Contributing factors toward SWB of the Institutionalized Elderly Essay Example for Free

Contributing factors toward SWB of the Institutionalized Elderly EssayApart from delineating the cognitive and affective indicators of SWB, this study also attempted to identify the manageable factors which contribute to SWB. A host of factors were identified in the largely western literature. These are presented in the succeeding pages. Physical Health Health is whizz of the almost fundamental variables in predicting whether people are happy (Campbell et al. , 1976). The World Health Organization defines health as, the optimal functioning of the human organism to meet biological, psychological, estimable and spiritual needs (Emeth Greenhut, 1991). In this study the elderly were said to have optimal functioning when he or she had basic competence, which was necessary for maintenance of single-handed living (Martin, 2001). In the case of the elderly in the study it was denoted by their ability for personal care on their own. It also pertained to mental health, which was a n ation where the elderly were not pr hotshot to depression, or other mental illness, and did not have any major cognitive impairments. Autonomy Autonomy could be equated to having the subject matter for selfdetermination, independence, internal locus of control, and internal regulation of behavior (Ryff, 1989).Having a sense of being in control (autonomy) means that one and only(a)s thoughts and actions are ones own and not determined by others. It is related to physical health too as it gives a sense of mastery over situations. It is important for all and particularly for the elderly to maintain that sense of control or autonomy because a sense of losing control of ones life or ones power is to in some ways lose ones worth, which can have detrimental effect on ones physical as surface as psychological health. Money/Income Income or money is importantly related to a sense of fountainhead-beingin old age (Diener, 1984) and the elderly in the study may or may not enjoy financial se curity Money is important likely because of the sense of security that they experience when they have enough money which could implicitly affect their sense of autonomy and self-worth. Family Relationships Family is a natural institution constant crosswise time and space which is a very close and intimate group and ones sense of well-being is sustained by membership in this primary group, as it provides a sense of security, connectedness, and belongingness to the sr..There are no substitutes for the close relationship in the experience of well-being in the case of the aged. In the case of the elderly in the study, family relationship is limited to this intimate group consisting of the spouse, children and grandchildren as the extended family is almost nonexistent in the given context. friendship Friendship or close relationship with members of the same age group often sharing personal characteristics, life styles, values and experiences is a source of enjoyment, socializing, and reminiscing the past promote a higher satisfaction among the older adults (Sorensen Pinquart, 2000).In the given situation it could be long standing friends from the past, and or the friendship developed among the co-residents of the home. Social assist and Social Interest To experience a sense of well-being persons should have deep feeling of sympathy, and affection for human beings (social interest/altruism). That is, their ability to go beyond the personal to interpersonal establishing deep, profound interpersonal relationships and social support, to transpersonal, which is relating to the Divine in the social context of ones life.These play a significant affair in maintaining their psychological, social, and physical integrity over time (Witmer Sweeny, 1992) and consequently the sense well-being. Attitude toward Death Death can be understood as a natural process of transition from one stage of life to another. Depending on the meaning people attach to death, they fear death or embrace it as a natural transition with a sense of acceptance and surrender (Atchley, 1997). Accepting old age and death meaningfully makes life happier. Fear or acceptance of death is closely related to general satisfaction.According to (Moberg, 2001), when life is lived to the full, death becomes a fulfillment, a completion. Religion and otherworldliness Subjective aspects of religion and spirituality include religious identification, religious attitudes, values, beliefs, knowledge, and mystical/religious experiences. Religious experience provides a sense of meaning and purpose in daily life (Polner, 1989). Spirituality usually refers to a unique, personally meaningful experience of a transcendent dimension that is associated with wholeness and wellness (Westgate, 1996).Spiritual wellness is the dimension that permits the integration of ones spirituality with the other dimensions of life, thus maximizing the potential for growth and self-actualization (Westgate, 1996). At th is point of SWB research, there is already an idea of the variables which correlate with SWB. However, a get out understanding of parameters that influences the relationships, the directions of influences between variables, and the different influences interact are still needed (Diener, 1984). Given the assumption that these features are deepcross-cultural, universally applicable, core characteristic features of well being sought by the aged, the researcher believed that the institutionalized care for the aged and their subjective sense of well-being is also context specific. An understanding of psychological well-being necessarily rely upon the moral visions that are culturally embedded and frequently culture specific (Christopher, 1999). In this context, one might ask how the institutionalized aged of Gladys Spellman experience the transition from mathru-pithru devobhava(mother and father are like gods) to institutionalized care, what their experience of the subjective well-being consisted in, and what might be the specific factors that would contribute to their sense of well being. It is possible that the western culture-specific factors of subjective well-being outlined above may not have the same relevance for the population under investigation. This study was expect to help understand the contextspecific aspects of well-being of the institutionalized aged.

Eating Disorder Case Study

Eating Disorder Case StudyWhen normal eating becomes abnormalEating is a crucial activity for humans, as the food we consume acts to provide us with the fuel we need to keep our bodies running, and to live our daily lives. Normal levels of eating tail end be characterised as oerwhelming just enough calories (of energy) to allow us to function as we require, and not to have so much left over that is not used and after stored as fat cells. Exactly what level is characterised ordain vary on an individual-to-individual basis, as normal allow be subject to individual differences much(prenominal) as activity levels, age and metabolic rate, which can all affect the rate at which energy is used or stored by the body. Abnormal eating can thus be seen to occur when we either consume too much or too little energy (food) for what we need, and forms the basis of negative eating behaviour, classed as eating disorders.There are two main eating disorders anorexia nervosa, and riot-eating syndr ome. Anorexia is perhaps the most well-known of the disorders, and attracts a great deal of media coverage and celebrity pens associated with the see such as Victoria Beckham, Calistra Flockheart and the Olsen twins (Mary-Kate and Ashley). Characterised by deliberate and extreme weight loss through the withholding of hold often to the point of emaciation, leans will constantly worry ab reveal food, with such cognitions visible through behaviours such as obsessive weighing and calorie counting and abnormal levels of control in regards to food. Self-image is chronically out of touch with reality, with individuals at the later stages of the designate still seeing their body as fat, despite being seriously underweight. Through this self-inflicted starvation, the anorexic will start to experience physical symptoms and problems such as stomach pains, growth stunting, osteoporosis and reproduction problems such as the stopping of periods in women, or antisepsis in men. In the long ter m, lack of food can be serious to health, with the possibility of leading to kidney, liver and even heart damage, and thus the condition can be fatal.Bulimia is a more common disorder than anorexia and in contrast to the strict self-control of eating regulated by anorexics, bulimia can occur as a result of a lack of control over eating. Bulimics do not starve themselves, instead will binge massive amounts of food (often secretly), and with some cases reported as ingesting as much as 15,000 calories in 1 2 hours. After eating until they feel ill, bulimics will then use methods such as vomiting or laxatives to purge themselves of the calories that they have ingested. Physical effects of bulimia can be harder to detect as there is usually no dramatic weight loss, and in many cases is simply the maintenance of weight despite the food binges they have. Associated physical problems include new and inflamed throat as a result of induced vomiting, which may eventually lead to a difficult y in swallowing. Stomach acid brought up along with food will also cause problems such as burning of the oesophagus and the damaging of tooth enamel. Intestine function can break cumulation when forced repeatedly to expel food dehydration can occur due to loss of fluids, and when to a serious enough degree can revolutionise the balance of chemicals within the blood with minor consequences including dizziness, and the most serious being heart failure.Bulimia is a condition that is intricately linked with emotions and psychological well-being. worry and unhappiness can binges