The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 32

Elena was radiantly happy. She had gone to sleep happy, only to wake up again happy, serene in the knowledge that soon – soon she would visit Stefan, and that after that – surely very soon – she would be able to take Stefan away. Bonnie and Meredith weren't surprised when she wanted to see Damon about two things: one being who should go and two being what she was going to wear. What did surprise them were her choices. â€Å"If it's all right,† she said slowly at the beginning, tracing a finger round and round on the large table in one of the parlors as everyone gathered the next morning, â€Å"I would like for just a few people to go with me. Stefan's been badly treated,† she went on, â€Å"and he hates to look bad in front of other people. I don't want to humiliate him.† There was sort of a group blush at this. Or maybe it was a group flush of resentment – and then a group blush of culpability. With the western windows slightly open, so that an early-morning red light fell over everything, it was hard to tell. Only one thing was certain: everyone wanted to go. â€Å"So I hope,† Elena said, turning to look Meredith and Bonnie in the eye, â€Å"that none of you are hurt if I don't choose you to come with me.† That tells both of them they're out, Elena thought as she saw understanding blossom in both faces. Most of her plans depended on how her two best friends reacted to this. Meredith gallantly stepped up to bat first. â€Å"Elena, you've been through hell – literally – and almost died doing it – to get to Stefan. You take with you the people who will do the most good.† â€Å"We realize it isn't a popularity contest,† Bonnie added, swallowing, because she was trying not to cry. She really wants to go, Elena thought, but she understands. â€Å"Stefan may feel more embarrassed in front of a girl than a boy,† Bonnie said. And she didn't even add â€Å"even though we would never do anything to embarrass him,† Elena thought, going around for a hug and feeling Bonnie's soft little birdlike body in her arms. Then she turned and felt Meredith's warm and slim hard arms, and as always felt some of her tension drain away. â€Å"Thank you,† she said, wiping tears from her eyes afterward. â€Å"And you're right, I think it would be harder to face girls than boys in the situation he's in. Also it will be harder to face friends he already knows and loves. So I would like to ask these people to go with me: Sage, Damon, and Dr. Meggar.† Lakshmi leaped up as interested as if she had been chosen. â€Å"Where's he in jail?† she asked, quite cheerfully. Damon spoke up. â€Å"The Shi no Shi.† Lakshmi's eyes became round. She stared at Damon for a moment, and then she was bounding out the door, her shaken voice floating behind her: â€Å"I've got chores to do, master!† Elena turned to look directly at Damon. â€Å"And what was that little reaction?† she asked in a voice that would have frozen lava at thirty meters. â€Å"I don't know. Truly, I don't. Shinichi showed me kanji characters and said that they were pronounced ‘Shi no Shi' and they meant ‘the Death of Death' – as in lifting the curse of death from a vampire.† Sage coughed. â€Å"Oh, my trusting little one. Mon cher idiot. To not get a second opinion†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I did, actually. I asked a middle-aged Japanese lady at a library if the romaji – that's the Japanese words written out in our letters, meant the Death of Death. And she said yes.† â€Å"And you turned on your heel and walked out,† Sage said. â€Å"How do you know?† Damon was getting angry. â€Å"Because, mon cher, those words mean many things. It all depends upon the Japanese characters first used – which you did not show her.† â€Å"I didn't have them! Shinichi wrote it in the air for me, in red smoke.† Then in a kind of angry anguish: â€Å"What other things do they mean?† â€Å"Well, they can mean what you said. They also could mean ‘the new death.' Or ‘the true death.' Or even – ‘The Gods of Death.' And given the way Stefan has been treated†¦Ã¢â‚¬  If stares had been stakes, Damon would have been a goner by now. Everyone was looking at him with hard, accusing eyes. He turned like a wolf at bay and bared his teeth at them in a 250-kilowatt smile. â€Å"In any case, I didn't imagine it was anything remarkably pleasant,† he said. â€Å"I just thought it would help him to get rid of the curse of being a vampire.† â€Å"In any case,† Elena repeated. Then she said, â€Å"Sage, if you would go and make sure that they'll let us in when we arrive, I would be enormously grateful.† â€Å"As good as done, Madame.† â€Å"And – let me see – I want everyone to wear something a little different to go visit him. If it's all right I'll go talk to Lady Ulma.† She could feel Bonnie's and Meredith's bewildered looks on her back as she left. Lady Ulma was pale, but bright of eye when Elena was escorted into her room. Her sketchbook was open, a good sign. It took only a few words and a heartfelt look before Lady Ulma said firmly, â€Å"We can have everything done in an hour or two. It's just a matter of calling the right people. I promise.† Elena squeezed her wrist very, very gently. â€Å"Thank you. Thank you – miracle worker!† â€Å"And so I am to go as a penitent,† Damon said. He was right outside Lady Ulma's door when Elena came out and Elena suspected him of some eavesdropping. â€Å"No, that never even occurred to me,† she said. â€Å"I just think that slave's clothing on you and the other guys will make Stefan less self-conscious. But why should you think I wanted to punish you?† â€Å"Don't you?† â€Å"You're here to help me save Stefan. You've gone through – † Elena had to stop and look in her sleeves for a clean handkerchief, until Damon offered her a black silk one. â€Å"All right,† he said, â€Å"we won't get into that. I'm sorry. I think of things to say and then I just say them, no matter how unlikely I think they are, considering the person I'm speaking to.† â€Å"And don't you ever hear another little voice? A voice that says that people can be good, and may not be trying to hurt you?† Elena asked wistfully, wondering how loaded with chains the child was now. â€Å"I don't know. Maybe. Sometimes. But, as that voice is generally wrong in this wicked world, why should I pay it any attention?† â€Å"I wish sometimes you would just try,† Elena whispered. â€Å"I might be in a better position to argue with you, then.