Commentary Essays (Examples)

2010 Commentary on the 2008 CDC HIV / AIDS Surveillance Report illustrates a central resource for addressing the HIV / AIDS epidemic in America. At first blush, the Commentary appears to accurately summarize and provide access to uniformly collected, examined and reported data from all 50 States and many cities within them. However, more careful review of these supposedly linked sources shows that there is a great deal of room for improvement in achieving uniform collection and treatment of data.

The 2010 Commentary on the 2008 CDC HIV / AIDS Surveillance Report (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010) explains the data sources, methods of collection, review & organization of collected data and uses of data, along with changes in the periodic Surveillance Report issued by the Centers for Disease Control. The Centers for Disease Control act as the primary official source, not only for periodic raw data, but also…

Hitchcock's Psycho

Social Commentary in Hitchcock's Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most recognizable and famous film and television directors and producers of the twentieth century. His unique approach to film and television helped to define and establish the parameters of the thriller genre while simultaneously developing techniques that have become trademarks of his films. One of Hitchcock's most famous thrillers is his 1960 film Psycho. Psycho is based on an eponymous novel by Robert Bloch that was published in 1959 (Ager). The novel is intended to be a fictionalized account of Ed Gein's life and crimes (Bell & Bardsley). Like Gein, Norman is shown to be obsessed with his mother and involved in the disappearances of various women. Since the publication of the novel and the release of Hitchcock's film, the Bates Motel has become synonymous with a house of horrors with Norman Bates, the motel's proprietor, assuming…

Medea vs. Jesus: Social Commentaries in Dramatic Fiction and in Gospel Narratives

Both Euripides' ancient Greek tragedy "Medea" and the chronicled gospel "Sermon on the Mount of Jesus" in "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" give the perspectives of outsiders critiquing the morals of their respective societies. Medea is a strange, witch of a woman, brought from a strange and alien land to marry Jason. Her alienation for Euripides becomes proof that people should not mingle with one another, across different city-states in Greece. Thus, although the play is sympathetic to Medea's plight to some degree, ultimately it acts as a validation of common Greek social values. In contrast, Jesus' social commentary instead validates the words of the speaker, rather than critiques them. The play is written from a sympathetic chronicler of Jesus' social mission and validates Jesus' words and Jesus' critique of common societal wisdom on the subjects of…

Economic Commentaries or Economic eports

Business Cycle

The position of economics has changed remarkably over the last 40 years and one can see that many theories that were applicable earlier are not applicable today. Business cycle was one of the fundamental concepts of macroeconomics which deals with the economics of nations, but is redundant today as the differences between countries have practically disappeared. The situation of the world had been bi-polar earlier -- England and France, West and Germany, United States and Soviet Union. There is only one leader of the world today, United States. The economics of the world runs as per the command of the country, and old laws are not valid any more.

Thesis Statement:

Science is not a matter of observation and then saying that "this is how it happens"; as science also tries to find out the reasons for the happenings.

Body:

One of the…

Yellow all-Paper: A Commentary on the Social Conditions Facing omen in the 19th Century

The Yellow all-Paper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a story that is often considered to be one of the most influential pieces of literature of the 19th century. This influence is based on its ability to communicate issues that went against the conventions of the society of the time. These issues were related to the place of women and the treatment of women, especially in regards to women suffering from depression. Via the story, Gilman offers an insight into the social conditions for women, showing how women are repressed in society, how women are treated for depression, and the consequences of this. Essentially, Gilman presented and questioned the social conditions facing women in the 19th century. A consideration of the story and its effects will allow these social conditions to be understood. This will begin with…

Free Will Commentary: Soft Determinism and Hard Determinism and the Application of Morality

Free Will & Hard Determinism

Free will is a concept that holds that all individuals are free to make their own choices about their lives including their own health care, career pursuit, religious and moral choices. Within the realm of the discussion on free will is a concept known as hard determinism, which holds that if an action is required then it cannot be derived of free will and as well, holds the view that for any action there are causes that drive that action. Hard determinism holds that these drivers for action are inextricably linked to laws that are not personal and that are in the nature of mechanics. Free will from this view is such that does not actually exist since it would mean that causal laws play no part in determining the actions of…