which then cause guilt and further unhappiness until alleviated by purging. The sufferer is thus trapped in a execrable circle. One of the most high profile cases of bulimia is likely to be that of Princess Diana. Quoted as saying the bulimia was a symptom of what was going on in my marriage. I was crying out for help, but giving the wrong signals, (Panorma, BBC TV, 1995) such a comment is a prime example of the psychological nature of the condition. The difficulty in treatment of bulimia is that emotionally the action of purging is reinforcing by alleviating the guilt and unhappiness felt after a binging session, and thus makes the cycle faraway harder to break.Most cases of these eating disorders will start during adolescence or early adulthood, and are strongly linked in the literature and media as associated to psychological issues. Personal aspects such as perfectionism, identity and sexuality and self-esteem are strongly correlated factors, with control issues whether in regards to excessive restraint, or in loss of control over eating, also have a predominant role. Along side these personality traits, the concept of body image, and how it is portrayed is felt to play a major lend factor to the continued existence and rise of eating disorders. Weight is often seen as a measure of self-worth, attractiveness and sexuality, and subsequently this is modelled by the rich and famous that many adolescents look up to. Whether modelled in movies such as Demi Moore in Charlies Angels, or in fashion and celebrity magazines such as mode or Heat, young people are surrounded by visual media with images of the perfect body and what it means to be attractive and (subsequently associated) successful, and will unsurprisingly want to master this. When younger people do not feel that they match up to this notion of beauty, this can act as the psychological trigger to any of the conditions mentioned. The bed covering of eating disorders across the world alongside Westernisation to continents once free of such conditions, has further demonstrated the role that culture exerts over these diseases. Communication technologies such as the internet have also made the transfer of information such as tricks and tips between sufferers easier by connecting a once hidden and isolated population, the so called Pro-ana (Anorexia) and Pro-mia (Bulimia) websites and chat rooms, which may also reinforce sufferer through the social support system such societies and groups entail. Role of the media in the message it send out about eating disorders is thus mixed articles in the written press appear to be condoning the behaviour, and yet reading behind the lines often eludes to something else A profile article on Calistra Flockhart in Hello Magazine describes her anorexia, and yet in the same sentence tells how her look is what landed her the role in the TV series Ally McBeal. Mens magazines such as FHM and Loaded run annual ratings of the most attractive women, and subsequently reinforce the male attitude of feebleness as attractive, and women see this as further example of how they believe they are expected to look.However there is evidence for optimism that that there is a shift in the ideology of beauty previously characterised in the 1990s as the waif supermodel look of Kate Moss and Jodie Kidd. Stars such as Beyonce and Jenifer Lopez are beginning to change the boundaries of attractiveness, reinventing the look of the female figure and curves.REFERENCESAbraham, S Llewellyn-Jones, D (1992) Eating Disorders The Facts Oxford University PressBryan, J (1999) Talking Points Eating Disorders Wayland Publishers LtdCarlson, N () Physiology of behaviour (4th Ed) Allyn BaconDonnellan, C (2001) Confronting eating disorders Volume 24 licenseInternet Referenceswww.hellomagazine.comwww.eatingdisorderresources.com

Genes And Other Factors Of Happiness Psychology Essay

Genes And Other Factors Of Happiness Psychology EssayGenes and circumstances contribute equally to human rapture in the short term, but genes and neurotransmitters reasonableness80% of the range of happiness volume feel in the long term, according to novel enquiry in behavioral contagiouss and neurochemistry (Sharpe and Bryant 20081-9) 1. Genetic training derived from scientific explorations of genetic distinctions may have important links to understanding the basis for feelings of benefit and potentially the phenomena associated with human happiness. While non-genetic oriented interrogation of social, political, creation policy, theology and economic studies have addressed the impact of social and institutional environments on mass political attitudes and behaviors, there is a paucity of solid investigate on the interrelation and learn of genetic and environmental factors on these parameters. The neuro skill and genes experiments have entailed basic propositions of wel l world and happiness into human star which has made science unique. On the other hands, hearty Sciences especially economics, political science, theology or public policy has endeavored different aspects and corners of happiness query which made the issue non much different from what gene, neuroscience and psychology researchers have got. This paper would discuss the inevitability of the Science -Social Science Nexus in Happiness research and the findings.Keywords Happiness, Genes, Science Social Science Nexus, Factors of Happiness.IntroductionAcross culture, flock rate subjective well being as most important elements of their life and to a greater extent important than corporal success (Diener, 2000)2. Subjective well being is equally treated here as Happiness.In this paper we explore neurogenetics determination and its relationships with social science research on happiness through fall out our lives. The abovementi one(a)d classical saying from Diener has got great value in Happiness Research. Despite the fact, the invention of genetics Research during late 1800s flames the attempt on Nature versus Nurture debate which has caused a rift within the scientific community, with researchers and theorists passionately defending both sides of the argument. Furthermore the Social science Researchers on Happiness has raised more issues which has become complicated to the neurogenetics researchers and by thus the inevitability of Social science and science nexus in happiness research has become more realistic.This holds especially true in the discourse of the determination of ones happiness.Resaerchers debate Human biological mend up, i.e., the happiness is determined by abidance of human genetics. Even happiness is known to be related to person-to-personity traits. However, to date, nobody has examined whether personality and subjective well-being sh ar a common genetic structure (Weiss, Bates and Luciano, 2008)3.Its novel approach to scientific analy sis fusing biology, psychology and sociology was convincing to some researchers, but as well as thought of as unsubstantiated and too restricting by others. The divisive line between those that supported the study of genetics within human behavioral research and those that simply dismissed its findings only grew with time, as more contr everyplacesial theories and concepts began to emerge.A leave of this conflict between nature and nurture is a lack of communication between both sides of the argument. Researchers tend to stack genetics and life events as separate entities working to determine which one has greater power over the other in shaping emotional status. Genetics theorists such as David Lykken and Auke Tellegen4 focus most of their experiments on entropy analysis and genetics analyseing, while proponents of life events research such as Richard Lucas and Sonja Lyubomirsky use more of the qualitative methods, surveying specific individuals, as was familiar to socio logists. Though the differences between the two sides are stark, the two arguments fag work together. Through the revelation of behavioral genetics research it is undeniable that new, signifi after partt findings in the realm of sociology will emerge. It cannot be counted out as a major force within the ontogeny of human emotion. Nevertheless, the inability of the two sides of this conflict to work together has led to numerous holes in research and conclusions by both points of mass. In this paper we stand for to prove that behavioral genetics greatly influences human behavior and emotion and should be taken into account in all social science research on individual happiness directs.We will first outline the research on genetics with respect to happiness and how it has evolved. Then we will look at the response to the genetic research by those who argue that happiness is determined by life-events. The final part of the literature will be a word of honor of the integration of genetics and life-events, which will include the research which as been completed and that which we believe will further the field. We will then conclude the paper with a summary of the arguments and which side our study has led us to.MethodologyThe methodology adopted here is Content Analysis, historical data analysis and analysis of contingency studies. We have consulted data and analysis of previous reports by scientific and social science experts on happiness research. The methodology is completely based on alternative data analysis and interpretation. In analyzing those data, we have carefully selected data which are related to our themes. We have also used those data and figures to show the science-social sciences nexus of happiness research.Characteristics of Happy PeopleIn her recent study, Lyubomirsky suggests that happiness is determined by three influences 50% set point or genetic make-up 40% intentional action mechanism 10% circumstance (Lyubomirsky 2007).5In 1996, U niversity of Minnesota researcher David Lykken studied 4,000 sets of twins born in Minnesota from 1936-1955. After comparing data on identical vs. fraternal twins, he came to the conclusion that 