Explain the ethical significance of the Sermon Essay

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the key sections of the New Testament, in which Jesus builds upon the Decalogue to form the first blueprint of Christian ethics. Jesus was preaching in direct contrast to the Greek philosophy of stoicism, which sought to separate man from his emotions. Emotions, especially love, feature heavily in the Sermon on the Mount. It remains ethically relevant over 2000 years later for many reasons, the first of which is the underlying principles behind it. Jesus did not come to abolish Old Testament law, but to fulfil it. The Jews were trapped in a system of harsh legalism, where obedience was motivated by fear rather than love. The Pharisees made a grand display of holiness by keeping the law, but the Sermon on the Mount teaches that their hearts were empty. Jesus built on the Ten Commandments to create a system ruled by mercy, love and dedication to God. Even if the culture changes the basic ethical principles behind the sermon do not change. It is a moral code that focusses as much on inward moral disposition as it does our external actions: Jenkins wrote, â€Å"inner attention and attitude is crucial. † Even if a typically good action is performed with sinful thought then it becomes immoral. The most important thing to realise about the Sermon on the Mount is that it is impossible for anyone to keep it completely, as it demands perfection. Although they will never be free from sin in this life, Christians use the sermon in order to try and become more like Jesus, who was perfect. The Sermon is all about Christian sanctification. Jesus speaks not only on what Christians should do to be moral, but he also explains why it is important to be ethical in the first place. He states that Christians are the salt and light of the world. Salt is significant because it represents purity, preservation and flavour. Therefore we understand that Christians should maintain a good ethical code in order to set an example to society and to preserve it from total corruption. The image of the light is also key: in the Bible light always symbolises joy and blessing. A light is visible to all, and so the Christian should seek to make Christ visible to all through their actions. A light is also a warning, representing the Christian’s duty to lovingly warn their fellow-men about their sin. Further on in the Sermon Jesus admonishes that, â€Å"If the light then within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! † Furthermore, the Sermon on the Mount gives many specific examples of Christian ethics, the first of which is regarding murder. Jesus equates anger to murder, and speaks of the fires of hell. This is contrary to the contemporary universalist view of Jesus and his death which has led some scholars to claim that when he speaks of hell it is merely metaphorical. Regardless, Jesus is affirming that you cannot be right with God until you are right with your fellow men, which all relates to the salt-and-light reputation of a Christian. Jesus also teaches about adultery and sexual morality. Again he equates the inward sin of lust to the outward sin of adultery. He also declares that marrying a divorced woman counts as adultery, a part of the Sermon that even Christians have begun to disregard. This is contrary to the Old Testament where Moses permitted – but did not command – divorce due to the hard heartedness of the people. The close relationship between a husband and wife mirrors the relationship Christ shares with his Church, which is why sex features so highly in Christian ethics. Love, when fully understood. Is opening oneself to another completely and can succeed only where trust and fidelity are present. Subsequently, another part of the Sermon on the Mount that is ethically significant would be where Jesus deals with how we should relate to other people. The standards set by Jesus are so high it is easy for Christians to look down upon those that are struggling. Jesus, ever a carpenter’s son, uses the metaphor of the speck in your brother’s eye and the plank in your own. We are all sinners and it would be highly hypocritical to judge another when we are also flawed. We never know the whole story about someone and it is impossible to be impartial in our judgement. The Jews were familiar with the concept of loving your neighbour and not judging him, but they did not feel the same about their enemies. Jesus commanded us to show agape love towards our enemies. Such love does not naturally come from the heart, but is instead must be put into action through one’s own will. As Jesus was merciful and forgiving to sinners, so we should be. This is vital to Christian ethics. Another ethical aspect of how we relate to other people is how we treat those who are poorer than us. It is not enough to simply preach to them, but we must take care of their physical needs as well as spiritual. Jesus said, â€Å"Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. † Charitable giving was a fundamental part of Jewish life, but Jesus added another element: it was only ethical if done with the correct motivation. The Greek word translated as hypocrite in the Bible literally means ‘actor’. This is why Jesus commands us to give in secret, lest we become boastful. Moreover, there is a definite eschatological aspect to the Sermon on the Mount as it draws to a conclusion. This emphasises to the Christian how their ethics are eternally significant and will be considered on the Day of Judgement. Jesus states that few will enter the Kingdom of Heaven and that not all that profess to believe in him as Lord will be saved. He warns of false prophets who will come in sheep’s clothing; in this situation the ethics presented in the Sermon on the Mount are vital so a Christian can identify who is a true believer. We are not saved by works, but they are an important part of our Christian identity. The Sermon on the Mount also has certain evangelical tones throughout. It shows the unbeliever what is required of them if they follow Jesus, and the severe consequences if they do not. Spurgeon wrote of this passage, â€Å"The shepherd best discerns his own sheep, and the Lord, Himself alone knows infallibly them who are His. † To conclude, there are conflicting theories regarding the nature of the Sermon – certain theologians such as Calvin believe it is a compilation of many separate sermons. Others debate technical details, such as whether it was preached on a mount or a plain. However, something that every Christian will agree on is that the Sermon on the Mount is of the upmost important as a foundation for Christian ethics. Stott said, â€Å"The Sermon on the Mount is probably the best-known part of the teaching of Jesus, thought arguably it is the least understood, and certainly it is the least obeyed. †

