My Religious Belief System Essay Example for Free

My Religious Belief System Essay My religious belief system is embedded in Christianity. I was born into a family who worshiped as Methodist and I am still Methodist. Growing up my mother not only sent us to church, she went with us along with my grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins. Even though my father did not attend church often, he believed in God and supported my mother’s desire to have her children in church. The neighborhood I grew up in consisted of a great deal of my mother’s family and everyone served at the same church, right there in the community. My religious beliefs, directed my life in the sense of keeping my family close, taking my children to church, and teaching them the right way. I remember before my baptism, my pastor explained to me the importance of being baptized and partaking in communion. The first time I accepted communion at the age of 12, I felt like I was receiving a part of Jesus in my body as protection against anything and everything. Later, I learned the real reason for communion is repentance and the need for forgiveness. My nurturing from church became an ethical path growing up. Without this direction in my life, a number of things I have experienced would probably cause me to detour too another way of thinking and doing things. My definition of a religious belief system is believe in God, involving yourself in worship and praise services and comprehending and living by a standard outlined by the word of God. In addition to that my beliefs tie in with the definition stated above. I am a Christian and with that being said, I believe in God and his son Jesus Christ. I truly believe Christ is our Lord and Savior who came into existence because of our sins and for that reason, I believe Christ died after he was crucified on the cross and 3 days later, he rose with all power over everything in heavens and earth. I believe Christ died for the sins of the entire world so that every living being may have life and live it more abundantly and when the time comes for our bodies to return to dust or dirt then our souls will join him in heaven if we believe he is Lord. From what I read and from what I am constantly learning from the Bible, I grasp what is required of me as an individual and as a Christian in association with my conduct, meaning the way I behave toward others, and so forth. The Bible is an excellent guideline of what God expects us to do. By now, it seems obvious what I believe and it appears to be apparent that my belief system is absolutely a religious belief system. I pray constantly without ceasing for my children, my entire family and everyone I consider crucial to me. After analyzing my belief system, I grew into different facets of my religious belief system through phases of my life. For example, I knew several prayers at a young age but I did not understand how crucial prayer was concerning my religious beliefs. I recall as a young girl being on my knees along beside my grandmother saying my prayers. I remember her teaching one prayer for night and one for the mornings. Even as a teenager, I realized some of the proper characteristics of my belief system but being young in mind I did not always adhere to that belief. I always knew deep inside because of what my belief is that some things I will not do. I do not consider myself a saint and I have made some terrible decisions but not to the point where I ignored my conscious which convicts us. Now that I have reached adulthood and I have experienced other things like marriage, having children, and coping with tragedies the significance of my belief system advanced and I know today I am almost whole. The benefits and disadvantages of acquiring my belief system are a distant stretch. The benefits of my religious belief system is knowing God always watches over me in spite of my faults and the ungodly decisions I have made in my life, I know he will always look after me and never leave me and that is a enormous benefit. One disadvantage to my belief system is any individual may easily disobey laws we find ordained throughout the scriptures. For example, I concur lying about another individual or one may even consider this gossip about other people is not a pleasant thing to do. I loathed a liar, when I know someone is telling a lie that bothers me. I hear people gossiping all the time and it seems to be an easy task. This is just one example but not a small one not in God’s eyesight. However, it exemplifies the point. Numerous things can violate Gods word whether you meant to be disobedient or not to the laws, it still considered a violation. The observable disadvantage is, unless you are perfect you are going to sin against God’s word because no one is perfect but the Father. In reality, a portion of my belief system is the entire concept of believing that each of us was born in an imperfect world and everyone will sin at some point in our lives. Once more, we see the reason we have Jesus. I know he died for our sins to save us and God is a forgiving God. The role of tradition in my religious belief system is tremendous. Sometimes I reminisce over