50% of ones satisfaction from life comes from genes. (Lykken, D. Happiness is a Stochastic Phenomenon.Minn psychological Science7(3), 1996)6Martin Seligman, PhD, at the University of protoactinium taught a single happiness-enhancing strategy to a group of severely depressed people. These individuals had difficulty staying out of bed. They were encouraged to log onto a Web site and pack in a simple exercise. The exercise involved recalling and writing down three good things that happened every day. Within 15 days, their depression lifted from severe to moderate to mild. Ninety-four percent reported relief (Authentic Happiness2002).7Richard Davidson, known by colleagues as the king of happiness research, has been studying the link between prefrontlet lobe activity and the sort of deep bliss that people who meditate experience. According to Davidson (2001)8, happiness isnt just a vague, ineffable feeling its a physical state of the brain-one that you can induce deliberately. As researchers have gained an understanding of the physical characteristics of a well-chosen brain, they have come to see that those traits have a powerful influence on the rest of the body. Numerous studies (Kubzansky, Sparrow, Vokonas, Kawachi, 2001)9 have discovered that happiness or related mental states analogous hopefulness, optimism, and contentment appear to reduce the risk or settle the severity of cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, colds, and upper respiratory infections as well.The benefits of being happy go beyond the temporary phase of feeling good. Happy people exhibit a high level of life force and can do attitude. They are emotionally intelligent and show more poise and grace in a crisis. Their insubordinate systems are stronger, and they live l onger and have more fruitful lives as a result.Over many decades, psychological researchers have begun to shopping mall more and more emphasis on understanding influences upon mental and emotional health and well-being. Some of Seligmans own research, for instance, had focused on optimism, a trait shown to be associated with good physical health, less depression and mental illness, longer life, and, yes, greater happiness. Perhaps the most eager explorer of this terrain was University of Illinois psychologist Edward Diener, a.k.a. Dr. Happiness. For more than two decades, Diener had been examining what does and does not make people feel satisfied with life. Seligmans goal was to shine a light on such work and encourage much, much more of it.A recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that people ages 20 to 24 are sad for an average of 3.4 days a month, as opposed to just 2.3 days for people ages 65 to 74. The earlier judgment where you live makes you h appy, has recently been challenged by the work of North and others (Northet al. 2008)10.They suggest thathappiness can change and underscore the importance of exploring more deeply the role that family relationships play in facilitating such change and this is not related to economic status (Wenz, 1977)11. Similarly, the thinking thatmarriage increases happiness has been challenged by the evidence that married people may have been happier than single people because the former were happier to begin with.Scientific Research on HappinessGenes and HappinessGenes carry the instructions for the construction of neurotransmitters, their receptor and re-absorption portals. They also impart information on such things as their terminal and release rates. Hence, genes can influence the prevalence, scarcity, and activity of serotonin and dopamine, and, in turn, whatever behaviors and feelings these neurotransmitters induce.For each of us, our happiness fluctuates within a small range that our genes largely determine. So concludes Dean Hamer in his review of studies on the role of genes in happiness or misery.Hamer12 directs our attention to two of the more than300known neurotransmitters, dopamine (the brains chemical for delight) and serotonin, the petrochemical for misery. Neurotransmitters pass information from the synapse or junction between a nerve cell and another nerve cell or a muscle. The nerve cells bulbous end releases them from storage when an electrical impulse moving along the nerve reaches it. Then they cross the junction to dock at the other nerve cells receptor, and either prompt or inhibit the impulses along the second cell. The first nerve cell reabsorbs excess neurotransmitters, but not necessarily all of them. Those that remain free-floating help create our happy or miserable states of being.How you feel right now is about equally genetic and circumstantial, says Hamer. But how you will feel on average over the following(a) ten years is fully80% bec ause of your genes (Hamer1996125).13Further evidence for a physical/biochemical basis of happiness comes from neuroanatomy.Richard Laneand his colleagues preliminary research picture that feelings of happiness, sadness, and disgust all co-occur with increased brain activity in the thalamus and medial prefrontal cortex. Greater activity near the ventral medial frontal cortex distinguishes happiness from sadness, whilst happiness correlates with significant increases in bilateral activity near the middle and posterior impermanent cortex and hypothalamus. Lane concludes that, spatially distributed brain regions participate in each emotion (Lane, et al.1997930)14.Identical twins (those with the similar genetic makeup) attain the analogous level of happiness44percent of the time. In comparison, fraternal twins, those who share genes as do ordinary siblings, reach the same level only eight percent of the time. Hamer adds These data show that the broad heritability of well-being is40to 50% (Hamer1996125)15. Studies by David Lykken and Auke Tellegen assess the happiness of twins over five to ten years, and show the slight impact of sex, age, race, and marital status, and the short-term influence of job loss or lottery winning.A recent report by psychologists Christopher Lewis and Stephen Joseph16 suggests that the Depression-Happiness Scale (which psychologists use to calculate happiness) measures happiness as a trait rather than a state, with subjects scores on the scale remaining relatively stable over a two-year period. Other studies show that a persons level of happiness remains stable over many years. Inherited genes account for the majority of this level.Figure- 1Happiness genesGENEASSOCIATIONSDRD2 alcoholism, Substance abuse, craving behavior, cocain dependence, skunk, ADHD, parenting, Obesity, boob tube caper, sexual activity, posttraumatic stress disorder schizophrenia, Parkinsons, brain metabolism, BMI, executive functioning, love styles (EROS) pathol ogical gambling. Pathological aggression, schizoid/avoidant behavior, criminal activity, authorities party attachment. Energy, hypertension. Hyperphagia, growth, sexual maturation, brain development, depression, anorexia, bulimia, fibromyalgia, trouble oneself sensitivity, hunger, novelty seeking, extraversion, early onset sexual intercourse, defense style (lying), oppositional defiant disorder, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Parkinsons, executive dysfunctioning, pleasure buzzANNKISmoking dependence, parental rule-setting, Schizophrenia, apprehension deficit, alcohol and opiate dependence, pleasurable buzz,5HT2A ingest disorders, obesity, Insulin resistance, love styles (romantic), suicide, ADHD, Panic disorders, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsivity, anger, sweet tooth, antidepressant treatment outcomes, fibromyalgia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality, smoking behavior, cocain dependence, BMI.OPRK1(kappa -opioid receptor) Alcohol and heroin dependence. ail mechanisms and tolerance.OPRM1(mu opioidreceptorreceptor)Pleasure buzz, smoking addiction, heroin addiction, alcoholism, pain sensitivity, BMI, type 2 diabetes mellitus.COMTPsychiatric and affective disorders, alcoholism, substance use disorder, smoking, post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia, Parkinsons disease, ADHD.SLC6A3Post-surgical pain, cocaine abuse, alcohol dependence, smoking behavior, teen delinquency, pathological aggression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsivity.HTR3BHeroin addiction, migraine, impulsive behavioral aggression, cognitive -impulsivity, ADHD, alcoholism.NOS3 injure mechanism, healing mechanisms, circulation, hypertension, cardiovascular.PPARGType 2 diabetes, Obesity, Insulin sensitivity, Body composition, take disorders, BMI, physical exercise, common metabolic disorders, body mass, waist circumference, inflammatory response, immune system.CHREBP blood plasma triglycerides, trigly ceridemia, obesity ,,improves plasma glucose,FTOSevere obesity, food intake, adiposity, body mass, energy intake, BMI, fat mass, pleasurable buzz.TNFalphaInflammation, mortality, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, BMI, Immune response.PEMTProinflamamtory, immunoregulation, apotosis, substance use disorder.MANEASubstance dependenceLEPTIN-OBBMI, Schizophrenia, stress, obesity risk, food intake, craving behavior, diabetes, insulin sensitivity, adiposity, body composition, elongate growth, metabolic factors, hyperphagia, cocaine dependence, lipogenesis, modulation of sweet substances, anorexia, bulimia, cardiovascular effects, fertility, sexual maturation, brain development, depression, fatty acid metabolism, hunger,MAO-APain sensitivity, bipolar affective disorder, ADHD, alcoholism, Substance procedure Disorder, violent behavior, juvenile delinquency, smoking, claw abuse, suicide, criminal activity, posttraumatic stress disorder, anti-depressant treatment response, alcoholism, panic d isorder, schizophrenia, pathological gambling.ADIPOQMetabolic syndrome, adiposity, fat mass, energy intake, obesity, lipogenesis, type 2 diabetes, BMI.STSADHDVDRObesity, BMI, overeating, metabolic syndrome, anthropometric measures, schizophrenia, temporal lobe epilepsy, immune