not more so, but this did not stop Italians from attacking the Avignon popes with fervor. One particularly vociferous critic was Petrarch, who had spent most of his childhood in Avignon and, after taking minor orders, was to spend more time there in clerical service. In a famous letter to a friend, he described Avignon as the Babylon of the West, a sentiment that took hold in the imagination of future scholars. The End of the Avignon Papacy: Both Catherine of Siena and St. Bridget of Sweden are credited with persuading Pope Gregory XI to return the See to Rome. This he did on Jan. 17, 1377. But Gregorys stay in Rome was plagued with hostilities, and he seriously considered returning to Avignon. Before he could make any move, however, he died in March 1378. The Avignon Papacy had officially ended. Repercussions of the Avignon Papacy: When Gregory XI moved the See back to Rome, he did so over the objections of the Cardinals in France. The man elected to succeed him, Urban VI, was so hostile to the cardinals that 13 of them met to choose another pope, who, far from replacing Urban, could only stand in opposition to him. Thus began the Western Schism (a.k.a. the Great Schism), in which two popes and two papal curiae existed simultaneously for another four decades. The bad reputation of the Avignon administration, whether deserved or not, would damage the prestige of the papacy. Many Christians were already facing crises of faith thanks to the problems encountered during and after the Black Death. The gulf between the Catholic Church and lay Christians seeking spiritual guidance would only widen.

My Memories Of My Childhood - 1427 Words

Personally, thinking about my childhood early on when I was in the beginning years of school is generally a painfully awkward thought until I stumble on the idea of soccer. I don’t think I’m the only person who believes that but regardless of the experiences I went through, there’s one in particular that is the single most important in my life. It was the first soccer practice I ever went to. Stepping onto the grass field off to the side of a playground and joining the other four year old prodigy’s, or so it felt, changed my life forever. My parents hyped up the idea of me playing soccer like all parents of athletes do and I thought it was completely annoying, but little did I know they were doing it on purpose so that I would build a†¦show more content†¦While the more applicable educational side has taught me that at some point in high school, most likely more than once, I’ll have multiple tests in one day and it’s inevitable. Havi ng perseverance to not give up and just not study for the tests will result in poor grades that will affect my future. Quitting nowadays just merely isn’t an option as I become older and get closer to the adult world that entails college with its intimidating demeanor. All jokes aside, I didn’t fully understand why my parents kept enrolling me on this soccer team until a few years ago when it finally dawned on me that this whole time that I’ve been having fun, it’s been inadvertently preparing me for when I join the rest of the American people and find a job that I’ll succumb to for the rest of my days. One of the most important aspect of playing soccer is easily working together as a team and solving any arising problems that I may face throughout a game or the whole season. Failing to complete this seemingly simple task will cause any team, not just a sports team, to crash and burn beyond any fix. Sometimes solving a problem is easier than other times depending on the issue and definitely the team that one is working with. This is simply because there will always be the people who believe that they are nothing short than a reincarnation of God himself and will endlessly remind people about it. Those people are honestly the worst and hardest toShow MoreRelatedMy Memories Of My Childhood Memories Essay1127 Words   |  5 PagesMy earliest childhood memory is of the first time I met my mother in person when I was four. A beautiful woman whose personality seemed to glow from her. I had seen a picture of her before then I was told by Mummy Dada, my aunt, so I knew her on sight. The wo man I saw walk in the room as I watched from my grandfather’s lap seemed effervescent. She floated from person to person at the family reunion like an angel. My mother is one of thirteen children my grandpa has. My brother cousin wanted to playRead MoreMy Memories Of My Childhood Memories864 Words   |  4 PagesMany of my fondest childhood memories involved a stuffed lamb doll and one of my grandfather s old stethoscopes. Ever the precocious seven-year-old, I would often stand beside my grandfather while he examined his patients. Watching him carefully, I mimicked his every move, an act that rarely failed to pull a laugh out of even the sickest of patients. Even in these moments of childhood play, though, I noticed the sheer joy and relief that his healing hands had the capacity to bring to the sufferingRead MoreMy Memories : My Childhood Memories1999 Words   |  8 PagesI will be comparing my childhood and my friend A childhood memories. My childhood is full of memories. Some are good and some are bad, but generally speaking I would classify most