† I like this position just fine, Damon told her telepathically and Elena realized – how did this happen over and over? – that they had melted into an embrace. Worse, she was wearing her morning attire – a long silky gown and a peignoir of the same material, both in the palest of pearly blues, which turned violet in the rays of the ever-setting sun. I – like it too, Elena admitted, and felt shockwaves go through Damon from his surface, through his body, and deep, deep into that unfathomable hole that one could see by looking into his eyes. I'm just trying to be honest, she added, almost frightened by his reaction. I can't expect anyone else to be honest if I'm not. Don't be honest, don't be honest. Hate me. Despise me, Damon begged her, at the same time caressing her arms and the two layers of silk that were all that stood between his hands and her skin. â€Å"But why?† Because I can't be trusted. I'm a wicked wolf, and you're a pure soul, a snow-white newborn lamb. You mustn't let me hurt you. Why should you hurt me? Because I might – no, I don't want to bite you – I only want to kiss you, just a little, like this. There was revelation in Damon's mind-voice. And he did kiss so sweetly, and he always knew when Elena's knees were going to give out and picked her up before she could fall on the floor. Damon, Damon, she was thinking, feeling very sweet herself because she knew she was giving him pleasure, when she suddenly realized. Oh! Damon, please let me go – I have to go have a fitting right now! Deeply flushed, he slowly, reluctantly put her down, grabbed her before she could fall, and put her down again. I think I shall have to go have a fit right now as well, he told her earnestly as he stumbled out of the room, missing the door the first time. Not a fit – a fitting! Elena called after him, but she never knew if he had heard. She was pleased, though, that he had let her go, without really understanding anything except that she was saying no. That was quite a bit of improvement. Then she hurried in to Lady Ulma's room, which was filled with all sorts of people, including two male models, who had just been garbed in trousers and long shirts. â€Å"Sage's clothes,† said Lady Ulma, nodding at the large one, â€Å"and Damon's.† She nodded at the smaller man. â€Å"Oh, they're perfect!† Lady Ulma looked at her with just the slightest doubt in her eyes. â€Å"These are made of genuine sacking,† she said. â€Å"The meanest, lowest cloth in the slave hierarchy. Are you sure they will wear them?† â€Å"They're wearing them or they aren't going at all,† Elena said flatly and winked. Lady Ulma laughed. â€Å"Good plan.† â€Å"Yes – but what do you think of my other plan?† Elena asked, genuinely interested in Lady Ulma's opinion, even while she blushed. â€Å"My dear benefactress,† Lady Ulma said. â€Å"I used to watch my mother put together such outfits†¦after I had turned thirteen, of course – and she told me that they always made her happy, for she was bringing joy to two at once, and that the purpose was nothing but joy. I promise you, Lucen and I will be done in no time. Now, should you not be getting ready?† â€Å"Oh, yes – oh, I do love you, Lady Ulma! It's so funny that the more people you love, the more you want to love!† And with that Elena went running back to her own rooms. Her maids-in-waiting were all there and all ready. Elena took the quickest, briskest bath of her life – she was keyed up – and found herself on a couch in the middle of a smiling, keen-eyed bunch, each neatly doing her job without interfering with the others. There was a depilatory, of course – in fact one for each leg, one for her armpits, and one for her eyebrows. While these women and the women with soft creams and unguents were at work, creating a unique fragrance for Elena, another one thoughtfully considered her face and body as a whole. This woman touched up Elena's eyebrows to darken them, and gilded Elena's eyelids with metallic cosmetic paint before using something that added at least a quarter-inch to Elena's eyelashes. Then she extended Elena's eyes with exotic horizontal lines of kohl. Finally, she carefully made Elena's lips a rich glossy red that somehow gave the impression that they were continually puckered for a kiss. After this the woman sprinkled the faintest of iridescence all over Elena's body. Finally, a very large canary diamond that had been sent up from Lucen's jewelry bench was firmly cemented into her navel. It was while the hairdressers were seeing to the last of the little curls on her forehead that the two boxes and a scarlet cape came from Lady Ulma's women. Elena thanked all her ladies-in-waiting and beauticians sincerely, paid them all a bonus that had them twittering, and then asked them to leave her alone. When they dithered, she asked them again, just as politely, but in louder tones. They went. Elena's hands were trembling as she took out the outfit Lady Ulma had created. It was quite as decent as a bathing suit, but it looked like jewelry strategically placed on wisps of golden tulle. It all coordinated with the canary diamond: from the necklace to the armlets to the golden bracelets that denoted that, however expensively Elena was dressed, she was still a slave. And that was it. She was going clad in tulle and jewelry, perfume and paint, to see her Stefan. Elena put the scarlet cloak on very, very carefully to avoid rumpling or smearing anything below, and slipped her feet into delicate golden sandals with very high heels. She hurried downstairs and was exactly on time. Sage and Damon were wearing cloaks tightly closed – which meant that they were dressed in the sacking outfits underneath. Sage had had Lady Ulma's coach made ready. Elena settled her matching golden bracelets on her wrists, hating them because she had to wear them, pretty as they were against the white fur trim on her scarlet cloak. Damon held out a hand to help her into the coach. â€Å"I get to ride inside? Does that mean I don't have to wear – † But looking at Sage, her hopes were crushed. â€Å"Unless we want to curtain all the windows,† he said, â€Å"you're legally traveling outside without slave bracelets.† Elena sighed and gave her hand to Damon. Standing against the sun, he was a dark silhouette. But then, as Elena blinked in the light, he stared in astonishment. Elena knew he'd seen her gilded eyelids. His eyes dropped to her pursed-to-be-kissed lips. Elena blushed. â€Å"I forbid you to order me to show you what's under the cloak,† she said hastily. Damon looked thwarted. â€Å"Hair in tiny curls all over your forehead, cloak that covers everything from neck to toes, lipstick like†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He stared again. His mouth twitched as if he were being compelled to fit it to hers. â€Å"And it's time to go!