system, type 2 diabetes, physical activity, BONE DENSITY (OSTEOPOROSIS).DBIANXIETY DISORDERSGABRA6Autism, alcoholism, stresses response.GABRB3Autism, alcoholism, stress.MTHFRCardiovascular disease, Homocysteine levels, obesity, fat mass, Schizophrenia.MLXIPL(CARBOHYDRATE BINDING ELEMENT)Plasma triglycerides, glucose craving behavior, obesity.VEGFAngiogenesis factor, cognition, tissue healing, pain sensitivity, oxidative stress.DRD4 pecuniary risk taking, nicotine withdrawal, ADHD, novelty seeking, Alcoholism, aggression, impulsivity, delinquency, memory deficits, anger, temperament, schizophrenia, sexual intercourse, medicate abuse, extraversion, obesity, stress, emotional reactivity, infant attachment, oppos itional defiant disorder, fibromyalgia, hyperphagia, alcohol craving, pathological gambling, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Parkinsons.VMAT2antidepressant drug treatment outcome, Parkinsons, ADHD, cocaine and methamphetamine dependence, spirituality GOD Gene.CLOCKCircadian system, mood, bipolar, endocrine and metabolic rhythms, stress, reproduction, morphine dependenceMELETONIN rest anxiety, alcoholismOREXINHyperphagis and energy regulationSource Blum, K et.al. (2009)17The abovementioned Table showed the genes and its associations with different Situations.Genetic factors may also contribute to the drug abuse-derived pleasure form in one genomic study on rats exposed to chronic methamphetamine abuse, the SLC6A gene and its variants were shown to be altered upon exposure to methamphetamine (Kobeissy, et al., 2008)(Gold, et al., 2009).18 This disorder is due to genetic defects in the dopamine reward pathways. As a result of such defects the natural rewa rds are no longer sufficient to improve mood and provide pleasure, and affected individuals pursue an excessive amount of unnatural rewards such as from alcohol, nicotine, drugs, gambling, sex and risk taking in the form of dangerous sports, such bungie and base jumping, sky diving, extreme skiing, race car driving, video gaming and others to stimulate their reward pathways.The SLC6A gene is involved in cocaine abuse, alcohol dependence, smoking behavior, juvenile delinquency, pathological aggression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsity and is a major component in the happiness gene map (seeFigure 1andTable 1). In 1995 Kenneth Blum coined the term RDS (Blum et al. 1996 Comings et al 2000 Blum et al. 2000).19The fact that drugs of abuse such as alcohol, cocaine, speed and nicotine stimulate the release of dopamine explains part of the question of why humans become addicted to things this does not explain why some people have serious proble ms with addictions. While environmental factors play a role, there is a significant variation in addictive potential among individuals exposed to the same environment or even substances ( Hoebel, Avena, Borcarsly, Rada, 2009,Comings and Blum 2000).20Another facet of certain(p) environmental elements that may affect ones happiness and ultimately length of service is being in control. Langer (1989)21 carried out a landmark study that suggested that being in control resulted in greater longevity. In his study performed in a nursing home for the elderly, one group of subjects was given a plant and told to look after it, they were responsible for the plants health. Another group was also given a plant but told that the rung would look over the plant. Over the next 18 months twice as many of those who were not in control of their plants died compared to those in control of their plants.A test of this hypothesis has been successfully carried out by others in two strains of rodents. One s train liked drinking alcohol more than drinking water the other strain did not. If the preference for alcohol was due to a defect in the dopamine D2 receptor, then increasing the level of D2 receptor in the reward pathways should drop dead the alcohol preference. This was accomplished by injecting copies of the D2 receptor gene directly in the nucleus accumbens. This resulted in a temporary over expression of the D2 receptors that lasted several days. The over expression of the D2 receptor gene reduces alcohol intake demonstrating that high levels of the D2 receptor gene are protective against alcohol abuse (Thanos et al 2001).22Post (2005)23 suggests that altruism and volunteerism are associated with happiness, improved mood, enhanced self-esteem, and better mental and physical health and that helping others, per se, may be a major part of the increased longevity seen in religious versus non-religious individuals. However others have rejected the idea that religion was a key facto r. They concluded in their studies of over 8,832 subjects that volunteering, rather than its religious context, explained the adept effects and happiness (Musicket al. 1999)24.These findings are not so simple and cannot be taken without understanding thatwe really cannot determine whether a confound drives an observed correlation. That is, that correlational data is always vulnerable to potential third-variable confounds.As we stated earlier, wealth does not necessarily correlate with happiness. In fact, as pointed out in Comings25 arrestDid Man Create God,a major reason for the lack of correlation between Gross National Product (GNP) and happiness is that people quickly oblige to a wide range of circumstances. He stated, Someone inheriting or winning a great deal of money may be temporarily be happier, but they soon settle back to their previous innate level of happiness. The same holds for those with progressively increasing yearly incomes.In support of this notionAllen Parducci (1995)26 suggested that after each raise, people adapt and return to a previous level of happiness (a set point genetically programmed), a phenomena he termed epicurean treadmill.Figure-2Source Ibid, 2009 27Psychology and HappinessFor most of its history, psychology has concerned itself with all that ails the human mind anxiety, depression, neurosis, obsessions, paranoia, delusions, etc., and the behaviors they produce. The goal of practitioners has been to bring patients from a negative suffer state to a neutral normal state. Or, as University of Pennsylvania psychologist Martin Seligman puts it, from a minus five to a zero (Seligman 2002)28.In the tabe-1, we could see that DRD2 genes has associations with the psychological functions like Alcoholism, Substance abuse, craving behavior, cocaine dependence, smoking, ADHD, parenting, Obesity, video gaming, sexual activity, posttraumatic stress disorder schizophrenia, Parkinsons, brain metabolism, BMI, executive functioning, love style s (EROS) pathological gambling. Pathological aggression, schizoid/avoidant behavior, criminal activity, politics party attachment. Energy, hypertension. Hyperphagia, growth, sexual maturation, brain development, depression, anorexia, bulimia, fibromyalgia, pain sensitivity, hunger, novelty seeking, extraversion, early onset sexual intercourse, defense style (lying), oppositional defiant disorder, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Parkinsons, executive dysfunctioning, pleasure buzz etc. At the same time, the gene like ANNKI has the effects on Smoking dependence, parental rule-setting, Schizophrenia, cognition deficit, alcohol and opiate dependence, pleasurable buzz.The gene 5HT2A has got associations with Eating disorders, obesity, Insulin resistance, love styles (romantic), suicide, ADHD, Panic disorders, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsivity, anger, sweet tooth, antidepressant treatment outcomes, fibromyalgia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderl ine personality, smoking behavior, cocaine dependence, BMI.Genes like OPRK1 (kappa -opioid receptor) has associations with the Alcohol and heroin dependence. Pain mechanisms and tolerance. OPRM1 (mu opioid Receptor) has associations with Pleasure buzz, smoking addiction, heroin addiction, alcoholism, pain sensitivity, BMI, type 2 diabetes mellitus. COMT has associations with Psychiatric and affective disorders, alcoholism, substance use disorder, smoking, post-surgical pain, fibromyalgia, Parkinsons disease, ADHD. SLC6A3 genes are associated with Post-surgical pain, cocaine abuse, alcohol dependence, smoking behavior, juvenile delinquency, pathological aggression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, impulsive aggression, cognitive impulsivity.Heroin addiction, migraine, impulsive behavioral aggression, cognitive -impulsivity, ADHD, alcoholism is attached with the gene HTR3B. Pain mechanism, healing mechanisms, circulation, hypertension, cardiovascular are associated with the gene s NOS3. Type 2 diabetes, Obesity, Insulin sensitivity, Body composition, eating disorders, BMI, physical exercise, common metabolic disorders, body mass, waist circumference, inflammatory response, immune system are affected with the genes PPARG. Plasma triglycerides, triglyceridemia, obesity ,,improves plasma glucose are asssociated iwth the genes CHREBP. Severe obesity, food intake, adiposity, body mass, energy intake, BMI, fat mass, pleasurable buzz are associated with the genes FTO.Inflammations, mortality, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, BMI, Immune response are associated with the gene TNFalpha. Proinflamamtory, immunoregulation, apotosis, substance use disorder are associated with the gene PEMT. Substance dependence is also associated with the gene MANEA. BMI, Schizophrenia, stress, obesity risk, food intake, craving behavior, diabetes, insulin sensitivity, adiposity, body composition, linear growth, metabolic factors, hyperphagia, cocaine dependence, lipogenesis, modulation of sweet substances, anorexia, bulimia, cardiovascular effects, fertility, sexual maturation, brain development, depression, fatty acid metabolism, hunger have great effects of the gene LEPTIN-OB. Pain sensitivity, bipolar affective disorder, ADHD, alcoholism, Substance Use Disorder, violent behavior, juvenile