Personal Definition and Understanding of Mythology and its Influences Essay Example for Free

Personal Definition and Understanding of Mythology and its Influences Essay Heaven, hell, angels, devils, gods, goddesses, monsters, and immortal heroes— as I was growing up as a child, these were the things which have been said to me about places, supreme beings, and creatures the existence of which I was not able to prove up to this moment. Over the years of growing up, I have come across lots of stories which both seemed believable but unverifiable to me. Thus, I can only conclude that these things, stories, and people are what are known today as myths. These things should be told to me to make me believe that supreme powers exist. Supreme powers, aside from the ultimate God whom my religion has taught me, govern and guide people to do good acts and avoid evil. Eventually, these things roused my curiosity. As I try to discover these unverifiable creatures, places, and supreme beings, I was able to understand myth and mythology. Mythology, in the literal sense, pertains to a collection of revered stories about a person, a group of persons, a culture, or humankind as a whole (Emery, 2008). Thus, through this definition, my own conception of myth and mythology matches as I see these stories as tales and epics that are made to provide people sacred role models to urge them to do such good acts based on the actions and experiences of these mythological beings. In this sense, mythological places and powers were told to influence the belief and ideology of individuals that humankind can be punished and rewarded according to their acts of either righteousness or evil. Also, mythological stories are also studied to somehow give a specific group of people an idea and grasp of their identity, the origin of their world, the rites and rituals in their culture, the basic point of view about life, and the concepts of death and after death (Kohler, 2008). When myths and mythologies are mentioned, the society that first enters my mind is that of the Greeks. Greek mythology has been the everlasting source of mythical gods and goddesses, epic wars of mortal and immortal heroes, stories of salvation, immortalization, condemnation to the underworld, and even the sacred stories of love and romance. These stories have been exposed to most of us in our primary and secondary educations, but these stories have existed and have remained immortal as its characters. These stories have existed since the immemorial history of the Greek race and society. I also find Greek mythology as one of the greatest mythologies that tells the story of humankind, as it reflects real-life acts, consequences, and tendencies. The aspect of gods talking and communicating to people may seem unrealistic, but if this aspect would be deeply examined, it could be inferred that Greek mythology gives people that idea in illusive form that communicating with God is never a hard or impossible task. Its characters also go through what usual people experience. As a result, even modern people can easily relate to and reflect on its stories. Personally, I believe that mythology, Greek mythology specifically, has had significant impacts in my beliefs and how I view life. I may be practicing one specific religion, but the stories I was able to learn in Greek mythology have affected me in such a way that I believed that all the good things people do in their lifetime have an equivalent reward (or penalty). The mythology’s concept of a grand place for people who have been fair and righteous in their lives have been guiding my beliefs all these years—that there might indeed be a special place for people who chose to do good and fair acts in their lives. These stories and tales from the mythologies of not just the Greeks but all the other ancient and even current societies may not all seem verifiable or credible for us contemporary individuals to believe. However, there appears neither harm nor threat in allowing these myths, mythological characters, and mythological epics to guide us in how we view life and what it offers us. As how I understand mythology, it is but a collection of lifetime stories that are bound to show people how to deal with life in the most positive way possible.

Salem Witch Trials :: essays research papers

The Salem Witch Trials: Fact or Fiction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  American history is a collaboration of all of the wonderful events and the not so successful ones that make up this great country that we call the United States. Records of this fabulous nation date back all the way to dates way before our original founding fathers. However, few episodes of American history have aroused such intense and continuing interest ad the trials and executions for the witchcraft which occurred in Salem Massachusetts in 1692. Historians have scrutinized the event from many perspectives; novelists and playwright from Nathaniel Hawthorne to Arthur Miller have capitalized upon its inherent dramatic possibilities. The value, then, of a collection of primary documents relating to this event would seem to be clear, or would it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Witchcraft had been around long before the Salem witch trials. â€Å"Indeed by 1692 the â€Å"witch craze,† which had begun in Europe around 1500, was distinctly on the wane so that the trials in the Salem Village were among the last of the major outbreaks-if the execution of only twenty persons entitles this outbreak to be called â€Å"major† in the history of European witchcraft.† However, if this was one of the last instances of witches, why is it so famous? They are different in many ways. â€Å"Before the outbreak at Salem Village, trials for witchcraft had been fairly common events in colonial America, but they had not invariably resulted in executions or even in conviction.† The other reason the trials are so famous, is the highlight of this paper about proving that the trials were just an act put on by the children who started this outbreak. â€Å"Only in 1692 did the accusations multiply so quickly and develop an entire commun ity.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On February the 29, 1691/1692, the warrant for the arrest of Sarah Good was handed to Constable George Locker, who would go to the home of William and Sarah Good and arrest her. It was written in her warrant, that she had displayed witchcraft on the children of the village: Elizabeth Paris, Abigail Williams, Anne Putnam, and Elizabeth Hubert were the children involved. An interesting point however, is that the children did not make the complaint to the courts. It was the fathers and relatives of Joseph Hutchinson, Thomas Putnam, Edward Putnam, and Thomas Preston that went to the courts and made the complaint for the children. In addition, in the warrant for her arrest, it said that she had hurt the children several times over the past two months.