† Elena caroled, hastily getting into the carriage. She felt very happy, although she understood why freed slaves would never wear anything like a bracelet again. She was still happy when they reached the Shi no Shi – that large building that seemed to combine a prison with a training facility for gladiators. And she was still happy as the guards at the large Shi no Shi checkpoint let them into the building without showing any signs of ill feeling. But then, it was hard to say if the cloak had any effect on them. They were demons: sullen, mauve-skinned, bullock-steady. She noticed something that was at first a shock and then a river of hope inside her. The front lobby of the building had a door in one side that was like the door in the side of the depot/slaveshop: always kept shut; strange symbols above; people walking up to it in different costumes and announcing a destination before turning the key and opening the door. In other words: a dimensional door. Right here in Stefan's prison. God alone knew how many guards would be after them if they tried to use it, but it was something to keep in mind. The guards on the lower floors of the Shi no Shi building, in what was most definitely a dungeon, had clear and obnoxious reactions to Elena and her party. They were some smaller species of demon – imps, maybe, Elena thought – and they gave the visitors a hard time over everything. Damon had to bribe them to be allowed in to the area where Stefan's cell was, to go in alone, without one guard per visitor, and to allow Elena, a slave, to go in to see a free vampire. And even when Damon had given them a small fortune to get past these obstacles, they sniggered and made harsh guttural gurglings in their throats. Elena didn't trust them. She was correct. At a corridor where Elena knew from her out of body experiences they should have turned left, instead they went straight through. They passed another set of guards, who almost collapsed from sniggering. Oh – God – are they taking us to see Stefan's dead body? Elena wondered suddenly. Then it was Sage who really helped her. He put out a large arm and bodily held her up, until she found her legs again. They went on walking, deeper into what was a filthy and stinking stone-floored dungeon now. Then abruptly they turned right. Elena's heart raced on before them. It was saying wrong, wrong, wrong, even before they got to the last cell in the line. The cell was completely different from Stefan's old cell. It was surrounded, not by bars, but by a sort of curlicued chicken wire that was lined with sharp spikes. No way to hand in a bottle of Black Magic. No way to get the bottle top in position to pour into a waiting mouth on the other side. No room, even, to get a finger or the mouth of a canteen through for the cellmate to suck. And the cell itself wasn't filthy, but it was bare of everything except a supine Stefan. No food, no water, no bed to hide anything in, no straw. Just Stefan. Elena screamed and had no idea if she screamed words or just a formless sound of anguish. She threw herself into the cell – or tried to. Her hands grabbed onto curls of steel as sharp as razor that caused blood to well up instantly wherever they touched, and then Damon, who had the fastest reactions, was pulling her back. And then he just pushed past her and stared. He stared open-mouthed at his younger brother – a gray-faced, skeletal, barely breathing young man, who looked like a child lost in his rumpled, stained, threadbare prison uniform. Damon raised a hand, as if he'd forgotten the barrier already – and Stefan flinched. Stefan seemed not to know or recognize any of them. He peered more closely at the drops of blood left on the razor-sharp fencing where Elena had grasped it, sniffed, and then, as if something had penetrated the fog of his bafflement, looked around dully. Stefan looked up at Damon, whose cloak had fallen, and then, like a baby's, Stefan's gaze wandered on. Damon made a choking sound and turned and, knocking anyone in his way aside, ran the other way down the corner. If he was hoping that enough guards would follow him that his allies could get Stefan out, he was wrong. A few followed, like monkeys, calling out insults. The rest stayed put, behind Sage. Meanwhile, Elena's mind was churning and churning out plans. Finally she turned to Sage. â€Å"Use all the money we have plus this,† she said, and she reached under her cloak for her canary diamond necklace – over two dozen thumb-sized gems – â€Å"and call to me if we need more. Get me half an hour with him. Twenty minutes, then!† – as Sage began to shake his head. â€Å"Stall them, somehow; get me at least twenty minutes. I'll think of something if it kills me.† After a moment Sage looked her in the eyes and nodded. â€Å"I will.† Then Elena looked at Dr. Meggar pleadingly. Did he have something – did something exist – that would help? Dr. Meggar's eyebrows went down, then their inner sides went up. It was a look of grief, of despair. But then he frowned and whispered, â€Å"There's something new – an injection that's said to help in dire cases. I could try it.† Elena did her best not to fall at his feet. â€Å"Please! Please try it! Please!† â€Å"It won't help beyond a couple of days – â€Å" â€Å"It won't need to! We'll get him out by then!† â€Å"All right.† Sage had by now herded all the guards away, saying, â€Å"I'm a dealer in gems and there's something you all should see.† Dr. Meggar opened his bag and took out of it a syringe. â€Å"Wooden needle,† he said with a wan smile as he filled it with a clear red liquid from a vial. Elena had taken another syringe and she examined it eagerly as Dr. Meggar coaxed Stefan by imitation to put his arm up to the bars. At last Stefan did as Dr. Meggar wished – only to jump away with a cry of pain as a syringe was plunged into his arm and stinging liquid injected. Elena looked at the doctor desperately. â€Å"How much did he get?† â€Å"Only about half. It's all right – I filled it with twice the dose and pushed as hard as I could to get the† – some medical word Elena didn't recognize – â€Å"into him. I knew it would hurt him more, injecting that fast, but I accomplished what I wanted.