delinquency, smoking, child abuse, suicide, criminal activity, posttraumatic stress disorder, anti-depressant treatment response, alcoholism, panic disorder, schizophrenia, pathological gambling are also affected by the gene MAO-A. Metabolic syndrome, adiposity, fat mass, energy intake, obesity, lipogenesis, type 2 diabetes, BMI has the same associations with the gene ADIPOQ. ADHD has the associations with the gene STS.Obesity, BMI, overeating, metabolic syndrome, anthropometric measures, schizophrenia, temporal lobe epilepsy, immune system, type 2 diabetes, physical activity, BONE DENSITY (OSTEOPOROSIS) has associations with the gene VDR. Anxiety Disorders has associations w ith the gene DBI. Autism, alcoholism, stress response has association with the gene GABRA6. Autism, alcoholism, stress has strongest associations with the gene GABRB3. Cardiovascular disease, Homocysteine levels, obesity, fat mass, Schizophrenia has associations with the gene MTHFR. Plasma triglycerides, glucose craving behavior, obesity has associations with the gene MLXIPL (CARBOHYDRATE BINDING ELEMENT). Angiogenesis factor, cognition, tissue healing, pain sensitivity, oxidative stress has associations with the gene VEGF. pecuniary risk taking, nicotine withdrawal, ADHD, novelty seeking, Alcoholism, aggression, impulsivity, delinquency, memory deficits, anger, temperament, schizophrenia, sexual intercourse, drug abuse, extraversion, obesity, stress, emotional reactivity, infant attachment, oppositional defiant disorder, fibromyalgia, hyperphagia, alcohol craving, pathological gambling, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Parkinsons has association with t he gene DRD4. Antidepressant treatment outcome, Parkinsons, ADHD, cocaine and methamphetamine dependence, spirituality GOD Gene has association with the gene VMAT2. CLOCK gene is associated with Circadian system, mood, bipolar, endocrine and metabolic rhythms, stress, reproduction, morphine dependence. Sleep anxiety, alcoholism is associated with the gene MELETONIN. OREXIN gene has associations with Hyperphagis and energy regulation.So from the above analysis what we could see is that several genes have had associations with the psychological orders and disorders of human body and mind. Genes like DRD2 and DRD4, ANNKI, COMT, SLC6A3, TNFalpha, PEMT, LEPTIN-OB, MAO-A, ADIPOQ, STS, VDR, DBI, GABRA6, GABRA3, MTHFR, VEGF, VMAT2, CLOCK, MELETONIN, OREXIN has associations with the Psychological disorders like Sleep anxiety, mood, bipolar, endocrine and metabolic rhythms, stress, reproduction, morphine dependence, cocaine and methamphetamine dependence, spirituality GOD Gene, Financial risk taking, nicotine withdrawal, ADHD, novelty seeking, Alcoholism, aggression, impulsivity, delinquency, memory deficits, anger, temperament, schizophrenia, sexual intercourse, drug abuse, extraversion, obesity, stress, emotional reactivity, infant attachment, oppositional defiant disorder, fibromyalgia, hyperphagia, alcohol craving, pathological gambling, panic disorder, developmental personality, Tourette Syndrome, Angiogenesis factor, cognition, pain sensitivity, oxidative stress, obesity, obesity, Schizophrenia, alcoholism, stress response, Anxiety disorders, bipolar affective disorder, ADHD, alcoholism, Substance Use Disorder, violent behavior, juvenile delinquency, smoking, child abuse, suicide, criminal activity, posttraumatic stress disorder, anti-depressant treatment response, alcoholism, panic disorder.But the most interesting thing is that not all the genes have the same disorders, rather each of the different genes has different syndroms which affects happiness of human be ing. But most interesting things is that more genes has associations with the same disorders like Schizophrenia of human being which seriously affects happiness. As well as more genes has the same affects like panic disorders which also affected happiness.In one hand, this is the genes associations with Psychology and happiness and on the other hands, there are more factors involved in the Psychology and happiness.James Montier29, a global equity strategist, has concluded with the almost same view of happiness where genes have the greatest associations with human happiness.About 50% of individual happiness comes from agenetic set point.That is, were each predisposed to a certain level of happiness. Some of us are just naturally more inclined to be cheery than others.About 10% of our happiness is due to ourcircumstances.Our age, race, gender, personal history, and, yes, wealth, only make up about one-tenth of our happiness.The remaining40% of an individuals happiness seems to be deri ved fromintentional activity, from discrete actions or practices that people can need to do.Economist Richard A. Easterlin30 at the Universitywas among the first to notice the paradoxical disconnection between a nations economic growth and the growth of its happiness. The Easterlin Paradox was once thought to be limited to rich

Priesthood Of All Believers Theology Religion Essay

Priesthood Of wholly Beli constantlys Theology Religion EssayLuthers greatest function to Protestant ecclesiology was his doctrine of non- the Nazareneian non-Christian priesthood of both believers. It was a central t individu entirelyying of Luther in the formation of rescuerian communities. Eric W. Gritsch has claimed, Luthers doctrine of the priesthood of in all believers, developed particularly in his treatises of 1520, is unrivalled of the most revolutionary doctrines in the history of messiahianity.1It is the clear scriptural idea that we could see from the Genesis to Revelation. The doctrine of the priesthood of all believers opposes the unscriptural doctrine of sacerdotalism2and the existence of a Brahman- interchangeable3 priestlike class within the church numbering. When Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses on the door of Wittenberg Castle church building on October 31, 1517, he was declaring war against the idea that salvation comes through the priesthood v ia the sacra manpowerts. His theses were anti-sacerdotalistic and he radius against the theology that ex opere operato4supernatural life could be created through baptism, brought to growth by confirmation, nourished by the Mass, and healed of all diseases by penance and extremum unction. Luther vehemently rejected the idea that through sacraments a priest could control an individuals life some(prenominal) here and hereafter.Luther claimed that all ane who does have corporate trust in delivery boy Christ is a priest. He wrote that his hope was for a day when we shall recover that joyful liberty in which we shall understand that we be all equal in any right, and shall shake off the yoke of tyranny, and know that he who is a Christian has Christ, and he who has Christ has all things that argon Christs, and can do all things.5The theory that all who believe in Christ be priests came into mind to Luther after he became convinced that Scripture was the only authority for a Christ ian. Believers are called to be the salt and the light (Matthew 513), this is only possible when the believers understands Christs priestly ministry and its receive priestly role. This also has serious eschatological implications, as Christ comes to be coupled with his bride, the Church. Will He find a fragmented body or a united family of believers? Hence this paper mainly examines that where from the concept of priesthood of all believers begins in the Bible and for what purpose what is the context that steered Luther to raise this idea of priesthood of all believers the coherence between Luthers idea and the biblical idea of priesthood of all believers and its implication to the present church of India.I. THE ORIGIN OF THE CONCEPT OF PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS IN THE BIBLEA priest is one who performs the sacrifices, makes the rituals and doing the work of mediator between theology and man. He is the one prudent for offering the betokenly positive sacrifices to beau ideal , for executing ceremonies relating to the worship of idol. In different sense, he is the representative between man and divinity. Scripture says, For every mettlesome priest, universe taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.6The priestly office came commencement exercise in time, when our first parents sinned and fell from the high estate into which they had been created. God Himself performed the priestly office when He slew animals and provided a covering for Adam and Eve.7A. PRIESTHOOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENTThere were three orders of men in the Old Testament times such(prenominal) as the kingly, the prophetical and the priestly orders. They were set apart by anointing with Blessed oil for a particular calling. A king in the Old Testament was one who ruled men for God. A prophet was one who spoke for God to men. And a priest was one who spoke for men to God. Among all these three orders, p urge from the very beginning of the human race, the believers have performed priestly works. In the particular detail, the go of the family was doing the priestly office. He would build an altar and offer a sacrifice for the help from God. Scripture gives enough evidence for that.1. Priesthood in the Patriarchal AgeIn the Bible history, the first period is commonly kn avouch as Patriarchal Age. The word patriarch comes from two root words meaning father rule. It encompasses the period between the creation events, and the time when Israel was separated as a special nation at Sinai for the preparation of the coming Messiah. In Genesis 43-5 both Cain and Abel functioned in the capa city of priest in that each was responsible for his own offering to God. We could see that when Noah disembarked the ark following the great flood, he offered sacrifices on behalf of his family.8Abram, after a considerable march from Ur, came into Canaan and built an altar at Shechem.9Again and again, Abr aham offered sacrifices