Ageism: How Children and Teens Are Unfairly Stereotyped

Ageism: How Children and Teens are Unfairly Stereotyped Jazzie Collins Pacific High School Abstract Over the years, children and teens have been portrayed as immature and sometimes even stupid. Many adults think that they are incapable of many things and deserve no respect. However, young people have made many accomplishments in history. They have invented things and some have even become emperors. Kids and teens deserve more respect than they are getting. Children and teens are constantly being degraded as â€Å"stupid† and immature†. They are put down and disrespected just for their age and adults often see them as incapable, weak and silly. In some cases they could be considered right but believing that all children are foolish is completely wrong. â€Å"Children should be seen, not heard,† a phrase often heard in olden times and even sometimes today, is a prime example of ageism. It is degrading to them as human beings. The law enabling citizens in America to have freedom of speech does not exclude children and teenagers. If it did, there would be many things today that we would be without. Many inventions we have now came from the minds of young ones. For example, the earmuffs, a popular and stylish way to protect your ears from the bitter cold of winter, were invented by a 15 year old boy from Maine. The protective winter gear called Wristies was created by a 10 year old girl in the year 1994. There are numerous inventions from the minds of teens and children. Chester Greenwood, living in Farmington, Maine, invented earmuffs at the age of 15. While testing out a new pair of ice skates, he became frustrated with trying to protect his ears from the harsh cold. Feeling very bulky, itchy and, overall uncomfortable, his scarf did no help. So instead, he made two ear-shaped loops from wire and had fur sewn into them by his grandmother. Chester then improved them by adding a steel bar to the top of the separate ear muffs, helping to hold them in place on a person’s head. Afterwards, he had the new and enhanced version of his invention patented. Then, with Greenwood’s Champion Ear Protectors, he established Greenwood’s Ear Protector Factory and made a large fortune supplying ear muffs to U. S. soldiers during World War I. Chester then went on to patent many more inventions. In 1977, Maine’s legislative declared December 21 as â€Å"Chester Greenwood Day† to honor Chester Greenwood as a great contributor to cold weather protection. Another form of winter gear coming from the mind of a child was something called a Wristie. Wristies resemble wrist bands and are designed to worn under a coat and gloves to block out the wind, snow and cold from entering any unprotected gaps. The brain behind these was a 10 year old from Bedford, Massachusetts named Kathryn Gregory. Kathryn invented and trademarked Wristies and, also while a kid inventor, started Wristies Inc. , a company that manufactured and sold Wristies. The young entrepreneur has made deals with the Girl Scouts, Federal Express and McDonalds and in 1997, Kathryn Gregory became the youngest person ever to sell on QVC, the television shopping show. Kathryn Gregory may have been the youngest person to ever appear on QVC, but King tut was the youngest Egyptian pharaoh to ever rule over Egypt in ancient times. When Tutankhamun’s father died, coincidentally right after being forced to step down from his throne, Tutankhamun was made pharaoh at the young age of 9. In that same year, he married his half sister Ankhesenpaaten. King Tut, as he was later known as, then became the youngest ruling Egyptian pharaoh. He is still famous today due mainly to his great wealth and young age of ruling. Adults aren’t always wiser than children and teens. In many households, the child has to take care of their parent or guardians whether it be financially, mentally, physically or sometimes all three. Usually, when the cold or teen is taking care of their parent or guardian financially, it is because the adult either blows all of their money on drugs and alcohol, the adult was laid off their job and has yet to find another or sometimes, the adult is simply incapable of working. In any case, the responsibility is left up to the minor to pay bills and put food on the table. Another kind of situation that is quite common is in households where the parents or single parent has undergone an injury or has acquired some sort of mental disability and are unable to really take care of themselves. It is also present in households where something has happened in the parent or guardian’s life and they’ve slipped into such a depression that they no longer care for anything, leaving their kids to take on the responsibility of caring for not only the adult in the house but also for themselves and each other. They then must make sure things get done such as putting food on the table and making sure the bills are paid. In the movie/novel â€Å"What’s Eating Gilbert Grape†, a young man named Gilbert Grape must take on the responsibility of taking care of his morbidly obese mother and brother, Annie, who is mentally handicapped. Gilbert Grape must also repair their old farmhouse all on his own because of his father’s death. Ever since his father’s death, Gilbert’s mom has been able to do nothing else but eat, leaving her unable to care of neither her children nor herself. A real-life example of a situation of the child having to care for their parent is that of a girl named Rebekah Knerr. Ever since Rebekah Knerr was very a young (around the age of 2), her father has had a mental illness causing him to disappear off to somewhere for long periods of time without telling anyone where he is whenever he gets too stressed. Because of this illness, he will disappear for a few days up to, at the most, 2 weeks. Ever since Rebekah was young, she has had to take care of her dad by going along with him everywhere he goes and making sure he doesn’t wander off. It is a very stressful and aggravating job and requires a great amount of maturity and patience. An amount of maturity and patience teens and children are often underestimated of. When it comes to teens and children, credit it almost never given to the ones who truly deserve and have earned it. It is almost non-existent. But those who look down upon them are fools themselves, because children and teens everywhere show more strength and maturity the adults in their lives. Some kids are young inventors and others are entrepreneurs and created many of the wonderful and handy inventions we have today. There is definitely more to children and teens that meets the adult eye. References Life of King Tut. (2009). Retrieved January 6, 2010, from http://www. king-tut. org. uk/life-of-king-tut/index. htm

