Saturday, January 25, 2020

Cosmological Argument For The Existence Of God

Cosmological Argument For The Existence Of God How did the universe begin? Throughout history, that question has probably been the most debated topics between the philosophical, scientific and religious communities. I believe it is human nature in us that continues to seek the answers to why and how and not just sit back on blind faith. Even with todays advances in science about our universe and its origin, we are no closer to providing solid proof for what caused the beginning of the universe or proving if it just always existed. I actually find that very interesting in the fact that through the major advancements in the medical field, scientist have successfully found vaccinations for diseases that have killed millions, robots that perform surgery, cloned animals, and the list could go on and on. But science has provided no solid evidence on how the universe got its beginning. Many philosophers and theologians believed that the existence of the universe needed an explanation. Plato (c.427-347 BCE) and Aristotle (c. 384-322 BCE) were among the earlier philosophers who attempted to answer the question in what became known as the cosmological arguments. According to Plato in his dialogue The Laws he argued that motion in the world and the cosmos was imparted motion that required some kind of self-originated motion to set it in motion and to maintain that motion. Aristotles arguments were centered around the fact that things just dont exist, nothing comes from nothing, there needed to be a cause. During his study he realized that for every cause, there is one before it that caused it to happen, which eventually he realized, caused an infinite backwards cause of causes. Ultimately coming to the conclusion that there must have been a first cause. St. Thomas Aquinas is considered to be one of the greatest Christian philosophers that ever lived. He was also an Aristotelian scholar. Aquinas adapted Aristotles first cause for things in motion but did not stop there. Aquinas began under the assumption that if things are in motion then it had been caused to be in motion by something else. But if that were the case, that would create an infinite regression which he believed to be incorrect because that meant there was still no starting point but he knew at some point, it was set in motion. Aquinas explanation was, there must have been a first-case, the un-caused, cause. Aquinas believed that the un-caused causer was God. Another way he tried to proof his point was the argument for contingency. He explained that there are natural things that are possible to exist or not to exist. But it is impossible for these to always exist. So if it is possible for things not to exist, than at one time, nothing could have existed. Aquinas cosmological argument for the existence of God is known to be the most popular by philosopher and religious scholars. In his theological masterpiece, Summa Theologia, he proposed varies forms of cosmological arguments to explain ways that he thought would prove God exists. Ma ny skeptics do not accept the existence of God because to them, there is no logical explanation for his existence. Some of the oppositions are listed below: If everything has a cause, what caused the first cause God? If God did create the universe, how do we know it was just one God? If we accepted the argument that such a being created the universe, how do we know he had anything to do with religion? The counter argument indicated that the cosmological argument do not necessarily lead to the conclusion that there was a being that is responsible for the creation of the universe. Theists believe that God is self existent. God is omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent (everywhere at once), omniscient (all knowing) and omnisapient (has all wisdom). They believe that God is exempt from the uncaused cause because he is eternal and not dependent on a cause for his existence. They go on to say that we may never know why or how creation took place or to explain Gods intentions of the event but he is an omniscient and omnipotent being. God does not need a reason to exist. The cosmological arguments seeks to prove the existence of God. To those that belief in God, there are no questions concerning his existence. For it is him that created everything. They believe that The Bible has scripture that goes along with these arguments and proves his existence. To the non-believers, they think that the cosmological arguments provide no evidence of the existence of God and that it just raises more questions about the origin or the universe. Could it be that there is no explanation? Did the universe just happen or has it always existed? This may be one of those questions that science will never have an answer for and to that everyone will accept. Until then, religion is a personal choice. No answer is right or wrong. I personally believe that God exist and that there is proof, to me everyday that he does.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Benefits of Family Counseling Essay