Yet as Goldman notes, Nora "worships her husband, believes in him implicitly, and is sure that if ever her safety should be menaced, Torvald, her idol, her god, would perform the miracle" that would set her free. It turned out that Mrs. Linde would set in motion the miracle that would set Nora free. A woman was required to help another woman escape the dolls' house, an incredible affirmation of women's need to take control not only of their own lives but of the future lives of all women. As Goldman puts it, "Down deep in the consciousness of Nora there evidently slumbers personality and character, which could come into full bloom only through a great miracle -- not the kind Nora hopes for, but a miracle just the same."

The miracle is self-awareness, which can generate transformations in women's ability to life independently of patriarchy. "e have been married…

Social Commentary in "The Metamorphosis"

"The Metamorphosis" is a social commentary about mankind more than a story about anything else. Through Gregor and his transformation, Kafka addresses many issues that make the story timeless. Kafka uses the theme of appearances to make a point about the basic nature of man. His family's reaction to his altered state is one of shock but it is telling when it comes to human behavior. The resulting alienation Gregor feels is also significant to the development of the story because even in our extremely connected world, alienation is a problem. These issues force us to look at the human condition and reconsider what is important, even though we think we already know what that is. Kafka knew the days at work might be long but life is short.

Kafka emphasizes the theme of alienation with the story. Gregor's transformation immediately sets him apart and…

" Ellison's "Battle Royal" would not have taken place in New York City or any other cosmopolitan place. A small town element is necessary to convey the idea that small towns breed small mindedness. Similarly, Jackson, Mississippi is an apt setting for Faulker to describe the townspeople's impressions of Emily.

Characterization is similar among these four stories. A sense of loneliness and isolation pervades "The Lottery," as well as "A Rose for Emily," "Young Goodman Brown," and "Battle Royal." In each of these stories, the protagonist seems up against a mob mentality, and has to decide whether to submit to that mentality or challenge it. All of the characters find it difficult to express and assert themselves. Of all these characters, Young Goodman Brown and the narrator of Battle Royal are the ones who can best assert themselves. Tessie Hutchinson in "The Lottery" fails to do so and she dies.…

My subsequent 5-point prompt (see previous question) is designed to direct the student's attention to the necessary improvements, as explained. In retrospect, I could have anticipated the need to explain that details (and "showing the reader") meant details related to the main theme rather than details just for their own sake. Likewise, I could have anticipated the need to explain the purpose of dialogue within the story and the importance of making sure that dialogue sounds natural and that the student should use dialogue to develop the story.

I have always believed that one of the most important skills taught at this level is the ability to write clearly and to learn how to organize essays through the use of outlines first. I should have stressed the importance of using the introduction to set up a transition into the main theme and to tie details and dialogue to its gradual…

Either way the reality is that the two works demonstrate that ultimately motherhood is work and doing it effectively while concurrently chasing career goals and challenges is even more work. Though this issue is played down to some extent as the mother (while her daughter is in her body) is allowed to ignore and remake some of the obligations of her frantic career and social world, the works are congruent in that the conflict for working mothers is an essential one, often creating lighthearted conflicts and genre-based statements about the stress that the conflict can create in a women's life. In other words, having it all takes a significant toll on self, and each mother is depicted as seeking resolution that is found then through the reintroduction of childlike needs and freedoms, that help her realize what is really important and what needs to be paid attention to, i.e. family.…

And ock 'n' oll. Quite distant from the sounds of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and other groups that are firmly a part of the ock 'n' oll from the era, there is nonetheless a certain rhythm and feel to this song that makes it a peripheral form of ock 'n' oll, and of the more popular songs of the style and the era (Eder 2011). It is also somewhat unusual in its message, not simply because it reflects on a rather laid back and relaxed position rather than a specific event, emotion, interest, etc. -- other songs have accomplished this feat as well -- but because of the particular angle from which this position is presented.