to God, as did his sons and grandsons. Thus, originally in mans relations with God, every individual functioned as his own priest before God with no particular location established for sacrificing and with no intermediary between him and God.10When He gave the Law at Mount Sinai, the pile of Israel had been given an opportunity to sustain a kingdom of priests.Now if you obey me fully and play along my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my prize possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a Blessed nation.11Here God makes a covenant with all the people of Israel. found on the above text, the people of Israel become Gods possession and are chosen for the privilege of service. God instituted the priesthood of Israel as a congregated unit for the purpose of service to the world. This is the vocation of the people of God of which each member stands under Gods call, and each is accountable for his or h er response to it.2. A Shift on PriesthoodBut Israel disobeyed and God upstage the opportunity for becoming a kingdom of priests. When Moses went up to the mountain to receive a list of rules and regulations for the newly freed nation, God also gave him instructions to form a pro priesthood. Now each layman would no longer be his own priest, the individual could no longer take his sacrifices directly to God.12Here God distributeed Aaron and his family and the tribe of Levi to be His priests. They were set apart that when Israelites entered the Promised Land, the priests and Levites received no inheritance of land as the other eleven tribes. They had been set apart for the service of God and were to be supported by the tithes and offerings of the peoples sacrifices. The sons of Aaron and the tribe of Levi had at least three distinctive as priests.1. They had direct nettle to God. At appointed times they went into the holy Place and even the Holy of Holies to communicate with God. 2. The priests represented God to the people of Israel. They were mediators who communicated the Word of God to the people since they were considered holy.3. The people represented the people of Israel to God. The people could non approach a holy God directly because of their sin. The priests were mediators for the people as they brought sacrifices before the altar. The high priest entered the Holy of Holies yearly once on the day of Atonement to offer an atoning substitute of a bull or lamb offering. One of the most important features of the priestly system was to emphasize the absolutely holy nature of Almighty God. This is a concept repeatedly affirmed in the Scriptures.13B. PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIVERS IN THE NEW TESTAMENTThis was the situation continued Jesus Christ was crucified. At the selfsame(prenominal) moment of Jesus death, the veil of the Temple was ripped from top to bottom.14From then on thither has been no select for select group of priests. At that point in time an d ever since then believers became priests, a part of Gods royal or kingly priesthood. The elimination of the office of priests as a select group of people is based, then, upon the physical sacrifice of Jesus, the ultimate High Priest. Jesus completed and fulfilled the role of priest in His substitutionary death.. . . but He became a priest with an oath when God said to Him The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind You are a priest forever. Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant . . . because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to savecompletely . . . Such a high priest meets our need-one who is holy, blameless, fresh, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. . . . Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself. For the law appoints as high priest men who are weak but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.15The priest, then, is the soul who himself has access to God and whose task it is to bring others to Him. While in the ancient world this access to God was the privilege of the professional priests, and in particular of the High Priest who all could enter into the Holy of Holies. But now through Jesus Christ, the new and living way, access to God becomes the privilege of every Christian.The word priest comes from the Latin presbyter and the Greek presbyteros which simply means elder. This word was later used to describe the leader of a community. In modern usage the term priest seems to be derived more from the actual Greek word for priest hiereus.16In the New Testament this word is neer used to describe a class or caste of people separate from the people of God. Instead, it is used in the sense all Gods people are a chosen race, a royal priesthood17The New Testament believers constitute the succession to the priesthood in old Israel, having been given the right of direct access to God through Christ. Furthermore, the ministry in the church has re calculated the ancient priesthood. Hence, all the believers in Christ are priests in the New Testament.Put into historical perspective, the priesthood concept would look like this for the first several thousand years mankinds history as recorded in the Bible, each man was responsible for functioning as a priest before God. Then, for approximately 1500 years, the time between Moses and when Christ appeared on earth, the priesthood of the professional existed. From the death of Christ until He returns again, we have reverted to the pre-Sinai days of the priesthood of the believer.18II. THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MARTIN LUTHERS reformatory THOUGHTIt is better to look stomach the history of the church to understand that how the New Testament idea of priesthood of all believers was perverted i nto the Roman Catholic sentiment of institutionalism.A. PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS IN THE EARLY CHURCH HISTORYThe doctrine of the priesthood of all believers is found throughout the Scriptures and was practiced in the early church. As Dr. R. Laird Harris writes, First ampere-second Christianity had no priests. The New Testament nowhere uses the word to describe a leader in Christian service.19But this glorious doctrine was gradually replaced by sacerdotalism beginning in the third century, especially by Cyprian (c. 258) Bishop of Carthage. Cyprian treated all the passages in the Old Testament that refer to the privileges, the sanctions, the duties, and the responsibilities of the Aaronic Priesthood, as applying to the officers of the Christian Church.20He completely failed to grasp the central thesis of the Epistle to the Hebrews. He was blind to the fact that the only High Priest under the Gospel recognized by the apostolic writings is our Lord Himself21and not a solitary pope o r bishop or priest of the church. So from the third century onwards the priesthood of all believers was not visible in theological thinking.But the Roman Catholic theologians justified sacerdotalism by saying that Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to beam, the rock upon whom Jesus would build his church. Further they says that Peter was the first pope of Rome, and so the pope of Rome by succession has the power of the keys of the kingdom to bind and loose, and even to save. Salvation is deposited in the Roman priesthood and dispensed through the sacraments. The sacraments are effectual ex opere operato, meaning the subjective condition of the priest or the recipient does not matter. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that there is no salvation outside of the priesthoods mediatorial function, and no person by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ may approach the Father with confidenceB. PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS IN THE MEDIVAL PERIODBy the successive centuries, the Roman Cath olic hierarchy and other sacred groups make a sharp distinction between the laity and the clergy. Such distinction was foreign to the early church where the ultimate authority in ministry traces back to the risen Lord. Along with the structural hierarchy is the sacrament of ordination. The church in Rome imposes the sacrament of ordination that results in the marked separation between the clergy and the laity.22Christianity had been plagued with it ever since. More and more the church began to structure itself on the basis of the former Levitical order, rather than on the purely New Testament idea of each man is a priest perspective. The change was slow and evolutionary, but pastors gradually came to be called priests and the believers laity. The communion table became an altar and the elements a sacrifice.At the dawn of the reformation Era, the institutionalized church already would have two major distinguished bodies within the community of believers the clergy and laity. The c ircumstance lay people, both in principle and in practice, would not only subordinate to the priests, but also widens the gap between clergy and laity. The gap became synonymous with the sacred and the profane.23But godly men such as Peter Waldo, John Wyclif and John Hus saw the distinct difference and distance between the clergy and laity. They didnt like it, for it was in opposition to the teachings of the New Testament. Until the dramatic impact of the Protestant reformation, these smaller movements had little pervasive influence.24C. PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS IN THE REFORMATION ERADuring the Reformation era the concept of the priesthood of all believers became very contentious within the structures of the Institutional church. The Reformation era provides a framework in tracing the concept of the priesthood of all believers. An elucidation on how Martin Luther formulated the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers will be dealt with in the pages to follow.The concept that all who believe in Christ are priests occurred to Luther after he became convinced that Scripture was the only authority for a Christian. As