This is a very arguable statement, and there are many reasons for it to be. I believe that the reasons for family counseling completely out weight the reasons why some families shouldn’t participate in it. Family counseling is often looked at as a tool to help families with problems, but counseling can be helpful to everyone. Counselors try to help with all scenarios of life, work, school, friends, etc. Even if you are a pretty balanced person you can still get tips from a professional, whether your family has been through a major turmoil, or could simply gain from refining their communication skills with each other. Counseling can be a way to help everyone in a family. Therapy for children as well as parents can help reduce all types of stresses for everyone involved. Major abuses, little arguments, as well as general venting can all be addressed in a calmer, quieter atmosphere. These are just a few reasons why every family should attend counseling. By attending counseling it can help children learn how to deal with tough situations, strengthen communication, and overcome differences. We all have to face obstacles in our lives and some of them can be pretty tough. To teach children, through adolescence to adulthood, skills to deal with tough situations could mean the difference and difficulties in how many college graduates there are, how many overcome poverty, and how families are in a secure loving environment. Teaching youth to face their difficulties instead of running or quitting is highly important, and should be one of the emphasized parts of school. In our society many people think that if things are hard for them, obviously it is not something that they should be doing. I think that with the guidance and some positive reinforcement that people can learn to overcome their difficulties. Being in a new situation or learning new skills is hard and everyone struggles. Because we allow teens to quit, many young adults decide not to attend college. They often feel that since they didn’t do well in high school college would be too difficult. With parents and a professional both helping kids to overcome difficulties at an early age it will instill within them that obstacles are just a part of life that they have to overcome; quitting is not an option. Many times kids learn how to deal with differences from their parents or other people around them. A lot of parents yell and show anger when they are mad at their spouse or their boss, or even their children. Cartoons normally deal with problems through violence and teachers even yell at kids. All of this teaches children that it is okay to act with anger and violence, and that these are solutions to their problems. Then parents get mad at them for mimicking them and their environment, and then what happens? Most of the time parents show more anger, yelling, and sometimes use violence to correct them. With all of this, I believe that it’d be nice to have a professional help parents in order to teach them the proper way of disciplining without aggression, and to help children learn the right way of solving their everyday problems. Communication and discipline problems between parents and children are very common and can lead to marital problems as well. Divorce and the creation of stepfamilies also create difficulties. Often, the partners themselves are the problem because of poor communication, continuous conflict, sexual problems or even in-law problems. If a low income mother and child had counseling how do you think it would affect them? I think that not only would the child benefit from it, but it may even teach the mother what is possible for her: a better job, how to find a stronger more secure relationship, and how to teach her child. The child would learn skills, and by doing so, set goals for future achievements. With the help of a counselor and a well taught mother, the probability of the child may doing crime, selling or using drugs, participating in a gang, or living in prison, is significantly lower. Strengthening communication skills is also important, often time teens can be to out spoken and not think before they say something that can hurt someone feelings. Other times teens can be really shy and not open up to anyone. Communication skills are fundamental, and should be worked on. Communication is a skill that will have to be worked on throughout life because in different environments different communication skills will be needed. The biggest negative about family counseling is the cost. There would probably be families or certain people in the family that did not contribute in the experience, which means that the counseling would have little or no effect on their lives. Another downside is that it is possible in the environment to focus on one person and blame them for certain family problems. I am sure that there are other negatives about family counseling but in my opinion nothing really significant. I think that the government can use add to schooling tax dollars and use some of it for this program. Regardless if all families and all family members use the program to benefit, I think many people Family counseling relates to the narratives in many ways. Some of the families experience a death, others have parents get divorced, or teens getting pregnant and having a baby. I think counseling could help with these major emotional distresses, and also help with the everyday problems that some of the other narratives experience as well. The narrative represent just a few people in our society, but I believe that they, like most people, could use a little more guidance to stay on a stable, successful path with strong relationships and a positive knowing belief in themselves. I think this program should be financially supported from the government. It should become a law in which I think will ultimately preserve our rights and freewill. Laws are being passed all the time that conflict with our constitution and with crime and fear spreading epidemically it’s just a matter of time before most citizens will give the government complete control in order to stop the chaos. The foundation of this country is crumbling and I think it is time to reinforce it, so that we can continue to follow the path of our dreams, and not fall like every great kingdom in the past. I believe to stay as a free country, and a prosperous nation thing have to change, in fact many things will probably have to change. I think my idea of a professional guiding both, parents to raise their kids and to help lead kids to overcome difficulties is a good starting place for a significant change in this country. I think that counseling could help with every family, even if it is just to bring them closer together. Whether it is a stable family, or a family with stepparents and stepsiblings, that need to learn that these people are now someone that is going to always be around, and are in the same situation. They can learn from one another and become close like real family. From family counseling our society maybe better educated, more responsible, less violent, more dependable, and have a stronger sense of belonging.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

How Women Are Portrayed Within Macbeth Essays - 2682 Words

William Shakespeare has many interesting female characters throughout all of his different types of works. Some of his women are leading ladies while others are just supporting characters that help move the story along. No matter the depth of the characters’ role, each lady gives some type of unthinkable personality trait that would be unique to women during Shakespeare’s time. Macbeth, Othello, and King Lear all have female characters that portray women who wouldn’t be seen during the time of William Shakespeare’s writing. It took creativity and skill for Shakespeare to get his characters around the censor who would check the plays. His female characters are strong, but not overtly so. He gives them characteristics of his†¦show more content†¦Emotionally and physically women were considered to be the weaker sex. Men had to take care of their family as well as take care of their wives. It was unheard of for a woman to be considered stronger than h er husband, or any man for that matter. This is why it is so important to note that William Shakespeare’s women don’t fit the mold of the time they were written. Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s female characters that doesn’t fit the mold for a woman in William Shakespeare’s time. While King James was in power, it was nonsense to think that a woman would be smarter than the King. Shakespeare, however, mocks the King by having Lady Macbeth make Duncan, fictional King of Scotland, sound like a fool. While performing Macbeth, this fact wouldn’t be evident to the royal court especially if it got passed the censor. The censor would read through the plays to make sure that people were going against the King. Duncan makes a statement saying that â€Å"there’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face† (1.4.12-15). This line has Duncan saying that a person can’t tell what another person is thinking by just lo oking at their face. Lady Macbeth refutes this point by saying to her husband: â€Å"your face, my Thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters† (1.5.61-62). This contradiction has Lady Macbeth prove Duncan wrong. She can tell that something is on her husband’sShow MoreRelatedExmine the Masculine and Feminine Representations in Relation to Power in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth981 Words   |  4 Pageschallenged and manipulated throughout the play, Macbeth. William Shakespeare explores the relationship between gender and power within the play, challenging the male dominant society of the 16th century. The play is set in the 11th century, Scotland where a patriarchal society is portrayed through the characters within the Shakespearean production. Qualities such as courage, honour, braveness and control were reflected at that time as masculinity. 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