Trade Union Negotiation and Strikes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Trade Union Negotiation and Strikes - Essay Example While the trade negotiations can be, and often are, filled with emotional hot buttons for both parties, game theory gives the parties tools to use to evaluate their prospective positions, and weigh the possible outcomes of their negotiations, and hence arrive at an agreement which is mutually beneficial for all parties, a win - win situation if you will. Too often, trade negotiations can devolve into a win-loose argument, in which the management is seen as taking from the unions in order to gain for itself, or vice versa. When the trade talks head in this direction, the parties seldom are able to make positive progress toward goals which can benefit both management and labor. Only be reaching toward a cooperative agreement can they create a positive work environment, and a financially healthy company. To understand how game theory benefits labor negotiations, one must first understand the five elements of game theory The game theory is defined as an interaction between a number of parties in which the following five elements are present. 1. The players: there are a defined number of players with defined roles. Game theory must identify how many players there, and whether or not natural elements outside the persons play a role, or if chance can play a role in the decisions. 2. The conditions or roles of the players: The players must be understood, along with their possible decisions. In other words there should be a minimal number of known decisions which the parties can undertake in order to apply game theory. 3. Information: the information which the players have with which to make decisions should be known. In other words, all the variables in the negotiations must be known in order to assist the parties using game theory. 4. Payoff Consequences: the parties must know what the course of their decisions will produce. Parties must know and understand what will be the consequences of choosing A or B or C in the negotiations. 5. Player preferences: Finally, a thorough knowledge of the preferences which the players would like to pursue should also be on the table. (see Duffy, 2003) When these 5 elements are known by the participants in the trade negotiations, then game theory can help them move toward effective resolution of their issues, as well has help them understand the payoff and the costs of their respective decisions. Game theory is often called a means for making moral decisions. The theory seeks to find a solution which works toward the benefit of the greatest number of people, maximizing all parties return. Thus, the theory's outcome has been compared to morality in decisions making. However, one way to undermine the effectiveness of this theory is for parties to come to the table with the assumption that their particular perspective or their desired outcome is the moral high ground. This assumption by one of the parties is a sure path toward defeating the effectiveness of game theory. According to Hardin (1988, 2003, negotiators should be wary of moral theorists that claim universality for their