How to Respect Your Parents

How to respect your parents? There are many days set aside in non-Islamic societies to honour and appreciate special people; examples of these are Father's Day, Mother's Day, Memorial Day and Labour Day. In Islam, however, respecting, honouring and appreciating parents is not just for a single day of the year, but rather for each and every day. Parents in the Quran: A Muslim child should respect and appreciate his or her parents on a daily basis. Allaah mentions that human beings must recognise their parents and that this is second only to the recognition of Allaah Himself.Throughout the Quran, we notice that parents are mentioned with appreciation and respect. In the Quran, there is a very beautiful description of how parents are to be treated; Allaah Says (what means):  Ã¢â‚¬Å"And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as] ‘uff' [i. e. , an ex pression of irritation or disapproval] and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say: ‘My Lord!Have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small. ‘†Ã‚  [Quran 17:23-24] The recognition and respect of parents is mentioned in the Quran eleven times; in every instance, Allaah reminds children to recognise and to appreciate the love and care that they have received from their parents. One such example is when Allaah says what means:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚  [Quran 29:8 & 46:15] 3. In Chapter Al-An'aam, Allaah reemphasises that people should be kind to their parents; He says what means:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Say: ‘Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you. He commands] that you not associate anything with Him, and to parents, good treatment†¦ ‘†Ã‚  [Quran 6:151] Mother First Among parents, it is usually the mother who makes the most sacrifice and endures the most hardship in the care of her children. She gives birth and looks after them. Islam recognizes this fact, offering more honor to the mother as a parent. Muhammad once said, â€Å"Paradise is placed at the mothers' feet,† so high is their status and regard. The Qur'an reminds people of the sacrifices and hardships that mothers face on behalf of their children. â€Å"And e enjoined upon mankind concerning parents: his mother carried him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is two years. Therefore show gratitude to Allah and to your parents† (Qur'an 31:14). On another occasion, some people asked the Prophet Muhammad, â€Å"To whom should we show kindness first? † He answered, â€Å"Your mother. † Then he was asked again, â€Å"And after that, then whom? † Muhammad again replied, â€Å"Your mother. † He was asked yet again, and he gave the same reply again: â€Å"Your mother. † Only af ter that, when he was asked one more time, did he answer, â€Å"Then, your father. Duties to Parents Our life would not be possible without the sacrifice and hard work of our parents, who cared for us and met all our needs when we were young. The Qur'an addresses this point in one touching verse: â€Å"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to parents. If one or both of them attain old age during your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor repel them. But address them in terms of honour, and lower to them the wing of humility, out of mercy, and say, ‘My Lord!Bestow on them Your Mercy, as they did bring me up when I was young’† (Qur'an 17:23–24). Muslims are advised to treat their parents gently and respectfully. They should always strive to please them and never become impatient or rude with them. Muslims consider it an honour and a blessing to be able to care for their parents in old age. After all, it's th e least we can do to repay them for all of their hard work and sacrifice. Nursing homes and hospice care are new phenomena in the Muslim world, and they are not widely accepted.Elderly and ill family members almost always remain in the homes of children or relatives, cared for and respected until death. Muhammad encouraged his followers to treat their parents well and to be mindful of their needs. Once, a young man came to him and wanted to join the Muslim army on the battlefield to defend the community from attack. Muhammad asked him if his parents were living. When the young man said they were, he told him: â€Å"Then go back to your parents, serve them, and deal with them kindly.This is as good as fighting for God's sake. † Muslims consider their parents' opinions about important matters, such as choosing a career path, spouse, or place to live. As a Muslim gets older, any income she earns is partially used to support her parents and meet their needs. A Muslim prays that a fter their deaths, God will forgive her parents and show mercy toward them. Also, you should always listen and obey to the commands that your parents have told you to do. Always take care of them afterall to have them is a big gift.