† â€Å"Good,† Elena said rapturously. â€Å"Now I want you to fill this syringe with my blood.† â€Å"Blood?† Dr. Meggar looked dismayed. â€Å"Yes! The syringe is long enough to go through the bars. The blood will drip out the other side. He can drink it as it comes out. It might save him!† Elena said every word carefully, as if speaking to a child. She desperately wanted to convey her meaning. â€Å"Oh, Elena.† The doctor sat down, with a clink, and took a hidden bottle of Black Magic out of his tunic. â€Å"I'm so sorry. But it's hard enough for me to get blood out of a vial. My eyes, child – they're ruined.† â€Å"But glasses – spectacles – ?† â€Å"They're no good to me anymore. It's a complicated condition. But you have to be very good to actually tap a vein in any case. Most doctors are pretty hopeless; I'm impossible. I'm sorry, child. But it's been twenty years since I was successful.† â€Å"Then I'll find Damon and have him open my aorta. I don't care if it kills me.† â€Å"But I do.† This new voice coming from the brilliantly lighted cell in front of them made both the doctor and Elena jerk their heads up. â€Å"Stefan! Stefan! Stefan!† Uncaring of what the razor fence would do to her flesh, Elena leaned over to try to hold his hands. â€Å"No,† Stefan whispered, as if sharing a precious secret. â€Å"Put your fingers here and here – on top of mine. This fence is only specially treated steel – it numbs my Power but it can't break my skin.† Elena put her fingers there and there. And then she was touching Stefan. Really touching him. After so long. Neither of them spoke. Elena heard Dr. Meggar get up and quietly creep away – to Sage, she supposed. But her mind was full of Stefan. She and he simply looked at each other, trembling, with tears quivering on their lashes, feeling very young. And very close to death. â€Å"You say I always make you say it first, so I'll confound you. I love you, Elena.† Teardrops fell from Elena's eyes. â€Å"Just this morning I was thinking how many people there are to love. But really it's only because there's one in the first place,† she whispered back to him. â€Å"One forever. I love you, Stefan! I love you!† Elena drew back for a moment and wiped her eyes the way all clever girls know how to do without ruining their makeup: by putting her thumbs beneath her lower lashes and leaning backward, scooping tears and kohl into infinitesimal droplets in the air. For the first time she could think. â€Å"Stefan,† she whispered, â€Å"I'm so sorry. I wasted time this morning getting dressed up – well, dressed down – to show you what's waiting for you when we get you out. But now†¦I feel†¦like†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Now there were no tears in Stefan's eyes, either. â€Å"Show me,† he whispered back eagerly. Elena stood, and without theatrics, shrugged the cloak off. Shut her eyes, her hair in hundreds of kiss curls, little wispy spirals that were plastered around her face. Her gilded eyelids, waterproof, still gilded. Her only clothing the wisps of golden tulle with jewels attached to make it decent. Her entire body iridescent, perfection in the first bloom of youth that could never be matched or re-created. There was a sound like a long sigh†¦and then silence, and Elena opened her eyes, terrified that Stefan might have died. But he was standing up, clutching at the iron gate as if he might wrench it off to get to her. â€Å"I get all this?† he whispered. â€Å"All this for you. Everything for you,† Elena said. At that moment there was a soft sound behind her and she whirled to see two eyes shining in the dimness of the cell opposite Stefan's.

J.L. Mackie

J. L Mackie Introduction Mackie’s argument The proposed solution to be discussed and Mackie’s response to it is the claim that ‘evil is due to human free will’ and as such it cannot be attributed to God. Evil should instead be attributed to the free actions of individuals, the power of which has been endowed upon them by God. While it is acknowledged that there exists evil in the world, as a result of some human free will, it is claimed that freedom of will is a more valuable good than any resultant evil. Through God allowing such freedom, He has satisfied His ‘wholly good’ requirement. Creating men who always choose good Mackie’s first criticism of this solution is that if God was omnipotent and he created men so that they would favour choosing good over evil, why did he not create them such that they would always choose good? The obvious response to this claim is that to constrain man’s actions in such a way is to critically undermine freedom of the will; to demand that man always choose one way whether it be in the promotion of good or evil is still to control his will and deprive him of his freedom and autonomy. Paradox of Omnipotence Adequate solution For Mackie, an adequate solution is one that if adopted the initial problem does not arise for you, however the solution may have raised other problems. The only discussed solution that does not hold God responsible for evil in the world is the compatibilist approach to free will. Upon formulating this solution the two major issues are on the interpretation of omnipotence and freedom. Omnipotence has been revealed to be an almost meaningless term by way of the paradoxes that it gives rise to, such as the ability or inability of an omnipotent God to make rules or animals that restrict its own powers. The interpretation discussed and ultimately the proposal that gave rise to a compatibilist approach was that proposed by Mackie and so there is little that he could criticise about this part of the argument. Conclusion Mackie’s argument that God could have made men always choose good undermines the most valuable good which is freedom of the will. His claim that this implies that it must then be a logical necessity for man to choose wrong instead of good is not accurate, for it is sufficient to be a logical possibility for man to choose wrong. On this interpretation freedom is maintained, however the strongest objection arises with the omnipotence paradox. A resolution for this paradox can be reached using Mackie’s dichotomy of omnipotence. The resulting solution maintains God’s omnipotence and man’s free will and while there exist some issues as to the credibility of this interpretation of freedom, as described from a compatibilist perspective, these are ‘other problems’ and as such the solution can be classified as an adequate one.