The Influence of Developmentally Appropriately Practices on Academic Essay

The Influence of Developmentally Appropriately Practices on Academic Success in Preschool - Essay Example This affirms some of the cherished beliefs among professionals with regard to good curriculum practices while challenging others. In addition to gaining new knowledge, early childhood programs have experienced several important changes in recent years. The number of programs continue to increase not only in response to the growing demand for out-of-home child care, but also due to recognition of the critical importance of educational experiences during the early years (Willer et al., 1991; NCES, 1993). For example, in the late 1980s, the Head Start embarked on the largest expansion in its history. This expansion extended into the 1990s with a wide variety of new services for families with infants and toddlers. The National Education Goals Panel established their first goal that by the year 2000 all children will have access to high-quality and developmentally appropriate preschool programs (NEGP, 1991). The welfare reform portended a greatly increased demand for childcare services fo r even the youngest children from families with very low income. Some characteristics of early childhood programs have also changed in recent years. Increasingly, programs serve children and families from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. It requires that all programs demonstrate how to understand and be responsive to cultural and linguistic diversity because culture and language are critical components of children’s development. Practices cannot be developmentally appropriate unless they are responsive to cultural and linguistic diversity. The context in which early childhood programs operate today is also characterized by ongoing debates about how best to teach children. They also discuss the kind of practices that is most likely to contribute to their development and learning. Perhaps, the most important contribution of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) position statement on developmentally appropriate practices was that it cre ated an opportunity for increased conversation within and outside the early childhood education field (Bredekamp, 1987). In revising this position statement, NAEYC’s goal is not only to improve the quality of current early childhood education practices, but also to continue encouraging the kind of questioning and debate among early childhood professionals necessary for the continuous growth of professional knowledge in the field. A related goal is to express NAEYC’s position more clearly, so that effort will not be wasted in unproductive debates about apparent rather than real differences of opinion. Since the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) first published the Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP) guidelines in 1987 (Bredekamp, 1987), later revised by Bredekamp and Copple (1997), the day-to-day experiences of millions of children have been affected. Over a million copies of the guidelines have been sold, and many teachers and ear ly childhood professionals have implemented DAP in their classrooms to some extent. While there is no

One flew over the cuckoo's nest by Ken Kesey Annotated Bibliography

One flew over the cuckoo's nest by Ken Kesey - Annotated Bibliography Example The significance of the book in American literature is that it is a metaphor for society – the dehumanizing force of administrative and medical power is likened to mechanical â€Å"Combine† which is a huge machinery of oppression. Normal human behaviours are suppressed and the machinery of power is challenged by the tragic hero McMurphy. In the end he is lobotomized and finally killed by the narrator. It sounds like a horror story and it has very serious themes, but there is a lot of humor in the dialogue and in the quirky character of McMurphy. This book contains a short but fascinating discussion of the character of Nurse Ratched, the Big Nurse. Using Freudian and Jungian psychological concepts, Aguiar shows how McMurphy sets himself up to fight a huge battle with a typical â€Å"ball-cutter†, which reveals his fear of the castrating female. This is then described as an archetypal mother hatred scenario, and Aguiar suggests that all of the male patients in the asylum see Nurse Ratched as a mother figure, and they apparently masochistically project their fear of their own mothers onto her. The target of McMurphy’s rebellion is not just the authority that Nurse Ratched holds, but also her actual femininity, and this is made clear when McMurphy attacks her and exposes her large breasts. Aguiar explores a Jungian analysis of this act in terms of the Oedipus complex, but somehow this analysis is unconvincing. After all Nurse Ratched triumphs over McMurphy in the end, and it could be argued that she is as much a v ictim of the oppressive system as he is. This book pursues a very strong feminist line, but in Kesey’s novel it finds more questions than answers, throwing up a number of intriguing theories, none of which address the mixed male/female/machine persona that is Nurse Ratched, or the decidedly positive view that the young McMurphy formed of women and heterosexual love. This book examines issues around the religious nature of the