Essay on Energy in the United States - 869 Words

Have you ever wondering where your electricity comes from? How your car uses gasoline to run? What about how these things impact our environment or how we are going to keep producing them? As a country, we need to start looking ahead to the future and planning for what is to come. Currently, 86% of America’s energy comes from petroleum, natural gas, and coal. All of these resources will run out eventually. We need renewable energy sources that will keep producing in a clean, more efficient way for a long time. Before committing to an idea and going all the way with it, we need to compare all the different energy sources available to the U.S. and choose the one that is best for everyone. Electricity is the flow of electrons at high†¦show more content†¦The way the wind turbine works is when the wind blows, the blades on the wind mill (or turbine) are spun to run the motor that is attached to the back of the turbine. The motor transfers its energy through wires to a substation where the energy is transferred into electricity that can be useful for residential and commercial areas. The energy is then delivered through wires across the country. Wind energy is clean and renewable. The wind is never going to stop blowing; therefore, there will always be enough to keep the turbines going. While some areas may have more wind than others, there is always wind. Wind turbines do not produce any pollution or waste, making them one of the cleanest energy sources on the planet. However, environmentalists are concerned that with the increase of wind turbines, bird populations with decrease because they are getting hit by the wind turbines and dying. Because of the huge poles in the ground, turbines can cause erosion and disrupt wildlife habitats. Wind turbines are also huge; at 30 meters (100 feet) above the ground, with large spinning blades, they can be a bit of an eyesore. They are also loud and have a deep buffeting sound. But the idea is that the large wind farms will be located in the middle of nowhere so they don’t cause an issue in suburban areas. Small wind turbines may be located in backyards to feed houses directly, but these would be so small that they wouldn’t bother anyShow MoreRelatedThe United States Is An Energy Crisis1532 Words   |  7 PagesThe United States is in an energy crisis. We rely almost solely on crude oil for most of our â€Å"gasoline† needs, meaning our fuels. The issue with our current reliance on crude oil is, plainly, that it is running out. We don’t currently have enough crude oil production in the US to support our current demand, so we are forced to import oil from overseas. And, we import a lot of it. With a gas demand of roughly 134 billion gallons per year, there exists a large risk relying on a fuel that is unsustainableRead MoreThe Energy Consumed By The United States1153 Words   |  5 PagesRoughly 81% of the energy consumed in the United States in 2015 was produced by fossil fuels including coal, natural gas, and petroleum oil (EIA, â€Å"U.S. Energy Facts Explained†). A study on the consequences of coal revealed that the bur ning of coal produced over 100 million tons of solid waste, and the readying of coal to be burned creates nearly 90 million gallons of slurry, a muddy waste product, in the United States every year (Sierra Club 2011). 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The solution is focusing less onRead MoreEnergy Usage Of The United States1945 Words   |  8 PagesHere in the US alone we consume nearly 6.844 Quadrillion Btu’s of energy, however most alarmingly less than 7% of our toll energy usage comes from Alternative energy resources. This leads to the edge of a dangerous presuppose as our current resources continue t o dwindle and our future grows darker each day. It is estimated that there is less than 200 years of oil left in the reserves we currently have and with the population and the demand for oil increasing each year it could be here faster thenRead MoreThe Nuclear Energy Advantage Of The United States1571 Words   |  7 PagesNuclear Energy Advantage There is often speculation surrounding Nuclear energy. There were reports that the British applied to the United States for permission to carry out their first atomic bomb in the flats of Nevada. These reports were met with much speculation due to the physical size and observable flaws in the British program . This highlights an important problem with Nuclear energy production. Many countries pursue Nuclear energy for weaponry or other status symbols. When Nuclear Energy is harnessedRead MoreThe United States Energy Industry Essay1431 Words   |  6 Pagesbecoming increasingly important. So too is the lure of the future possibility of energy independence for countries both developed and developing. In the last decade, oil and natural gas development have rapidly expanded in the United States, fundamentally reshaping domestic energy production. It is abundant both within the United States and around the world. Currently, natural gas provides 22% of the U. S. energy demands. It also emits less than half of the greenhouse gas as other fossil fuelsRead MoreThe Solution to the United States Energy Crisis849 Words   |  3 Pagespossible? As the United States’ population increases and continues to undergo economic growth, this demand for energy will only continue to grow. The International Energy Agency (IEA) believes that â€Å"the world’s energy needs could be 50% higher in 2030 than they are today† [1]. And while Americans only make up about 5% of the world’s population, we consume more than 20% of the world’s energy supply [2]. The fossil fuels that are used to supply over half of our country’s energy are in finite supplyRead MoreThe Effects Of Renewable Energy On The United States1550 Words   |  7 Pages Renewable Energy In the 1960’s and 1970’s a movement regarding the physical environment began, this movement focused on a few environmental issues and disasters caused directly or indirectly by pollution. As the years progressed, this movement grew into a multifaceted activist movement gaining more attention in the US, more often referred as â€Å"Environmentalism† or â€Å"Environmental Activism†. As the human race realized the physical environment is fragile and thus must be protected, scientists started