South African Apartheid-Era Identity Numbers

The South African Identity Number of the 1970s and 80s enshrined the Apartheid era ideal of racial registration. It was brought in to effect by the 1950  Population Registration Act  which identified four different racial groups: White, Coloured, Bantu (Black) and others. Over the next two decades, the racial classification of both the Coloured and other groups were extended until by the early 80s there was a total of nine different racial groups being identified. Black Land Act Over the same period, the Apartheid government introduced legislation creating independent homelands for Blacks, effectively making them aliens in their own country. The initial legislation for this actually dated back to before the introduction of Apartheid—the 1913  Black (or Natives) Land Act, which had created reserves in the Transvaal, Orange Free State, and Natal provinces. The Cape province was excluded because Blacks still had a limited franchise (entrenched in the South Africa Act which created the  Union) and which required a two-thirds majority in parliament to remove. Seven percent of the land area of South Africa was dedicated to roughly 67% of the population. With the 1951  Bantu Authorities Act  the Apartheid government lead the way for the establishment of territorial authorities in the reserves. The 1963  Transkei Constitution Act  gave the first of the reserves self-government, and with the 1970  Bantu Homelands Citizenship Act  and 1971  Bantu Homelands Constitution Act  the process was finally legalised. QwaQwa was proclaimed the second self-governing territory in 1974 and two years later, through the Republic of Transkei Constitution Act, the first of the homelands became independent. Racial Categories By the early 80s, through the creation of independent homelands (or  Bantustans), Blacks were no longer considered true citizens of the Republic. The remaining citizens of South Africa were classified according to eight categories: White, Cape Colored, Malay, Griqua, Chinese, Indian, Other Asian, and Other Colored. The South African Identity Number was 13 digits long. The first six digits gave the birth date of the holder (year, month, and date). The next four digits acted as a serial number to distinguish people born on the same day, and to differentiate between the sexes: digits 0000 to 4999 were for females, 5000 to 9999 for males. The eleventh digit indicated whether the holder was ​an SA citizen (0) or not (1)—the latter for foreigners who had rights of residency. The penultimate digit recorded race, according to the above list—from Whites (0) to Other Coloured (7). The final digit of the ID number was an arithmetical control (like the last digit on ISBN numbers). Post-Apartheid The racial criteria for identity numbers was removed by the 1986  Identification Act  (which also repealed the 1952  Blacks (Abolition of Passes and Co-ordination of Documents) Act, otherwise known as the Pass Law) whilst the 1986  Restoration of South African Citizenship Act  returned citizenship rights to its Black population.

The Little-Known Secrets to Philosophy of Religion Essay Topics

The Little-Known Secrets to Philosophy of Religion Essay Topics What Does Philosophy of Religion Essay Topics Mean? Life must be quite so vacuous they say. Our rich, conscious experience of life is the consequence of the most effective and multifaceted brains on Earth. Where there is love there's life. It is also the universe exploding. When it has to do with writing a term paper, it is important that you select the perfect topic to write about. If it comes to such a wide field like religion, there are many things you can do in order to narrow it down to a terrific topic that you won't only delight in writing about but also produce a good paper that will earn you a nice grade. There's a discussion of the significance of fraternity. Once you have selected a topic, you are going to want to do a little bit of research to assist you choose a focus for your paper and make an outline that should have at least twelve sections in it. What is Truly Going on with Philosophy of Reli gion Essay Topics Giving is the maximum level of potency. The Ph.D. degree is awarded on the conclusion of a dissertation which makes a considerable contribution to knowledge. As any other essay, philosophy work has its features and peculiarities that have to be taken into consideration when you want to receive the top-notch superior work. Weak foundations find it impossible to support successive stages. Philosophy of Religion Essay Topics Secrets That No One Else Knows About The sample philosophy essay will lead you about what to do. If you are in doubt about which topic to pick for your religion paper or you just lack the motivation to compose an outstanding paper, you should entrust your assignment to our proficient writers. Research before you begin writing your paper, you must compose a paper that's well detailed. Before you commence writing your research paper, make sure that you've got a crystal clear idea about what you are going to be discussing. When you would like a well-written essay that resembles the example philosophy essay on the website, you will need to understand how to do it. Wikipedia and other encyclopedias aren't the best sources to demonstrate your argument. Bear in mind that you may count on our professional essay writers and editors who can assist! Still, remember your topic should not be overly broad let our writers narrow it down! Choosing Good Philosophy of Religion Essay Topics As soon as the question of application is raised, he's no longer discussing truth. Many inquiries outside academia are philosophical in the wide sense. Snowden's complaint is straightforward. With the assistance of the essay, the professor usually assesses your capacity to reason your ideas, to communicate thoughts in a crystal clear fashion and to conclude all of the data in a concise way. Therefore, other individuals become simply a set of mirrors. Safe, risk-free love isn't a love in any respect. Binary people are ab le to consider amazing friends as enemies if they're regarded to have made a mistake, random people are able to grow to be the upcoming major thing if they have got a thought that sparks their interest. Nonetheless, lonely people don't have a real relationship to themselves or others. A very elaborate ideal and one which not many people have. Getting aware you're seeking for what's wrong now becomes a job of assisting your community. Just a few teachers and a number of friends were bright lights. By visiting our site, you will locate an illustration of philosophy in life essay that you are able to utilize to know the grade of work we can deliver for you. Philosophy of Religion Essay Topics - Dead or Alive? Sren Kierkegaard's insights that existence can't be proved but has to be assumed are discussed. There are three major aspects which influence the significance of philosophy of religion, for the general maturation of philosophy. Within the last century, it has increasing ly become a professional discipline practiced within universities, like other academic disciplines. In philosophy it's different. Finding Philosophy of Religion Essay Topics To be able to compose a brilliant academic paper in philosophy, you should earn a deep research and plunge into the subject. If you wish to compose an impressive subject, then pick a topic that interests you the most. Choosing great research paper topics is the crucial success element. Contrary to other academic disciplines philosophy is a complicated topic that needs the student to submit a paper which is both exemplary and relevant. The use of the feminine is to release the states of love so the masculine may seek to meet the rest of the conditions more effectively. Some sort of manipulation that makes fear in an individual which makes separation appear as normal, necessary, and just a good-thing. When it's seen that there isn't any true separation, that separation is only a notion, then all the conc epts that were used to suggest that there's a me are also seen through, and what's left is satisfying wholeness. On the flip side, you may also spend the path of an Exclusivist. Assign yourself a couple hours, or perhaps a day, to clean whatever portion of the house you've resolved to tackle. Writing from a spot of work versus an area of play is similar to night and day. A house is a location where you belong. Imagine you're discovering the home within the room you're developing a space in which you wish to call home. Philosophy of Religion Essay Topics - Is it a Scam? Lots of you will have differing world views, some might observe that equality is the very best approach to go, others promote happiness, some even promote the notion of normalities. It's not possible for someone full of concepts to permit heaven to be right here. This issue of religion is both thought-provoking and interesting because religion has ever existed since the look of man on Earth. Philosophy emplo ys the tools of logic and reason to analyze the means in which humans have the world.