he studied the Bible, especially Pauls Epistle to the Romans, he discovered that in and through Jesus Christ a believer possessed the righteousness of God, and wherefore, immediate access to God without the mediation of an arrogant priesthood. Thus, the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers is a sequel to the doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone. Those who are clothed in the perfect righteousness of God are welcome in the presence of God. No Christian needs a pontiff, meaning a bridge builder, because Jesus Christ alone is the way to the Father.There were other efforts at reforming the Catholic Church, seeking to bring it back to a more biblical posture, but they all fell short of their goal. It was not until such reforming seeds germinated in a favorable political climate that fruit would be born. The date was O ctober 31, 1517. The place was Wittenberg, Germany. An obscure priest named Martin Luther nailed his grievances to the church door, the Reformation was born. A number of changes were called for by this bold, imaginative priest, but at the very core of the Reformation was the conviction that all believers are priests of the living God. He felt that all believers had the right and responsibility to study Gods Word, involve themselves in the ministry, make confession to God on their own, and even administer the sacraments.25What had started in 1517 as a protest against indulgences by an unknown monk, developed in 1520 into an irreconcilable conflict dividing the Western Church. The three treatises of To the Christian magnificence of the German Nation, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and The Freedom of a Christian are the heart of Luthers protest against the church of his day. The first was written in August, the second in October, and third in November. In great part, Luthers tract is a catalog of the deplorable state of Christendom. The pope exalts himself over secular rulers as well as over the church, and lives in unconscionable luxury. Rome is a moral cesspool where licenses to live in open debauchery can be bought and sold. The Church has become a machine for making money, and the popes henchmen, having bled Italy dry, have now turned their attention to Germany. Because of their inability to live up to the arbitrary rule of celibacy, many pious priests keep wives, yet do so secretly and with a bad conscience. The universities ignore the Bible and lecture on commentaries, and on commentaries on commentaries. The common people are ignorant even of basic Christianity.26In such a situation, Luther did write his treatises. Primarily, his first treatise of To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation occupied the central piece of music of the priesthood of all believers. Here it is better to examine the background that led Martin Luther to raise the co ncept of priesthood of all believers.1. To the Christian Nobility of the German Nationa) Priesthood of All Believers As Social ImplicationIn his first treatise of To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation the concept of priesthood of all believers has social, ecclesiastical and spiritual implications. At the dawn of the Reformation era, the institutionalized church already would have two major distinguished bodies within the community of believers such as clergy and laity. Socially, he accepted the context of westerly Christianity, where worldly rulers belong to the body of Christendom. Within the Christian social order, the rulers are official of God to punish evildoers and protect those who do good. When pressed by the temporal power the Romanists have made decrees and declared that the temporal power had no jurisdiction over them, but that, on the contrary, the spiritual power is above the temporal.27Luther argues against the gallant division between the temporal and the church political science and their separate jurisdictions in all matters. First of all, he attacked the social distinction that emphasized by the Romanists,It is pure invention that pope, bishop, priests, and monks are called the spiritual estate while princes, lords, artisans, and farmers are called the temporal estate. This is indeed a piece of deceit and hypocrisy. Yet no one need be intimidated by it, and for this reason all Christians are truly of the spiritual estate, and there is no difference among them except that of office.28He maintains that all Christians are equally Christian so that none is superior to any other as far possessing what is essential to the church,because we all have one baptism, one gospel, one faith, are all Christians alike for baptism, gospel, and faith alone make us spiritual and a Christian people.29Relying upon 1Corinthians 1212-13, which describes the Church as the body of Christ and each member a part of that body, Luther acknowledges difference s between Christians, not as questions of status, however, but as occasions for service to others. All are not the same in what God has given them to do, but they are all the same in what God has given them to be in the Church, viz., His very own people. All Christians, therefore, have the same status. By quoting 1Peter 29 and Rev. 59-10, Luther describes that status as priest and ascribes it to every Christian, As far as that goes, we are all consecrated priests through baptism.30So what differentiates Christians is simply the work that God has given them to doThere is no true, basic difference between laymen and priests, prices and bishops, between phantasmal and secular, except for the sake of office and work, but not for the same of status. They are all of the spiritual estate, al are truly priests, bishops, and popes31As part of the divine economy, God has given to each Christian a particular calling in this life whereby he serves others,Everyone must benefit and serve every o ther by means of his own work or office so that in this way many kinds of work may be do for the corporate and spiritual welfare of the community, just as all the members of the body serve one another (1Cor.1214-26).32As examples of such vocations in the body of Christ, Luther mentions cobblers, smiths, peasants, and temporal authorities besides the clergy. But what is noteworthy about the last, those who have as their vocation the administration of the Word of God and Sacraments,33is that they are exercising an authority that belongs in the first instance to every Christian. For besides designating ones status before God, Luthers concept of the priesthood of believers also includes spiritual power in the church.b) Priesthood of All Believers as Ecclesiastical ImplicationLuther rejects ecclesiastically, the clergys monopoly on interpreting Scripture. He attacks the second wall of Romanists that only the pope may interpret the Scripture, determining correct doctrine, forgiving sins , and exercising discipline. There is no scriptural warrant at all for the claim that only the pope may interpret the Bible. Here Luther clarifies the illusion that some of the Romanists claim of the power that was given to St. Peter.Although they aver that this power was given to St. Peter when the keys were given him, it is clear enough that the key were not given to Peter alone but to the whole community. Further, the keys were not ordained for doctrine or government, but only for the binding or loosing of sin.34As handlers of Scripture the Romanists are manifestly incompetent, and this makes their claim to hold a monopoly on biblical interpretation absurd. The Romanists must admit that there are among us good Christians who have the true faith, spirit, understanding, word, and mind of Christ. Luthers main point is that the Pope isnt the only person able to read the scriptures. He writes, Has not the Pope often erred? Here Luther implies that the Pope isnt God, and that he makes mistakes.35The Pope, therefore, can misinterpret the Bible. Luther shows that the Pope is like everyone else, so therefore others can interpret the scriptures as well. Luther then uses the Bible as a way to prove the second wall wrong. Luther quotes Christs words, And they shall be all taught of God(St. John vi. 45). Everyone should be able to interpret the scriptures and be taught of God, without the Popes help. Furthermore he questions,Besides, if we are all priests, as was said above, and all have one faith, one gospel, one sacrament, why should we not also have the power to test and judge what is right or wrong in matters of faith? What becomes of Pauls words in 1Corinthians 215, A spiritual man judges all things, yet he is judged by no one? And 2Corinthians 413, We all have one spirit of faith? Why, then, should not we perceive what is consistent with faith and what is not, just as well as an unbelieving pope does?36Even more, Luther attacks the third wall of Romanists. He arg ues that there is no basis either in the nature of a Christian society or in Scripture for the Romanists refusal to call a council. Luther brings up that St. Peter wasnt the only person to call a council Thus we read in Acts 15 that the council of the Apostles was not called by St. Peter, but by all the Apostles and the elders.37Also, nowhere in the scriptures does it say that the Pope is allowed to call a council by himself. Therefore their threats can be safely ignored, and a council should be called without delay to deal with a long list of abuses in the Church. Ordinary people and temporal authorities have the right and duty to do this, not only by virtue of their status as kings and priests before God, but because the crisis in the Church demands it.Would it not be unnatural if a fire broke out in a city and everybody were to stand by and let it burn on and on and consume everything that could burn because nobody had the authority of the mayor, or because, perhaps, the fire bro ke out in the mayors house? How much more should this be done in the spiritual city of Christ if a fire of offense breaks out, whether in the papal government, or