of them as good, throughout my childhood there has been a word my parents always use to say every time I fell and hurt myself which was â€Å"you will forget when you grow up† it was true I really have forgotten. I had two young, funny, happily married parents, a lovely younger sister, and an extended family that lived closeRead MoreMy Memories : My Childhood Memories840 Words   |  4 Pagesthat we must focus to see the light. -Aristotle Onassis Many of my fondest childhood memories involved a stuffed lamb doll and one of my grandfather s old stethoscopes. As a precocious seven-year-old, I would often stand beside my grandfather while he examined his patients. Watching him carefully, I mimicked his every move, an act that rarely failed to pull a laugh out of even the sickest of patients. Even in these moments of childhood play, I noticed the sheer joy and relief that his healing handsRead MoreMy Memories Of My Childhood867 Words   |  4 Pagesunique to the owner. People bestow special value of some objects according to an experience, emotion or hidden message associated with them. I have a chest with treasures and so far they are my childhood, my youth and my adulthood memories of good and challenging that are most charitable to me. My childhood was fun and unforgettable, as I had lots of neighbors to play with from morning till dark. We played games outdoors and rode our bicycles happily. The undeveloped wood behind our home providedRead MoreMy Memories Of My Childhood959 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"I want to go back In those childhood days, not to change anything but to feel few things twice.†- M S Dhoni . The experiences of my past are undeniable. It goes without saying that my childhood was more than just a learning salient experience. Those are my greatest memories! This is an essay is not only on my childhood, but also about the lessons I have learned throughout my childhood, It was an unforgettable experience of fear, shame, pain, loss, freedom, forgiveness, happiness, kindness, emotionsRead MoreChildhood Memories Of My Childhood1046 Words   |  5 PagesSome of my fondest childhood memories are of camping trips my parents would take me on starting at a very young age. These memories consist of walking a dark forest trail in the middle of the night, black bags hanging from the hands of all the young children with hopes of catching the mysterious snipe that had been roaming the woods, gathering around warm fires on cool nights with people you barely know and h earing out their past adventures, hoping to one day to take their place with adventurousRead MoreMemories Of My Childhood829 Words   |  4 PagesMy memory of my childhood is fuzzy at best, probably like most people. There are many important events in my early life I cannot remember, like the events of September 11, 2001, or the first day of kindergarten. I also do not remember much of my musical life prior to middle school. My family was not a musical family. We did not constantly play music in our house, if we ever really did. Nor did my parents very often put on albums that they loved from their younger years. Music mostly seemed cosignedRead MoreMy Memories Of My Childhood1109 Words   |  5 PagesLooking back at my childhood, I suppose you could say it was pretty difficult. Even at my happiest, I was living with a foster family, separated from the rest of my biological relatives. However, I couldn’t complain. I loved them like they were my family that I spent my whole life with. I was a five-year-old boy living a happy life. I had grown attached to the family, feeling like I was truly a part of it. Then one cold November day it all changed. A woman dressed in black came to my home I had grownRead MoreMy Memories Of My Childhood908 Words   |  4 PagesI remember my childhood as if it were yesterday. Nothing was better than my closest friends. We Hanged out, fished, climbed the mango trees in the garden, Card games, board games, and even teased the innocent grocery store keeper. I didn t want any new friends; I had no idea what the world had to offer. Life was a simple clichà © routine. I invented a circle and trapped myself inside it. I made my own world and lived within it. I ultimately enjoyed every aspect of my childhood. Eventually, a lesson

What Is Modern Art Essay - 1726 Words

Ha Lim (Sally) Lee Term3/Fall15’ Intro to Modernism Daniel Spaulding Midterm Essay What is Modern Art? Modern Art was created roughly during the 1800s to the 1900s. Before this period, art depicted religious or mythological scenes that told stories and guided the audience through art. â€Å"Modern Art denotes the style and philosophy of the art produced during that era.†(Arnason) This time was usually connected with art that threw the old traditions aside in a spirit of experimentation. This doesn’t mean that modern art pieces don’t have a story or a meaning behind them. To break out of the tradition, artists had to have courage to do what they loved. In Basic Writings of Kant, Wood states, â€Å"Have courage to use your own reason.