Analysis Of Thes The Interior Castle And John Calvins...

The command to know thyself echoes from the Delphic oracle through modern popular culture; however, despite the persistence of the dictum across centuries, the notions of knowledge and self have undergone significant changes. The 16th century offers a liminal period of such changes in the Western world as the Reformations, both Catholic and Protestant, remade the Christian self. In this essay, I offer a foray into the concept of self-knowledge in this pivotal period by comparing the concept in Teresa of Avila’s The Interior Castle and John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. These two dissimilar figures, one a Catholic, mystical theologian and the other the father of Reformed Protestantism renowned for his systematic rigor,†¦show more content†¦The Interior Castle represents Teresa of Avila’s mature reflections on the nature of humanity’s growth in relationship to God. In this work, written by Teresa in 1577 at the age of 62, we are off ered the sagacious reflections of a woman who has spent over forty years in reflection on and practice of the contemplative life. Teresa structures the work around the image of the soul as a castle with seven dwelling places through which one moves as they grow deeper in the path to spiritual union with God. Teresa attributes this image to a vision or communication from God and describes the soul as â€Å"made entirely out of a diamond or of very clear crystal, in which there are many rooms† wherein â€Å"the King, God, dwells in the innermost place.† This image of the castle is essential for understanding Teresa’s conception of self-knowledge. The entire process from start to finish is an exercise in interiority culminating in a unitive experience with God. One’s first steps into the castle is an exercise in knowing one’s self. Teresa even calls this first room of the castle the room of self-knowledge. For Teresa says, â€Å"Knowing ourselves is something so important that I wouldn’t want any relaxation ever in this regard, however high you may have climbed into the heavens.† For Teresa, self-knowledge exists within a reciprocal relationship to the knowledge of God. As one grows to know his/herself, one gains a

Shakespeare Magic and Supernatural Occurances Essay

Magic and supernatural occurrences in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Richard III, and The Tempest are used to create a surreal world to confuse and resolve conflicts in each play. Magic provides the audience with an escape from reality and the comfort of the play’s unrealistic nature. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a love potion from a magical flower is used and misused to provide comic relief and resolution to love’s difficulties, supernatural ghosts are used to condemn a horrific murderer in Richard III to ensure his downfall and deserved death and finally, magic from Prospero’s book in The Tempest is used for his righteous revenge and harmony amongst the characters. The Duke of Athens, Theseus, states, â€Å"the best in this kind†¦show more content†¦In Act V, scene v, the 11 ghosts whom he has murdered bombard dreaming Richard. Each ghost stops to speak to him to condemn him for his or her death and the ghost of Bucking ham tells Richard of his soon fate of, â€Å"d[ying] in terror of thy guiltiness!† (V.v. 124). The ghosts then proceed to sleeping Richmond, telling him that they will be by his side and he will rule England and be the gather of a race of kings. Terrified, Richard wakes up and presents a soliloquy displaying his first presence of humane thoughts and feelings. Revealing self doubt, conscious, and regret for his horrendous actions, he states, â€Å"what do I fear? Myself? There’s none else by. / Richard loves Richard; that is, I am I. / Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am† (V.v. 136-138). Richard is seized with the renowned horror when he realizes that he is the most dangerous person he could be left alone with. He then recalls upon an interesting idea after he discovered a way to flee from the situation, â€Å"Why? / Lest I revenge. Myself upon myself?† (V.v. 139-140). After second guessing himself due to supernatural ghosts, he is visited again by a m ysterious inner demon from which even he is not safe. He then moves past this thought by stating that he loves himself, but realizes that it is an impossible thought because he has never done any loving acts, just hateful, villainous murders. In the first speech of theShow MoreRelated Comparing Shakespeares Play, Hamlet and Miltons Play, Samson Agonistes2511 Words   |  11 Pagesawakening of his mind is a difficult one in that he is constantly forced to doubt all that his senses tell him and every conclusion that his reason makes from them. He is sometimes unsure whether or not he ought to trust himself, but this is a normal occurance because his mind is being reborn and still must prove to him its steadfast nature. In Samson Agonistes, there are several direct and indirect references to the awakening of Samsons mind and to his trust in his self as opposed to placing his fate

My Favorite Person Free Essays

My favourite person â€Å"Michael Jordan† † I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. We will write a custom essay sample on My Favorite Person or any similar topic only for you Order Now I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. † Those encouraging words were spoken by Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 17, 1963. He moved to Wilmington, North Carolina. I am going to tell you why Jordan is in fact so famous. He had to go through tough obstacles all his life. His love for basketball began when his older brother, Larry, continuously beat him in one-on-one pickup games. Michael was taking the challenges but he didn’t give up, that was why he became a better player. Jordan played basketball for Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. When he was a sophomore Jordan was cut from varsity basketball team. Instead of giving up he was working hard, hour after another. He spent a lot of time in the gym practicing, only reason why he did that was to achieve his goal by becoming a professional player and to make the team. Finally he made the team and let it to the state championship. Jordan then accepted a basketball scholarship from the University of North Carolina. Two years later he got drafted into the NBA. Michael Jordan was the most valuable player for a long time. Everyone knows and consider him the best basketball player ever. There is no such person that doesn’t know who is Michael Jordan. I picked this person because I really think that MJ was the one who brought the game of basketball on a new level. His thoughts and philosophy motivate nowadays other great players. He was a strong guy during his life, the death of his father was a shock for him but he stood still and went back to the NBA. That’s the quality that few people have is moving forward to your dreams no matter what happens in your life. I am going back to MJ’s words † I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. † Becoming a successful person is a long way full of failures and mistakes and that makes someone successful in something it’s the dedication and hardwork. How to cite My Favorite Person, Essay examples

Airport Security free essay sample

Threat of terrorism technological human methods of detection prevention. Access control, explosives, x-ray imaging, nuclear techniques, costs and training. The aviation industry as of late has faced the incredible problem of security, due to a particular breach thereof which had horrifying results and implications as to the possibilities of unsafe air travel. In consideration of this, security measures were necessary to ensure that such a situation would not again arise. Thus, screening became a step in travel, one which is now faced with various solutions with differing degrees of social and ethical mettle. The registered flyer program established to enable pre-screening is jilted by the financial requirements of the service, ignoring fiscal inequality within society. The ethics of allowing private companies to determine the identity of citizens are also murky considering the freedom for error and abuse created. Privacy will be and has always been an issue within American society. The existence of machinery which invades this must be met with rules to prevent its abuse, as unethical employees may figure out a way to turn off censors, t hereby seeing things the flyers would not with them to. We will write a custom essay sample on Airport Security or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As with any industry, that of aviation faces numerous pitfalls to social and ethical wrong, which must be sought out and corrected prior to any damage being done.