anywhere else?38Therefore, Luther concludes that it is the duty of every Christian in the Church as having the responsibility of priesthood of all believers he has to espouse the cause of the faith, to understand and defend it, and to sponsor every error.c) Priesthood of All Believers as Spiritual ImplicationLuther declares that since we have one baptism, one gospel one faith, and are all Christians alike for baptism, gospel, and faith alone make us spiritual and a Christian people. He quotes 1Peter 29,But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, Gods special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.Yet all are alike consecrated priests, everyone must benefit and serve every other by means of his own work or office so that in this way ma ny kinds of work may be done for the bodily and spiritual welfare of the community, just as all the members of the body serve one another. Mainly all should share the three priestly functions such as prayer intercede with God on behalf of others, proclamation speak the gospel sharing it with the neighbor, and sacrifice living a cross-centered and servant oriented life. Since the Church is in a state of crisis and someone has to act. The temporal authorities and ordinary lay people can and should do so because there are no inherently unspiritual vocations, because all Christians in all vocations are kings and priests, and because the deplorable state of the Church is the concern of every Christian.2. The Babylonian Captivity of the ChurchNevertheless, the second treatise of Luther, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church also has the influence of the idea of priesthood of all believers. In this treatise, he discusses and dismantles the medieval sacramental system. In a measured but knock-down(a) way, Luther subjects each of the seven medieval sacraments such as baptism, Eucharist, penance, confirmation, marriage, ordination, and extreme unction to the critique of Gods Word and concludes that there are, strictly speaking, but two sacraments in the church of God baptism and the bread ( Eucharist). For only in these two do we find both the divinely instituted sign and the promise of forgiveness of sins39Not surprisingly, in his di

Comparing Invisible Man and Brave New World Essay -- comparison compar

Comparing Invisible Man and b befaced bare-assed World Both Ellisons The Invisible Man and Aldous Huxleys live on New World are governmental in nature, and at this level, seem completely dissimilar. The Invisible Man attempts to illuminate the social entrapwork forcet of Black Americans, while brazen New World cautions against an over-reliance on technology and the amorality it can potentially inspire. At a deeper level, however, both books are also about the status of the individual in social club, and it is here that there is a remarkable similarity between the two novels. In both The Invisible Man and Brave New World, we see men fighting against societies that devalue their individuality and thereby lessen their sense of identity and self worth. Ive always tried to create characters who were pretty forthright in stating what they felt up society should be said Ellison in a 1963 interview (Graham and Singh, 85). This statement captures the underlying theme of both novels that an ideal society is one that is founded upon the ability of individuals to asseverate themselves freely and without prejudice. Close examination of both works show that while they are wildly different in many ways, at this one level, they are very much the same. In order to see this similarity in theme more clearly, we must first peel back the layer of political meaning, which isnt easy. As previously stated, these are both political novels on the surface, and sixty years of critical commentary that has focused specifically on this level has make little to make an alternative reading any easier conventional wisdom tells us that Invisible Man is a treatise on the state of Black America, and Brave New World is a cautionary tale of the misuse of techn... ...aid Ellison in an interview shortly before his death, is that they are individuals with individual vision (Graham and Singh, 391). It is upon the strengths of these individuals that our entire society is built. And unlike John, the embattled savage of Brave New World, whose desperation I recognized even as a child peering into a coloring book, the individuals in Invisible Man still have the power to make themselves heard and continue the grand cycle of applying their individual vision to the tapestry of society. Sources Cited Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York, New York Vintage Books, 1995. Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World and Brave New World Revisited. New York, New York Harper Collins Publishers. Amritjit Singh and Maryemma Graham. Conversations with Ralph Ellison. Jackson, Mississippi University Press of Mississippi.

The Healing Power of Music Essay example -- Music and the Brain

In December of 1992, David Otts father was dying of evokecer. On Christmas Eve morning he went into a coma. The family gathered in the small hospital room knowing that their beloved husband and father would not be with them long. Since it was Christmas Eve, carolers were going through the hospital quietly singing. As they walked past the room singing Silent Night, a single tear fell across the comatose mans cheek. His family stated that after seeing him just lay there all day without moving, that the single tear was his way of telling them goodbye. Ott stated that medication can go where words cannot (Griffen). Research shows that music is to the brain as physical exercise is to the human body. Some var. of exercise is necessary for a rose-cheeked body. People know what to do to tone their body but do they exercise their minds regularly and properly? Do they know that listening to Mozart can process increase their memory? Music has a greater impact on human lives than we think it assists in releasing or creating strong emotions, strengthens the brain change magnitude the ability to learn, and has the power to heal. Music has a larger affect on feelings and emotions than most people realize. It is an automatic response for the human body to react to music in certain ways. Miller explains that By the age of five, almost all healthy children have developed an unconscious framework for listening that will form the basis of their emotional response to music. Sometimes the emotion that the music brings is very noticeable. For example, if someone is attempting to recover after the death of a loved one and they run across a song that reminds them of that person it can create different emotions quickly. The song could make that person remember the good ... ...The Australian 2011 3. Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.Millar, Aaron. Music & Emotion Why Do Sad Songs Make Us Cry? Odyssey 22.7 (2013) 14. Middle Search Plus. Web. 1 Oct. 2015. Munz, Michele. Mus ic Support Program for Teen, young person Adult Cancer Patients. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) 26 Sept. 2013 Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. Music Therapy as a Treatment Modality for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Music Therapy. American Music Therapy Association. June 2012. Web. 14 October 2015.ODonnell, Laurence. Music and the Brain. Music Power, N.p., 1999. Web. 8 October 2015. Sacks, Oliver. Musicophilia Tales of Music and the Brain. New York Vintage Books, 2008. Print. Weinberger, Norman M. Music and the Brain. Scientific American Special Edition 16.3 (2006) 36-43. Health Source- Consumer Edition. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.

Airframe By Michael Crichton :: essays research papers

Airframe56 passengers are injured. Three are dead. state are shocked, terrified, confused. What happened on TPA flight 545? Why did it happen? Could it have been prevented? A very popular late night news show has the power to totally destroy an aboveboard airplane manufacturer. A race between a high executive working for Norton, and a news reporter from Newsline to outwit one other has begun.this is where you would inclose your own review here if needed. mine was on if this entertain should be made into a move or not.This could be a great book for a delineation. It has good characters, a dramatic plot, and it is fast paced. However, good books are often known to be awful movies. But I think that if it was through with(p) right it would be good. It has a dramatic, gripping scene at the beginning of the book that hooks you. It is when the aircraft starts diving and climbing at incredibly steep angles. People and luggage are flying everywhere for quite a long period of time. The movie would have a great opening that would get the hearing hooked and concerned about what caused the fatal oscillations.And about a third of the way through the book, before you are done worrying about what went wrongfulness with the flight, the main character Casey Singleton has her life threatened. At this point you know this character well, and you like who they are. You begin to worry about the character and read to see what happens to her. there are also a few good chase scenes that keep you reading, and I think would work well if this book was made into a movie. one and only(a) is in the airplane hangar. She climbs up some scaffolding and comes to a dead end so she plays Tarzan and swings down on a power cable. There is another good part that still stands out in my mind. It was when she was in the airplane, in total darkness, and she is being followed. The unknown stalker pushes her out of the airplane, only for her to land in the safety netting. I think this scene would also work out well if acted out in a movie.Not only could a movie be made easily from this book just because of its fast moving plot, action sequences, and concern for the characters, it is a very informational piece of literature.