† Modern art can range from paintings to sculptures. Some artists experimented with the expressive use of color, non-traditional materials, new techniques, and new mediums. Two of the most popular modern works, currently presented at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, were â€Å"The Jewel† by Jay DeFeo and â€Å"Irregular Forms: Creation† by Frantisek Kupka . Both of these paintings were expressed with oil paint on canvas. However, despite the same mediums used in their works, these two have very opposing feeling from each other. â€Å"The Jewel† by Jay DeFeo was started in 1958 and was finished in 1959. This is a gorgeous giant piece which measures up to 120† by 57.5†. The Jewel recalls that her works of this period were a marriage of painting and sculpture. SheShow MoreRelatedModernism and Art1604 Words   |  6 Pagescannot be at the stand with new and modern approaches of relaying similar activities and solutions. The challenges brought by the environment have changed urgency of approach and perception of ideas in the world. Change of ideas and approaches touch on every sector of human and animal life in the world. For instance, modernism is characterized by abandonment of the old and outdated approaches of activity and embracing new ideas backed by innovation and modern thought. Therefore, modernism is a gradualRead MoreThe Ultimate Aryan Race from the Nazis883 Words   |  4 PagesDuring World War two the National Socialists went to great lengths to establish what they believed to be acceptable cultural values of the German-ultimitaly Aryan race. Any modern artist was judged at the hand of the Third Reich and if they did not obide German policy, they were classified as degenerate and were banned from the ever-expanding Aryan Race. The lengths to which the national socialists went to, to degrade these artists, was unimaginable. They labeled proclaimed artworks as degenerateRead MoreThe Art Institute of Chicago Essay664 Words   |  3 PagesThe building at 111 South Michigan Avenue, home of the Art Institute of Chicago, was opened in 1893 as the World’s Congress Auxiliary Building for the World’s Columbian Exposition. The building was passed on to the Art Institute after the end of the exposition. Designed in the Beax-Arts style by Boston firm Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge, building has become an icon for chicagoans an tourists alike. The Modern Wing, the Art Institute’s latest and largest addition to date, opened on May 16, 2009, andRead MoreThe Extent to Which World War I Influenced the Dada Artistic Movement1645 Words   |  7 PagesThe Extent to which World War 1 Influenced the Dada artistic Movement A. Scope of Investigation The investigation will evaluate to what extent did World War 1 influence the artists of the Dada movement? The investigation will look at primary sources by artists themselves, as well as secondary sources that may evaluate the artists and comment on any influences to the creation of Dadaism and the motives of artists. To be able to determine the extent to which World War 1 influenced the artists of theRead MoreRobert Rauschenberg And John Cage1388 Words   |  6 Pagesfast pace, high speed of modern lifestyle. Modern art approached with a number of painter, sculptures, poets who individually or collectively to redefine through around this century. The new art forms are creative world’s response to the perspective of the new lives and ideas provided by the industrialized and technological advances that results modern society to evolve itself in a new way. Many artists began to experiment and represent their works of newness to modern life in an innovative wayRead MoreWhy I s Modern Art Important?918 Words   |  4 Pagesthoughts the type of art painting is? Do you look at the artwork and automatically know the style and the time period the art comes from? Or are you the type of person that likes to read the information box underneath or alongside the artwork? If you were to ask me any of these questions this time last year, I probably wouldn’t really know and would tell you that I was the type of person that has to look at the information box. With me I always thought I wasn’t really into art, but I soon learnedRead MoreEssay on Which Comes First: The Art or the Artist?1248 Words   |  5 PagesComes First: The Art or the Artist? A Historical Perspective The approach of the year 2000 seems a good time to think about the way the role of art and the artist has changed through history, and how modern art is interpreted by a modern audience. Writing about modern art gives me the creeps. In other types of art, clear facts can be asserted with security, public reactions are clearly documented, skills can be appreciated, and art is clearly recognized as such. Modern art defys all of theseRead MoreWhere do the Modern-Day Liberal Arts Originate?842 Words   |  3 Pageswhere do the modern day â€Å"liberal arts† come from? The liberal arts system originates in the philosophy of ancient Greece, and was born in from certain questions queried by the unique philosophy evolved in Grecian culture. Questions of the human soul were raised: What is the good life? Is ethical truth relative to the culture from which it comes? Do people have free will? What is it for one event to cause another? Why are liberty and democracy important? What const itutes life? What is knowledge?Read MoreEssay Museum of Modern Art in New York1623 Words   |  7 PagesMuseum