The idea of just kicking back and relaxing has been the subject of many different songs, and at first listen The Drifters' hit doesn't seem to be much different. In "Up on the oof,"…

Vermont Photos

Vermont's rich cultural and environmental history is captured visually in black and white still photography. Each of these images offers a distinct glimpse or glance at Vermont life. Some images portray non-human subjects ranging from animals to landscapes to architecture. Several are macro, or close up, shots of Vermont's minutia. None of the images are portraits, which is significant because it allows the viewer to perceive Vermont without the added lens or filter of social life.

An image of a Pullman Car appears in green and fills the frame. The composition suggests movement, as the horizontal lines of the rail car and the tracks beneath it all move in the same directions. The original Pullman Palace cars were decorated ornately on the inside. Yet the viewer is invited to look inside at the big green Pullman Sunbeam, which rolled into Manchester in Spring of 2012 from South Carolina.…

American Studies - Anthology

American Studies -- Anthology: Freedom vs. Tyranny

America's history includes a number of competing forces. One of the chief struggles has been the clash between Freedom and Tyranny. As Why Freedom Matters shows, our national consciousness is dominated with the idea that our forefathers risked everything so that all people in America can have freedom. However, Public Speaking shows that the dominant or "luckiest" group in America consists of white, gentile, straight males, who form a very powerful and wealthy special interest group. An example of the favoritism enjoyed by a powerful, wealthy special interest group is the Texan oilman group mentioned in Dominion from Sea to Sea. The favorable treatment given to powerful, wealthy special interests groups results in oppression of "others" such as farmers who fought for America's freedom but seemed to trade the tyranny of Great Britain for the tyranny of the wealthy,…

John 5: 1-9

[1]"Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. [2] Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a poll, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. [3] Here a great number of disabled people use to lie -- the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b] [5] One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. [6] hen Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?'

[7] 'Sir,' the invalid replied, 'I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. hile I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me' [8] Then Jesus said to him, 'Get up! Pick up your mat…

It makes sense, then, that H.G. ells once "said he would 'rather be called a journalist than an artist'" (ells qtd. In McConnell 176). If the dangers of the twentieth century would come from the way unrestricted scientific advancement coupled with self-interest results in new, terrifying methods of industrialized slaughter, then the particular mode or perspective of the artist, as an opposed to the journalist, would be insufficient or irrelevant. In other words, if both the journalist and the artist seek truth, but the artist also seeks beauty, then the journalist is actually the one better suited for a world in which beauty has been overwhelmed by death and destruction on a scale and with a swiftness heretofore unimagined.

The narrator of The ar of the orlds reflects this shift, because he tells his story with as little artifice and characterization as possible, instead opting to describe the "death […]…

Managerial Assessments of the Applications of egression

Management

The commentary of the article begins with the subject of the research in the article: Organizational Politics within Academic Departments. This subject is valid of research as it is a factor of which many students are unaware, yet are apart of and by which they are affected. Uninformed views or stereotypes of academia may not include the order of politics evident among faculty and staff within each department, yet they exist. Therefore the first piece of criticism is to validate the subject matter of the study. Furthermore, the authors argue for the importance of their study as there is little research in the area, for reasons that some of which are obvious and self evident.

The specific behavioral focus for the article is conflict. The authors wish to understand the nature of conflict within organizations and the impact conflict has upon perceptions.…

Cars and driving are emblems of American culture, and have defined American lifestyle and identity. American cities are built around the car, and so is the urban and suburban sprawl. It is no small coincidence, therefore, that both Flannery O'Connor and Dagoberto Gilb use a car as a central symbol in their short stories. In O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find," a road trip turns deadly when the family runs into a group of escaped convicts on their way to Florida. Florida makes a brief appearance in Gilb's short story, "Love in L.A.," too, as protagonist Jake mistakes Mariana's heritage for being Cuban since her license plates are from Florida. Like "A Good Man is Hard to Find," "Love in L.A." centers around cars and driving as the central motifs, but in Gilb's story, the ending is not gruesome. Although "Love in L.A." And "A Good Man is…

direct marketing help companies deliver their objectives?