things I did as a child like waiting on Santa and not being able to sleep on Christmas Eve. I evidently was not thinking about the truth, this particular holiday was about the birth of Christ at that time. Later on, my children went through this identical custom every year. On the other hand, this tradition means a great deal more to me now. Every year during this time, I give gifts to my children, grandchildren and other family but the most important thing is I attend church for praise and worship. I participate with my church family presenting gifts and food to different people who are alone at Christmas and for those confined to the nursing home and no one to spend time with them. Another tradition my family started was to invite someone less fortunate than we are for dinner and family fun. I remember when my children and I were at a point of just feeling alone and destitute, but the joy I felt when someone helped me is the kind of feeling I wanted to pass on to someone else especially during this time of the year. In addition to that I realize as an individual, I must be mindful of others and his or hers religious beliefs or religious practices. The society we exist in today is a mixture of different cultures and ethnicity and at any given moment, my next-door neighbor could be a Mexican or someone from India as well as a Christian. To be attentive of the beliefs of others is truly the most humane thing to do. I have respect for other people and whatever religion one might choose to par take in. I make an effort not to get into a dispute with people over religion or their religious beliefs because of the sensitivity of the subject. My contemplation is that I value other people’s religion enough not to bring it up. My belief system has molded me and transformed my mine to different way of thinking. My religious belief has advanced and developed over the years. Unique circumstances have caused me to become intelligent, sturdy and more thoughtful. My religious beliefs are continually increasing and to be truthful like me in this quest of improving my life and my education many obstacles come testing me. Sometimes I find myself with some deep-seated views surrounding certain individuals and circumstances. In remembering the past events in my life my belief system, my religious belief system has kept me committed to whom and what I have become.

The EMU and the Euro :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The movement towards the European Monetary Union and the creation of the euro lasted many years, complete with key personalities and major governmental treaties. When finally organized and implemented, it lead to a historical event that will forever change international economics. Of course with a change this tremendous comes the good and the bad, but if the economic welfare of the people is improved, everything was worth all the hassle.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The beginnings of the movement for European monetary unification go back at least to the founding of the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (which then became the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD) in 1948. One of the OECC’s first accomplishments was the European Payments Union, established in 1950 and accomplished by the end of 1958, where the nations of Western Europe put their international reserves together and coordinated their policies with the intent of reestablishing current account convertibility.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1962 the Commission of the European Communities produced its first plan for a monetary union, which included a deadline for completion of nine years. Obviously, this deadline was a little overambitious for a group of countries whose only collective achievements had been the European Coal and Steel Community, an atomic energy community (Euratom), a customs union (the European Economic Community), and the Common Agricultural Policy of farm-product subsidization. The only accomplishment of the 1962 effort was a Committee of Central Bank Governors which was set up in 1964 but did not actually operate until the 1970s.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At the Hague Summit in 1969, European governments delegated a committee headed by Pierre Werner, then Prime Minister of Luxembourg, to devise a new plan. The Werner Report, finished in 1970, called for monetary unification within ten years. The plan scheduled a transition to happen in stages. In the first stage, exchange rate fluctuations would be limited, and governments would start to integrate their monetary and fiscal policies. In the second stage, exchange rate variability and price discrepancies would be further reduced. In the third stage, exchange rates would be fixed permanently, capital controls removed, and an European Community(EC) system of central banks (somewhat modeled on the U.S. Federal Reserve System) would take control of the monetary policies of the member nations. The size of the EC budget would be greatly increased and the EC would coordinate national tax and spending programs. The makers of the Werner Report were not attached to a single cu rrency.