Ethics and Moral Reasoning Essay - 2112 Words

Aristotles Virtue Ethics Aristotle in his virtue ethics states that a virtuous individual is someone with ideal traits. These characteristic traits normally come from an individual’s innate tendency but should be cultivated. After they are cultivated, these character traits supposedly become stable in an individual. Moral consequentilaists and deontologists are normally concerned with universal doctrines that can be utilized in any situation that requires moral interpretation. Unlike these theorists, Aristotle’s virtue ethics are concerned with the general questions such as â€Å"what is a good life†, â€Å"what are proper social and family values†, and â€Å"how should one live† (Bejczy 32). Aristotle developed his virtue ethics based on three†¦show more content†¦The choices made by an honest individual will always reflect the views the individual has regarding truth and honesty. Aristotle’s virtue ethics is mainly concerned with t he questions of â€Å"what is a good life†, â€Å"what are proper social and family values†, and â€Å"how should one live†. An honest individual values honesty and in most cases will choose to have honest friends, raise his/her children to embrace honesty, and work with honest people. Aristotle’s virtue ethics also differentiates between continence and perfect virtue (Bejczy 36). Perfect virtue implies that people who are fully virtuous will perform tasks, which they are supposed to be done without experiencing conflict with contrary desires. On the other hand, people who are continent will struggle to control the temptation of engaging in behaviors that compromise virtue. Another reason Aristotle says can make an individual not attain full virtue is lack of practical or moral wisdom or phronesis. Practical wisdom enables an individual to effectively secure real benefits and those who possess it will never hide the truth from people who need to be inform ed even if the truth hurts (Bejczy 37). Aristotle’s virtue ethics maintain that people with practical wisdom, understand what is truly advantageous in life, truly worthwhile, and truly important; hence,Show MoreRelatedThe Ethics Of Moral Reasoning944 Words   |  4 Pagesneeds to be applied called moral reasoning. It is a way that applies a reasonable means of thinking of an individual or a group of an effort to carry out a right decision morally. In doing so, it is vital to acknowledge the significance and taking actions required in making a moral decision. However, before we could start this process, it is imperative to comprehend the essence of moral reasoning and consider what approach is essential in an effective application of moral analysis. 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Morals are what help us guide our actionsRead MoreEthical Decision Making : Business Ethics And Social Responsibility1295 Words   |  6 Pages Ethical Decision-Making De’Ambre Zanders OMM640: Business Ethics and Social Responsibility (MOH1616A) Instructor: Dr. Maja Zelihic May 1, 2016 Abstract In any type of business, ethical decision-making is usually at the forefront of company operations. It shapes the foundation of a company and gives employees a moral compass as to what is expected of them ethically. Ethical-decision making prevents individuals from profiting from their own personal methods, while representingRead MoreThe Ethical Issues Involving Edward Snowden ´s Case1589 Words   |  6 Pagesinterpreted as right or wrong based on the circumstances and personal reasoning. The preceding interpretation is this case in every ethical quandary. 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Some Aspects of Your Learning free essay sample

This essay aims to address a number of aspects of counselling that I have found particularly interesting since starting the introductory course in Counselling in October 2012. This will include a brief history of counselling; what it means to help in a â€Å"counselling way† from both a client and counsellor’s perspective and what the course has taught me as an individual. Reflecting on the history of counselling and considering today’s society and culture, I believe there is now a greater need to help others in a counselling way than there has been before. A variety of factors such as the media, social networking, advanced technologies and an increasing focus on individualism have arguably resulted in us being less able to recognise our inner identity at a deeper subconscious level, thereby leaving us feeling less attached to who we really are and to others we might have relationships with. Many of us have had some experience of helping others in a counselling way, although we may not perceive that help to be any more than genuinely listening to someone’s problems and providing them with the space, time and encouragement to resolve them. We will write a custom essay sample on Some Aspects of Your Learning or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In fact, the role of a helper, in a psychological context can be performed by anyone, not just a trained and qualified counsellor or therapist. Nelson-Jones, R (2004 p. 3-10) suggests there are seven main categories of people who either use or can use counselling skills in a helping way. Some of these key categories are: †¢ Professional counsellors and psychotherapists who are suitably trained, accredited and paid for their therapeutic services †¢ Paraprofessional counsellors those trained in counselling skills but do not hold an accredited counselling qualification e. g. Social Workers †¢ Helpers using counselling skills as part of their jobs where the main focus of the job may be nursing; teaching; supervising or providing services †¢ Informal elpers such as friends; parents; colleagues Counselling skills are often used to help individuals deal with particular personal or emotional problems that can’t be resolved independently. The process of counselling aims to provide individuals with a deeper awareness of who they are, an inner strength to create their own happiness and ultimately the courage and knowledge to be able to help themselves (www. sagepub. com, Chapter 1). This was not something that personally resonated with me eighteen mon ths ago as I failed to recognise the value of counselling and the impact it could have on an individual’s outlook in life. What the Introduction to Counselling course has taught (and is still teaching) me is the importance of self-awareness and the feeling of being comfortable in one’s own skin. As a helper, in order to be effective in understanding an individual’s issues, I need to first understand myself. As a result, I decided to start Psychodynamic counselling in January 2013. I believed it was important to experience what it felt like to be in the role of a client and understand how a relationship is formed with a counsellor. As well as being able to seek a deeper connection with my subconscious, I find myself using my counselling sessions to validate some of the discussions we have in class and put what I am learning into