The principles of direct marketing help companies deliver their objectives

Times are changing, the economies, laws and rules are also changing, however, the principles of marketing remain the basic driving factor of success for any business. The marketing strategies are changing, from manual to digital. Nonetheless, the challenge in understanding and executing the principles of direct marketing remains with the business enterprises. Marketing strategy becomes incoherent when the target audience changes from customer to another business; what represents the Business to Business, and Business to Consumer marketing (Ferrell & Hartline, 2011, p. 13).

Literature review

Direct marketing entails getting to the basics and drilling on the fundamentals of marketing to ensure that the business meets its objectives. There are many proclaimed principles to implement in direct marketing. However, the essential principles of direct marketing entail the following practices. The first principle to have…

Gnostics believed that they belonged to the "true church" of an elect few who were worthy; the orthodox Christians would not be saved because they were blind to the truth.

Part E -- Content - if we then combine the historical outline of the "reason" for John's writings with the overall message, we can conclude that there are at least five major paradigms present that are important in a contextual analysis of John.

John 5:13 - I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This seems to point that John saw a clear difference between those who believed in Jesus as the Son of God, but were unsure about eternal life. However, if we look back at other parts of his Gospel, we do find repetition of this theme. In John 1:5-7,…

John 5:1-9

There are several incidents contained within the various Gospels in which Jesus performs a miracle and cures someone; and John 5:1-9 recounts one of these stories. The incident happens on an unnamed holy day in the city of Jerusalem, which also corresponds to the Sabbath. The place is a pool with five pillars, or colonnades, near a spot commonly known as the "sheep market," sometimes the "sheep gate," or "Bethesda" in Hebrew, and it is here that Jesus cures a man who had been infirmed for thirty-eight years. The pool was famous for curing the first person to enter after it had been disturbed by an angel who occasionally entered the pool. But because the man had no one to help him enter the pool, he never had been the first to enter, and thus never cured. After asking the man "would thou be whole?," Jesus instructs the…

Psalm 1 read in different translations.

The New International Version (NIV), The American Standard Version (ASV), The New Living Translation (NLT), The King James Version (KJV), The Contemporary English Version (CEV), The Message (MSG), and The Harper Collins Study Bible, New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

I read the NIV the most often because I grew up reading the NIV and am comfortable with its language and cadence. I find that, of the Bibles I read, it is the one that feels the most familiar. I actually found reading MSG a little disconcerting; I do not know that it conveyed the feelings that the other translations conveyed. It actually made me think about the number of times the Bible has been interpreted and how connotation and denotation both impact the meaning of different passages.

To me, Psalm 1 is a reminder that sinners have no place in Lord's kingdom. It was…

The real question is not which party is right or wrong, but rather, what lessons can be learned and applied to modern man.

The Warnings in Genesis 7: 21-24

In these verses, we learn that God tried to warn his children, but on the day of the flood, they were still eating and drinking without abandon. They did not heed the final warning. This demonstrates that God was not set on his resolve to destroy humankind. He was acting the part of the father, giving his children one last time to change their ways. God gives his children many chances to repent. It is clear that he wishes them to repent, rather than to destroy them. First, he gives them 120 years, then a final week, and then on the day set for the flood to occur, he gives them one final chance. They can save themselves at any point…

On its own, Matthew 23 offers rich opportunities for an expository sermon or homily. Biblical commentaries enhance the original text and offer new angles and fresh ways of approaching the material. All commentaries on Matthew 23 will offer some fruitful information that can be incorporated into a sermon or bible study. Depending on the angle the preacher or theologian wishes to take, a commentary should focus on one or more elements contained in scripture, also taking into account historical and cultural contexts.