of Modern Art in New York Roxanne Briano The Museum of Modern Art in New York City is the world’s leading modern art. Its exhibits have been a major influence in creating and stimulating popular awareness of modern art and its accompanying diversity of its styles and movements. The museum’s outstanding collections of modern painting, sculpture, drawings, and prints range from Impressionisms to current movements. Moreover, there are exhibits of modern architecture, industrial design, sculptureRead MoreArt Deco And Buhaus Essay993 Words   |  4 PagesArt deco and Bauhaus are best known as the forms of art that changed previous views of artwork during the 1920s and 1930s. Both of these forms of art impacted not only art itself but also architecture, fashion design, graphic design and industrial design. During this time new inventions involving technology where becoming popular along with the new forms of art and sculpture. A major effect on modernity occurred along with the designs being created during the 19t h and 20th century due to the invention

Queen Elizabeth Essay - 966 Words

Queen Elizabeth was born on September 7, in 1533 to a royal couple by the name of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. She pertained a strong personality and strong political skills in overlooking marriage proposals and intensely flirting with many available suitors. She reigned over England without a king or children (Britannia: Elizabeth 1). Her father was known for the execution of his wives. The king had announced that any daughter would be illegitimate to the line of succession because his upcoming sons would be highly favorable to the throne (Thomas, Heather). Anne Boleyn was killed by the king for not providing him with a son, but a daughter who would live to be a legend of English times (Thomas, Heather). Elizabeth grew up†¦show more content†¦Whether this was true or not, Elizabeth was arrested and put in prison. She was moved around to different prisons for a little over a year. However, when Queen Mary I started to become ill, her husband, Philip of Spain, called Elizabeth out of prison to develop a friendship with her, since she would take the throne when Queen Mary I would die (Putatunda, Rita). According to Green, this coronation to the throne took place on January 15, 1559. The new queen started to take advantage of all the new opportunities. She started horseback riding more. She also took up hunting and hawking and enjoyed watching jousts and theatre (Green, Robert 53). Elizabeth was also strong in her Catholic beliefs. Heather Thomas writes that she reestablished a Protestant Church and became the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, which was to please those attending (Thomas, Heather). Britannica states that she was a Conservative Protestant. She liked traditional style of worship and did not believe in executing people for their religious beliefs (Britannia Encyclopedia-Elizabeth I). Marriage proposals became a daily routine. Regard her beliefs for the matrimony; she used the proposals to frighten enemies or to even draw them in. However, she came close to marriage twice in her reign (Putatunda, Rita). One of which was a near proposal with RobertShow More RelatedQueen Elizabeth: The Virgin Queen922 Words   |  4 PagesEngland.† -Elizabeth I (Add Intro) Queen Elizabeth was famously known as â€Å"The Virgin Queen† for never marrying. She refused to share her power. Queen Elizabeth was born in 1533 and she and her sister were claimed to be illegitimate by her father, Henry VIII since he was looking for a male heir to his throne. Her mother, Anne Boleyn, was executed by her husband Henry VIII for what historians believe was false charges of adultery and conspiracy when Elizabeth was just two. Elizabeth stayed at HatfieldRead MoreThe Queen Elizabeth And Elizabeth1104 Words   |  5 Pagesthis was George VI and Queen Elizabeth with the two princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. It was taken by someone my great grandmother knew, who was employed at the palace. Apparently those two little princesses were always into mischief; they were into everything. As with most siblings they used to fight all the time but if anyone tried to come between them, they’d stick together like glue. The younger sister was forever getti ng into scrapes that her elder sister, Elizabeth, had to try to get her outRead MoreEssay on Queen Elizabeth841 Words   |  4 PagesThe last queen of the Tudor dynasty, Queen Elizabeth I proved to be on of the most celebrated, and controversial leaders in English history. Raised in a neglectful home, and shadowed by her mothers reputation, Elizabeth did not have the royal treatment that her siblings received. From her birth, she was a disappointment, as a child she was intelligent, yet unnoticed, and the road to her 1558-1603 reign was troubled. Elizabeth was born on September 7, 1533. To the disappointment of King HenryRead MoreQueen Elizabeth I702 Words   |  3 PagesQueen Elizabeth I was the most extraordinary leader in English history. She was born on September 7, 1533 at Greenwich Palace. Her birth was not celebrated; instead it was a bitter failure to her father King Henry VIII, who was expecting the birth of a son. Her mother