Project Feasibility Study 2014 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Project Feasibility Study 2014 - Essay Example With regard to the current scenario, the company incorporates four major brands that include Kingsmill, Allinson, Burgen and Sunblest, altogether playing a pivotal role for Allied Bakeries to build its long-term sustainability in the global food processing and retailing industry (1Allied Bakeries, 2014). In relation to the recent observation, the company has been facing a significant level of difficulties regarding the operational functions and performance of its leading brand, Kingsmill. Kingsmill of Allied Bakeries has long been identified as one of its leading brands, principally because it is capable of providing a wide range of food items ranging from the Little BIG Loaf to 50/50. Its primitive aim has therefore been focused on sufficing the nutritional needs of the consumers in the national baking industry (2Allied Bakeries, 2014). In its recent performance, the company has introduced the Great White loaf with the brand name of Kingsmill and has collected the attention of the global consumers within a short-run (Ritson, 2014). However, the market research conducted by Allied Bakeries has demonstrated a different scenario regarding the newly launched White loaf in the UK markets. Although marketers may gain success by altering the preferences or demands of the customers, in various cases, the changes may convey severe risks for the organisations to maintain its long-term sustainability. In relation to the business strategy of Allied Bakeries regarding its innovative Great White, the intention of changing consumption habit or attitude of the customers may lead the company to cause a negative impact on its brand positioning. Therefore, major changes regarding the innovative concept of Great White has emerged as an essential practice for the company to preserve the brand position of Kingsmill and the reputation of Allied Bakeries as well (Askew, 2014). Change in the business strategies is a common and widely accepted

International Marketing (Qasim) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Marketing (Qasim) - Essay Example The key products offered in Subway include: custom sub sandwiches, salads, soft drinks and some other food items (Ibis Report 2013). Company’s rational behind internationalization The company’s strategy is based on the aggressive international expansion worldwide. Internationalization decision is mainly based on the business growth opportunities offered by rapidly growing markets. Subway will continue to expand internationally, especially in emerging economies as it is likely to be the largest source of profit and revenue growth (Ibis Report 2013). Today, these markets include markets not yet saturated with fast food brands (Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, China, India (Fertman n.d.). Mode of entry-selection of market entry strategy to enter into various countries Subway restaurants chain has chosen franchising option as a mode of entry strategy for starting business in various countries. Initially, the Subway chain did not even select new countries to expand into, as entrepreneurs from these countries contacted Subway (Welch et al, 2008). The original foreign entry in 1986 had a following typical format: individual entrepreneurs contacted the restaurants chain from a country where there were no Subway locations, and then the development team worked together with the entrepreneur, providing assistance in opening a franchise restaurant under Subway brand (Welch et al, 2008, 61). Thus, the company transferred the method of operation to the franchisee and had a much greater degree of control over its marketing efforts in a foreign market (Lecture notes). However, nowadays, Subway is also searching actively for new markets. Business Development department of Subway determines which markets would be appropriate to entry by evaluating a number of factors, including: the cost of doing business, the GDP, fast-food development and some others, etc. By operating as a franchising chain, Subway as a franchisor experiences less risks and is capable t o penetrate various markets very rapidly. Besides the obvious benefits and advantages of the franchise concept, Subway is imposed to certain risks as well. The value of the brand, either increasing or decreasing will have effect on the franchisee competitiveness. Franchisee of Subway has a number of responsibilities, including: initial franchising fee, finding locations, hiring employees and operating restaurants, leasehold improvements and equipment and paying a fee into the advertising fund and 8% royalty to the company (Subway Global Brochure 2013, 4). Subway also has certain responsibilities, such as: providing access to operational systems, guidance on store design and equipment ordering, operations manual, training program, R&D, ongoing support and periodic audits, and informative publications (Subway Global Brochure 2013, 4). The marketing mix strategies adopted by the company There are recognized several key elements of international marketing mix, including: product support , price support, promotion/selling support, inventory support, distribution support, service support, and financial support (Lecture notes). Below are briefly evaluated all these elements with a reference to Subway restaurants chain. Product support. Even though the product line and customer service are standardized among all Subway restaurants as it is common for any franchising chain, there are cultural and local eating habits in particular country that require adaptation