Hamlet in Comparison to the Lion King

Many literary works can be compared due to vast amounts of similarities between theme and characters; Hamlet and the Lion King are two literary works in which character and theme are surprisingly similar throughout each work. The Lion King is thought to be just an animated children’s film, however, it is in fact a modern translation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The main characters in the Lion King are definite parallels to those in Hamlet. Along with the main characters and plot details, the stories were similar in the representation of the secondary characters. Here's my little secret, I killed Mufasa. † The theme in Hamlet can be compared to the Walt Disney movie The Lion King. Hamlet and Simba are betrayed by their uncles whom murder their fathers in order to fulfill their own ambitions. The characters in the Lion King closely parallel Hamlet. Simba, the main character in the Lion King, embodies Hamlet. They are both the son of the King and rightful heir to the thr one. The King of the Pridelands, Mufasa, can be compared to Hamlet Senior, who is killed by the uncle figure. Both Scar and Claudius have an unpleasant image of the uncle. They are presented as cold and evil. Laertes, the henchman and right-hand man of Claudius, becomes, in the movie, the Hyenas. The Hyenas collectively act as hero-worshippers to Scar, loyal subjects, and fellow doers-in-evil. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are the comic reliefs in Hamlet, and in the Lion King, this role is fulfilled by Timon and Pumbaa. The main character in The Lion King is Simba. Simba is quite similar to Hamlet in that both are sons of the wrongfully murdered kings. Both princes delay their decisions to seek vengeance for their murdered fathers. Each prince runs from their responsibilities after the death of their respected fathers, although they both know what they must do deep inside. Simba escapes reality from running away, however Hamlet escapes by feigning madness. However, in both situations, the rightful heirs to the throne escape though one way or another. Film techniques used in the Lion King to depict Simba can relate to ways in which Hamlet is portrayed. At the beginning of the film the camera angle looks up towards him, the lights shine on young Simba; the importance of his birth is immense, although Simba may be oblivious to the fact at the time. Another parallel is the fact that both Simba and Hamlet at one stage wish to be dead. When Timon and Pumbaa find him, they believe Simba to be dead when they first find him. He is not – but wishes to be. The same could be said about Hamlet when he questions his life – â€Å"To be, or not to be†. Like Hamlet, Simba tends to need to be on his own to reflect. Hamlet and Simba are near perfect examples of tragic heroes. Both are tested to the extent of their inner strength and faith in the triumph of good. In comparison, Scar’s selfish character is similar to that of Claudius. Both Scar and Claudius have an unpleasant image. Scar is dark in colour, skinny, with long black nails and green evil eyes. The eyes represent jealousy, greed, and envy. Both characters are â€Å"thinly veiled† and scheme to destroy people they dislike. In the opening scene of the Lion King, Mufasa confronts his brother Scar. â€Å"Don’t turn your back on me! † Mufasa stops Scar with a warning. Scar shoots back – â€Å"No, perhaps you shouldn’t turn your back on me! † This is a veiled threat on the king’s life. Because the king is never introduced in Hamlet, the audience is left to wonder whether the king had any notice that his brother wanted him dead. However there is a parallel to this scene found in Hamlet. Scar shows how it is in the nature of the truly evil to have their victims know they are going to die. If they are warned of their death and do nothing, they are weak. Scar and Claudius are a strong parallel shown through their character and evil ways. The themes story of the Lion King closely parallels that of Hamlet. They are stories of jealousy, greed, and murder. Tis an unweeded garden†, is a line used in one of Hamlet’s soliloquy’s to describe the state of Denmark when Claudius takes over the throne after killing Old Hamlet. The metaphor can relate to the film, when Scar takes over the throne after murdering Mufasa; the Pridelands become drained of colour, corruption is spreading fast in Africa, as it is in Denmark, with the uncles usurping the throne and the animal kingdom. This theme of corruption and how it spreads begins with Scar plotting to murder the King. The same can be said for Hamlet. â€Å"Life’s not fair, is it? Scar’s line at the very beginning of the movie instigates the theme of corruption; Hamlet’s soliloquy explaining Denmark as an â€Å"unweeded garden† begins this theme too. Shakespeare’s example of imagery in Hamlet is fulfilled in the film using colour to portray the theme. When Simba returns to the Pride Lands after Scar has been in power, the entire place appears to be dead. There are no animals left, there is no water, and there is nothing but sand and rock. The appearance of Pridelands reflects the heart of Scar. Dead. This is the same as the state of Elsinore reflecting the heart of Claudius. Claudius’s evil ways destroy the image of Denmark. Claudius is dead inside. In comparison, the theme of the â€Å"circle of life† is portrayed in the Lion King through Pride Rock, and the use of colour and imagery. The theme is developed at the very beginning, when Mufasa is ruling, and the whole Pridelands is in perfect harmony. The area of Pride Rock is always under beams of sunlight, suggesting a bright future, and harmony with the world. Each animal has its place in the â€Å"Circle of Life†. â€Å"You see, Simba. Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance†¦ we are all connected in the great Circle of Life. Mufasa explains to Simba that everything and everyone is connected in some way or another – â€Å"When we die, we become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass†. This can be linked with the line â€Å"†¦you must know, your father lost a father/ That father lost, lost his†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Although in context Claudius says this in an unsympathetic and rude way, it can relate to the theme of the circle of life – as it is part of the â€Å"circle of life† for people to lose their father and so on and so forth. With all that being said, there is one vital difference between the two works, and that is The Lion King ends in triumph, with Hamlet, to the contrary – tragedy. The circle of life is completed again when Simba returns to the Pridelands, the future looking promising and bright. As for Hamlet, considered to be the greatest tragedy ever written, the hero of the play dies. It ends in treachery. â€Å"O villainy! Ho! Let the door be locked! / Treachery, seek it out! † Even with a different ending, there still is a resemblance: that is the future of the kingdom. Both Hamlet and Simba ensure the renewal of their domains, and they do so by assuming their lawful roles: rightful king and avenging son. By doing so, they free their kingdoms from evil’s grasp.

Treatment of Billy in A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines...

Treatment of Billy in A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines In A Kestrel for a Knave, Barry Hines tells his realistic story of a boy called Billy. Firstly Billy lives with his mother and brother in their small house in Barnsley. His mother smokes cigarettes all day and asks, You havent got a gag on you, have you, love? and Do me a favour, love, and run up to tshop for some fags. By asking if he can go to the shop and buy some cigarettes, obviously is showing that she is a selfish mother, and not worrying that he should not smoke. She uses Billy as she has no money to pay for anything, but asks him to put it on an account, where lots of other debts are. When Billy refuses to do so she†¦show more content†¦Mr Farthing is very sympathetic to Billy getting bullied as he is small and more vulnerable. However, he speaks to Billy with a verbally harsh tone, but to be kind: And stop blubbering, Casper! Youre not dying, lad! Mr Farthing protects Billy, and shows MacDowall what it is like to be bullied, by physically picking on him: What would you say if I pinned you to the floor and smacked you across the face? Secondly, Mr Farthing tries to help Billy and talk about him getting bullied, to make himself feel better, and to stop crying. Furthermore, Mr Farthing shows great interest in Billy describing his kestrel hawk. If this was as ordinary teacher (not Mr Farthing), Billy would not have a great deal of attention provided to him. But Mr Farthing is different, and he lets Billy continue describe and share his interest with the class, and for once speak decently and make a contribution. Billy also teaches Mr Farthing of some words that he picked up in his Falconry book, eg: Creance. Mr Sugden is the schools games master, and Billys PE teacher. Mr Sugden teases and bullies Billy, as when Billy did not understand what Mr Sugden said, he makes fun of it on Billy: Stimulating you fool,Show MoreRelatedEssay on A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines3080 Words   |  13 PagesA Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines For this assignment, I shall be looking at Barry Hines’ novel ‘A Kestrel for a Knave’. The story focuses on a day in the life of Billy Casper, a fifteen-year-old schoolboy growing up in an environment lacking in many ways. In this assignment I am to look at examples of deprivation in the various areas of Billy Casper’s life. Barry Hines writes about a young boy growing up in the 1960’s. Despite the fact that the Welfare State had been in place forRead MoreA Comparison of Mrs Casper, Mr Sugden and Mr Farthings Treatment of Billy in Barry Hines Billys Last Stand723 Words   |  3 PagesCasper, Mr Sugden and Mr Farthings Treatment of Billy in Barry Hines Billys Last Stand In this essay I will attempt to compare the ways in which the three main characters in this story treat Billy, Mrs Casper, Mr Sugden and Mr Farthing. The book is set in the sixties in a mining village in Yorkshire. First of all I will discuss Billy, he is a young and naive boy, he