was executed for treason not long after her birth (Jokinen 1). After Henry VIII’s third spouse Jane Seymour died; however, Elizabeth was set back in the order of succession after Edward and Mary by act of parliament. When she came intoRead MoreQueen Mary and Queen Elizabeth of England1626 Words   |  7 PagesQueen Mary and Queen Elizabeth of England Sixteenth century England experienced a phenomenon sometimes referred to as the Age of Queens. The decisive power of the country was placed in women’s hands and their reigns were watched with a reasonable doubt. There is contrast of rule in terms of reigns between Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth of England, both of whom were engaged in a protracted struggle for the English throne. Beside the legitimacy of their claims, there are more significant considerationsRead MoreQueen Elizabeth I Of England1040 Words   |  5 PagesElizabeth sat in her bedroom in the Buckingham palace brushing her long, curly, red hair which was stained with strands of gray. She focused on the mirror and softly stared at the freckles on her pale skin, which looked as if it needed to be ironed, and her dark brown eyes that looked like a black hole against her pale complexion. The year was 1587, Elizabeth had gone through so much to be here. Oh, my mistake, I should probably refer to her by her formal name . The Elizabeth of this daring storyRead MoreQueen Elizabeth: Majestic Virgin Queen Essay2248 Words   |  9 Pagesand for my glory, if, when I die, an inscription be engraved on a marble tomb, saying, â€Å"Here lieth Elizabeth, which reigned a virgin, and died a virgin.†Ã¢â‚¬  Unfortunately these words had become spasmodically through her reign as Queen. Queen Elizabeth was in a constant battle with Parliament for her to marry and leave an heir to the throne. She never married and did indeed die a virgin. Queen Elizabeth was often depicted in many paintings as a virgin and being of purity, of being of royalty, of strongRead MoreEssay on Queen Elizabeth I1429 Words   |  6 Pages Elizabeth I nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; King Henry VIII wanted a son. He had been married for seventeen long years and had only been given a daughter named Mary. Someday one of his children would rule England and it was supposed to be a boy. Henry decided he wanted a younger wife who could bear many children, so he formed his own church and re-married Anne Boleyn. This began the life of Elizabeth. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Elizabeth was born on Sunday, September 7th 1533 at three o’Read More Queen Elizabeth the First Essays1762 Words   |  8 Pages Elizabeth â€Å"Semper Eadem† Prologue Known as The Golden Age in English history, the 45 year rule of Queen Elizabeth I turned the declining country of England, into one of the most powerful and prosperous countries in the world. Elizabeth Tutor I was born unwanted to King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn on September 7 1533. Taught by famous scholars in her youth, she excelled at her studies. From an early age, she was seen to be enormously gifted. She had an especial flair for languagesRead MoreQueen Elizabeth: Golden Age1406 Words   |  6 PagesElizabeth’s Golden Age Elizabeth was Queen of England from 1558-1603. During that time England was a strong country and she was a successful queen. Many people thought Elizabeth would not last long without a powerful husband but they were proved wrong. In fact Elizabeth was very clever in not choosing a husband. She didn’t choose a husband because she didn’t want anybody taking over her throne. There were four men that she could have married but said no to. The first man was Philip of Spain. Philip

Bible Influences Essay Example For Students

Bible Influences Essay ZOROASTRIANISM, JUDAISM, ANDCHRISTIANITYZoroastrianism, Judaism, and Christianity share so many features that it seems that there must be a connection between them. There is a great deal of Zoroastrian influence in both Judaism and Christianity. In 586 BCE, the forces of the Babylonian Empire conquered the Jews, destroying their Temple and carrying off a proportion of the Jewish population into exile. It was during the end of the Exile, among the Jews now living in the Persian Empire, that the firstsignificant contact was made between the Jewish and Iranian cultures. And it is evident in the Bible that Jewish thinking changed after the Exile. During the Exile, Jews had to change not only how they worshipped, since they no longer had their temple or the animal sacrifices which had been at the center of their faith, but also how they thought about God. The Jewish concept of God as their tribal protector, who would save them from being conquered or exiled, had to undergo revision. Both factors are present, inspiring the changes in post-exilic Judaism: not only the Jews thinking new thoughts about God and humanity, but also contact with the Zoroastrian religion of the Persian Empire. Most of Zoroastrianism, known and practiced among the people, existed in oral tradition: through word of mouth, not by the study of written scriptures. This oral tradition included stories about God, the Creation, the ethical and cosmic conflict of Good and Evil, the divine Judgment