practice. When helping in a counselling way, it is essential to understand what this really means and to recognise the key elements that are associated with this type of helping process. One of the most important aspects of any counselling relationship is active listening. A successful relationship can only be built where there is trust, acknowledgement and understanding. When a helper is actively listening to an individual, they are â€Å"experiencing something with the other† (Kennedy, E Charles, S, 1990, 46), they are not just being physically and intellectually present, but they are being emotionally present. Mearnes and Thorne (1999) in Nelson-Jones (2006, p107) who have extended Carl Roger’s person-centred theory state that counselling is based upon three key elements: trust; intimacy and mutuality. â€Å"Developing trust is important not only at the start of therapy relationships, but as they continue†. Another key aspect of any counseling relationship is that a helper be self-aware and non-judgemental when using counselling skills. It is imperative that one’s own views on race, class, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation and so forth are put aside and not translated into prejudices. This can be quite a challenge given some of these views can be deeply-rooted. Saunders (2011, 36-38) argues the importance of acknowledging differences between people, which gives them their identity. Understanding an individual’s identity and behaviour, which is ultimately a manifestation of values, beliefs and attitudes, can help counsellors to develop strategies in how they can best support them (Aldridge, S. , Rigby, S. 2011, 63-82). When some counsellors offer their clients a couch to lie down on during their therapy sessions, it can often provide an extreme way of behaving in a non-judgmental way: the client does not have a view of the counsellor’s face and therefore cannot interpret changes to the counsellor’s facial expression as any kind of judgement. Providing a safe and secure environment for an individual to be themselves in is essential for helping in a counselling way. This may not only be manifested by the material environment that surrounds an individual, but also the boundaries that are created by the helper. Within my managerial position at work, it is important that I set the appropriate boundaries with those who I am helping, however, I have come to recognise that I have not done this as effectively in all situations. An extract from my personal journal dated 19th October 2012 recounts my efforts to help a work colleague who was suffering from severe depression. I would set up an hour with my colleague each week and actively listen to what he wanted to share with me. I recall making a conscious effort to not be judgemental and to be more empathetic to his situation. Unlike a professionally qualified counsellor, I offered to meet with his parents who were significantly worried about his personal welfare. We interacted on a couple of occasions and although it proved to be a fruitful approach for this situation, I am well aware that this type of set-up would not be appropriate in a professional counselling environment that adheres to boundaries. A number of core elements required for counselling also coincide with Abraham Maslow’s original hierarchy of needs (1954) – a concept taken from his 1943 paper A Theory of Human Motivation, which describes the stages of growth in humans. His original five stage model can be divided into basic needs (physiological, safety, love, and esteem) and growth needs (cognitive, aesthetics and self-actualization). In order to build the right foundation, an individual must satisfy lower level basic needs before progressing on to meet higher level growth needs. When helping in a counselling way, a helper is often equired to provide a set of â€Å"basic needs† to the individual they are striving to support. This helps to set the right foundation for an effective therapeutic relationship. In providing an individual with the feeling of safety, trust, security, stability, honesty and warmth through a counselling relationship, an individual has the opportunity for personal growth, independence and self-fulfillment. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs stems from the Humanistic school of counselling and therapy. This school of thought focuses on an individual’s innate ability to progress towards self-development and personal growth. Carl Rogers (1902-1987) was the founder of the person-centred approach which centred around six core conditions that were necessary for therapeutic change â€Å"namely empathy, congruence and non-judgemental warmth† (Sanders, 2011, 34-39). The model assumes the client can be empowered to help themselves towards self-fulfilment and the role of the helper is to be more of a â€Å"cooperative companion rather than expert† (Sanders, 2011, 36). Interestingly, it also assumes that â€Å"helping can be done by anyone who provides the core conditions, regardless of age, status or professional qualification† (Sanders, 2011, 38). Conversely, the Psychodynamic school (derived from the work of Freud (1856-1939)), focuses on the past and emphasises the importance of unconscious influences on how people function. The theory also explores the impact of childhood experiences on an adult’s personality. This model assumes the helper (specifically a qualified counsellor), is the expert in this relationship and their aim is to increase an individual’s ability to exercise greater conscious control over their lives. This is mainly achieved through understanding historical behavioural patterns, exploring hidden meaning and the interpretation of dreams. The model assumes the counsellor acts in an educative capacity, rather than a therapeutic one. Notwithstanding the differences between all three schools of counselling, the underlying connection between them all is that the foundation of their theories are built around the core elements of helping in a counselling way: for example, being an active listener; providing empathy; being non-judgemental and so forth. However, it should not be assumed that helping in a counselling way will always result in a positive outcome – particularly if a helper is not effective in adopting the required skills. For example if they are not actively listening to the person seeking help, this could have an adverse effect on that person’s feelings or behaviour. Some helpers could get too emotionally involved in trying to address an individual’s issue and in doing so, fail to provide a non-judgemental, warm stance. Nor should it be assumed that all individuals can seek to resolve their issues if they are being helped in a counselling way. Some individuals may need professional and medical support in order to truly diagnose and understand their problem. An extract taken from my personal journal on 22nd February 2013 describes my experience of helping a fellow student after class. At times we would meet for more than two hours to talk through her experience of severe OCD. Meeting her on