and the end of the world. The tradition would also include the well-known Zoroastrian symbolism of fire, light and darkness, as well as stories and prayers about the yazatas or intermediate spiritual beings and the Prophet Zarathushtra. These are all elements of what might be called classic Zoroastrianism. This is how the Jews encountered Zoroastrianism in private dialogues and political and civic experience, rather than in formal religious studies. And as the Jewish religion was re-made after the catastrophe of the Exile, these Zoroastrian teachings began to filter into the Jewish religious culture. The monotheists of Zarathushtra were able to incorporate the veneration of subordinate divinities into their worship, as long as these subordinates were recognized as creations of the One God and not gods in their own right. The Jews would recognize angels as semi-divine intermediaries, but would not go so far as the Zoroastrians in honoring those intermediaries with hymns of praise such as the Yashts. One of the most important differences between Jewish monotheism and Zoroastrian monotheism is that Jews recognize the one God as the source of both good and evil, light and darkness, while Zoroastrians, during all the phases of their long theological history, think of God only as the source of Good, with Evil as a separate principle. There is a famous passage in Second Isaiah, composed during or after the Exile, which is sometimes cited as a Jewish rebuke to the Zoroastrian idea of a dualistic God: I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7) This passage, which is a major source for Jewish speculation on the source of good and evil in the world, denies the Zoroastrian idea of a God who is the source only of good and favorable things. The philosophical minds of the two cultures may indeed have recognized each other as fellow monotheists, but this central Jewish doctrine is one which was not learned from the Zoroastrians. It grew from the original monotheistic revelation attributed to Moses, just as Zoroastrian monotheism grew from the revelation of Zarathushtra. These were two parallel journeys towards understanding of one God. There are other developments, however, in the Jewish faith which are much more easily connected with Zoroastrian ideas. Human Rights Violations Essay This view of dualism is a symbolic transformation, and an expansion, of the more psychologically based teaching of Zarathushtra that good and evil are ethical choices and states of mind. Both cosmic and ethical dualism coexist in Zoroastrian thought throughout the long history of the faith; their history is not one of a pristine idea of ethical dualism which is supplanted or corrupted by the idea of cosmic dualism. And reflections of both types of dualism are found in Jewish thinking. The Biblical book of Deuteronomy, like the other early books of the Old Testament, was re-edited and possibly even re-written during and after the Exile. An important passage in Deuteronomy 30:15 shows a Jewish version of ethical dualism: See, today I set before you life and prosperity, death and disaster. If you obey the commandments of YHVH your God that I enjoin on you today, if you love YHVH your God and follow His ways, if you keep His commandments, His laws, His customs, you will live and increase, and YHVH your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to make your own. But if your heart strays, if you refuse to listen, if you let yourself be drawn into worshipping other gods and serving them, I tell you today, you will most certainly perish.. ..I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live. (Deuteronomy 31:15-19, Jewish Bible Translation) But despite these Jewish reflections of ethical dualism, it is the doctrine of cosmic dualism, with its mythological and symbolic content, that most influenced the later Jewish thinkers. Even before the Exile, under the threat of destruction by foreign empires, Jewish prophets were moving toward a vision of not only political, but cosmic war and catastrophe. This type of prophecy, after the Exile, evolved into apocalyptic, which comes from the Greek word apokalypsis which means revelation. This is a form of religious storytelling, poetry, and preaching which uses a high level of mythological symbolism to describe not only a cosmic battle between the forces of Good and Evil, but also a schedule for the coming End of Time. It is very evident to see that even though the original text of the Gathas was most probably inaccessible to the Jews, the teachings of Zarathushtra were part of the religious culture of the Persian people among whom many Jews lived. Zoroastrianism, from the beginning, has taught that time and Gods creation has a beginning, a middle, and an end-time in which all souls will be judged. This is the basis of what the Christian belief is based upon and it is easy to draw the conclusion that Zoroastrianism had a great influence on Christianity and on the Bible. Religion

Neurochemistry of Addiction free essay sample

To better understand the fundamentals of neurochemistry, a good start is at the brain. The brain makes up the central nervous system and is connected to the whole nervous system that runs through the whole body. The central nervous system receives sensory information and controls the body’s response. For example, a pot on a stove would be extremely hot on the hands when the stove is on and would damage the skin. This sensory information is sent up to the brain to be processed. The brain then controls the body to remove the hand to prevent more damage. All this information travels through neurons. Neurons are nerve cells that are essentially the basic building blocks of the nervous system. They are required to communicate information in both chemical and electrical forms. To process information in the brain, neurons must work together in a circuit-like fashion to function properly. No one nerve cell or neuron can work alone. Neurochemistry studies how information is passed between the billion of neurons in the brain. Evaluating what happens when someone is addicted to a drug helps to further understand the neurochemistry in the body. Inside a neuron, pores in the cell membrane allow positive and negative ions to pass through into the interior and exterior of the cell. Additional mechanisms are required at synapses to pass signals from one neuron to another. Synapses are the gaps that allow two neurons to pass information back and forth. Electrical synapses (where electrical signals are transferred directly from neuron to the next) are rarely formed, however, most neurons in the nervous system communicate via these chemical synapses. The electrical activity in a presynaptic neuron occurring at the chemical synapses causes the release of a chemical messenger called a neurotransmitter, which binds to neurotransmitter receptors on a postsynaptic neuron. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that modulate signals between neuron. The neurotransmitter crosses the synaptic gap between neurons to reach another cell. Neurotransmitters play a major role in everyday life. There can be numerous adverse effects on the body when drugs affect neurotransmitters. For a chemical to be distinguished as a neurotransmitter, the chemical must follow a few guidelines. The chemical must be produced inside the neuron and the neuron must contain the necessary precursor enzymes. There must be enough of the chemical present to actually have an effect on the postsynaptic neuron and the chemical must be released by the presynaptic neuron, and the postsynaptic neuron must contain receptors that the chemical will bind to. It is unknown exactly how many neurotransmitters are in the body. Some neurochemicals that are considered neurotransmitters are norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. Addiction is involved with the frontal cortex, which is the rationalizing and conscience part of the brain. Addiction and misuse of drugs and alcohol have large effects on neurons and neurotransmitters in the body. According to Oxford Journals, a key neurotransmitter in addiction is dopamine. All drugs of abuse increase dopaminergic function. Cocaine and amphetamine increase the levels of dopamine in the middle area of the brain to result in the feeling of pleasure. Furthermore, addiction can be described as a complex mixture of brain chemistry, drug chemistry, social interactions and thought processes. Research from Agora Regenerations Clinic Ltd. has presented information about the brain and drug chemistry of addiction. The cycle of addiction can be broken down into four stages known as drug intoxication, drug craving, drug bingeing, and drug withdrawal. Drug intoxication involves higher extra cellular dopamine concentrations in the limbic and frontal regions of the brain. Memory of the experience with the drug is stored in and around the hippocampal regions of the brain. The craving is then activated in specific areas of the brain so that the good feelings that belong to using that drug are recalled. When drug bingeing (compulsive drug administration) there is a loss of inhibitory processes. Drug withdrawal disrupts the behavioral circuit that was created by frequent use that results in irritability. Also stated in the research is that the dopamine receptor pathway involves reward circuits in the brain, and thus with decreased receptor availability, a potential for increased risk of addictive behavior ensues. According to the research done at Agora Regeneration Clinics Ltd. , an efficient way to nurse an addict back to proper health can be done by intravenous treatments consisting of a formula of amino acids, minerals and vitamins. The amino acids are the basics in the creation of healthy neurochemicals in the body. The vitamins and minerals assist the amino acids in the process. This type of treatment helps the addict because it establishes a healthy balance of neurochemistry and reduces withdrawal symptoms as the addict’s body gets better by having the amino acids, vitamins and minerals in place of the damaging drug. Knowledge of how neurotransmitters react to an abuse drug can give researchers great insight to discover more effective ways of repairing an addict’s neurochemical balance in the body. Neurotransmitters are the result of a chemical activity between one neuron in the brain and another neuron. The central nervous system, the brain, consists of many neurons making many neurochemical connections at a time.