a number of occasions made me realise my intrinsic need to help others and my selflessness in giving them my personal time. Although my classmate regularly seeks specialist support to manage her condition, in trying to counsel her, I felt a sense of gratification in that I may have been able to positively impact her life. However it must be noted that there are significant differences between a professional counsellor and someone who uses counselling skills to help others, such as a friend. Friends tend to be more subjective and less self-aware and whereas friends might give advice and solutions, counsellors empower their clients to seek the resolution themselves. Friends tend to get emotionally involved, sharing statements such as â€Å"oh, you’re always like this† etc, counsellors remain neutral and identify patterns of behaviour. Friends follow up with friends to see how they might be feeling. Counsellors keep to regular, structured timeslots purposely set up with their clients to listen to their issues. Studying this introductory course has certainly reinforced my capacity to be more empathetic towards others. An extract from my personal journal dated 25th February 2013 shares an example of this. A friend and I were going to a concert together and I had texted her to say I wasn’t sure if I could make it as I needed to take care of my mother who had just had an eye operation. I didn’t receive an empathetic response in return and felt as though my comment regarding my mother and her wellbeing was totally disregarded. I chose not to feel upset or hurt by that, although it would have felt natural to have done so. I believed there must have been a reason for her behaviour and her lack of empathy. I later found out that my friend has a very tumultuous relationship with her own mother and has never been able to feel attached to her and thus has no affection towards her. This made everything clearer. If she did not feel a sense of connection between her and her mother, how could she be expected to feel the connection I had with mine? What all of this has shown and taught me, is that anyone can use counselling skills to help an individual. It’s a universal technique that has no limitations around an individual’s gender, age, religion, sexuality or social class. From a professional counsellor’s perspective, helping others to understand themselves better is a satisfying role to play. It provides a feeling of fulfilment, a sense of recognition and a notion that it’s possible to make â€Å"a profound difference to the life of another human being† (McLeod, J. 2009). From a client’s perspective, the process of having their personal stories genuinely heard, in a non-judgemental and compassionate manner, can have a positive impact on their life.

J. D. Salinger Essays - J. D. Salinger, Salinger,

J. D. Salinger The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. -James Bryce* In 1945, a novel was published that would forever change the way society views itself. The book, entitled The Catcher in the Rye, would propel a man named Jerome David Salinger to fame as one of the most famous authors of the twentieth century. This same man, not ten years after the publication and while still in the peak of his career, would depart from this society- the one that he so greatly changed leaving nothing but his literature to be his lasting voice. However one may view this mysterious life of J. D. Salinger, there is but one thing for certain: J. D. Salinger has provided the reader with a controversial look at society which is greatly enhanced by the integration of his own life experiences, dialect and religious philosophies into his stories. Salinger was the greatest mind ever to stay in prep school. -Norman Mailer (qtd. in Salinger SSC 291) The story of J. D. Salinger begins in downtown New York, NY, where he was born on January 1, 1919. Little is known about his early childhood, but his parents; Sol and Miriam, were known to be of upper-middle class stature and the family dwelled in downtown New York. As Salinger began to attend junior high school, his grades began to drop so his parents decided to send him to Valley Forge Military Academy, which is located in Pennsylvania. While enrolled in Valley Forge, Salinger's IQ level was tested at 115, which is slightly above average but far from the genius or even superior category (French 45). At Valley Forge, however, Salinger's grades rose considerably and he earned a scholarship to New York University. Salinger attended New York University for two years and went on to Ursinus College and then to Columbia University, where he studied with Whit Burnett (Salinger CA 997). After receiving an English degree at Columbia, Salinger worked briefly as an entertainer on the Swedish L iner MS Kungsholm in the Caribbean in 1941. In 1942 Salinger enlisted in the United States Army and fought in World War II, where he eventually became a staff sergeant earning five battle stars. The time spent overseas played a major role in what would ultimately be the basis of most of Salinger's short stories. World War II is also where Salinger met one of his major literary influences, Ernest Hemingway. Although Salinger's style stems from Hemingway, their first encounter was not one that sat well on Salingers's mind. The story goes that while Hemingway was serving as an author-correspondent, he visited Salinger's regiment and that Salinger became disgusted when Hemingway shot the head off a chicken to demonstrate the merits of a German Lager (French 25). The incident so affected Salinger that he incorporates it into his short story, For Esme: with Love and Squalor, with a corporal named Clay shooting the head off a cat and constantly dwelling upon the senseless act. The relation ship between Hemingway and Salinger would last until Hemingway's death in 1961. Despite having a personal relationship with Hemingway, according to Harold Bloom, ...[Salinger's work actually] derives from F. Scott Fitzgerald (qtd. in Salinger SSC 2: 318). Such a conclusion can be drawn for a number of reasons. First, Salinger's narrative style shows a striking similarity to Fitzgerald's; and second, many of Salinger's characters, like Holden Caulfield and Seymour Glass show a close resemblance to Fitzgerald's character Jay Gatsby. Another interesting stylistic distinction is the dependable presence of a child in a major role in the storyline. Much like William Wodsworth, Salinger appreciates childhood innocence. It is the wisdom and spontaneity that is lost in the distractions and temptations of adult life (Gorden 2040), that Salinger and Wodsworth both incorporate into their work. Salinger eventually became drawn to Eastern philosophy, especially Zen Buddhism. This affliction pushe d Salinger in his later works to stray from his original foundation and fundamental Western ideals of literature and begin incorporating Eastern philosophy into his work. Many critics condemn these resulting works and a few even go as far as saying that Salinger has lost his touch. Possibly due to such criticism, but