Harrington (1991), Pilch (1995), Senior (1998), and Witherington (2006) each offer unique perspectives on Matthew 23. Of these, the most thorough and enriching seems to be Donald Senior’s, because the author includes correspondences and also places Matthew 23 within the context of prophetic wisdom. Harrington (1991) also describes the passages clearly and in great detail, allowing for a greater understanding of the role of the Pharisees, and why…

They could only be disposed of, as it were, by leases till the year of jubilee, and were then to return to the seller or his heir."

This would preserve familial and tribal heritage as well as prevent the wealthy from being able to incur large masses of land, thus keeping certain families in extreme poverty. It gives all Israelites their liberty, as well as treats them all as equals, as the land would be regenerated every fifty years. "The chief point was that there should never be a build-up of power by a few to control the land and the people; therefore, there was redistribution of the land as it had been divided in the beginning."

Each family or tribe is given the opportunity to return to his or her land, and be renewed. "Those that were sold into other families, thereby became strangers to their own; but in…

"

This point-of-view makes sense. Stuart and Fee have already suggested that the point of iblical interpretation is not to look for a novel or unique interpretation, but to really try to understand the point of the passages being studied. Therefore, their idea that people should feel free to consult commentaries, so that they can understand how other people have interpreted the texts, is a good one. Moreover, they suggest that people own multiple commentaries, with their ownership of each commentary geared toward the specific books being studied. Again, this is an excellent suggestion. Much like reading multiple versions of the ible, reading multiple commentaries on specific books is likely to stimulate intelligent analysis of the books in question.

Conclusion

Stuart and Fee do a very good job of helping guide people on how one should approach the ible. In fact, their book would be helpful for novices as well…

In verses 40-44, we can see that there is the potential for a reconciliation, when a purified people will worship in the land to which they have returned (91). God ends by saying that it will be obvious when He shows pity for the desperate and that He will be showing that pity for the respect of His own name. This really signifies that His mercy is the highest aspect of His character, and the aspect that He wants to show to the world (Dummelow 505).

In the final verses of chapter 20 of Ezekiel, 45-49, God is commanding Ezekiel to proclaim judgment against the southern forests: "Set your face against it," the Lord declares, "I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume all your trees, both green and dry" (v. 47). God is using the trees as a metaphor for the people -- both green…

In conclusion, the "miracle" associated with the raising of Lazarus from the dead as described in the Gospel of John holds some very key elements for the true Christian. First, it confirms that Jesus Christ was indeed capable of performing "miracles" that not only helped his fellow people but also supported his divine nature as the one and only "Son of God." ut most importantly, the resurrection of Lazarus and the eventual raising of Jesus Christ from the dead and his ascent into heaven reinforces the faith of all believers that someday they too will follow in His footsteps to become one with God and thus conquer death to live eternally as Jesus himself had promised in the Gospels of the New Testament.

ibliography

Fuller, Robert H. Interpreting Miracles: A Commentary. London: SCM Press, Ltd., 1976.

Keller, Ernst. Miracles in Dispute: A Continuing Debate. London: SCM Press, Ltd., 1969.

Lightfoot,…

Personal Power

Though the figure and invocation of God is of course central to the power and purpose of Ezekiel's prophecies against the foreign nations, and indeed in all of his prophecies as a whole, there is also necessarily a great deal of personal power in the voice and words of the prophet. Without this, his exhortations and condemnations would not be heard or heeded. This leads to a third possibility for the essential purpose of his prophecies against the foreign nations -- that of strengthening his position within the community of exiled Israelites.

Despite the commonality of oracles and prophecies condemning and predicting the downfall of foreign nations in the prophets of the Old Testament, it is highly unlikely that these words ever reached the leaders or the people of these foreign nations, or that the prophets or writers of these texts ever intended them to (Tuell 2009, pp.…

Unrecognized Genius of Jean Piaget

Kegan reflects on the work of Jean Piaget, emphasizing the importance of his work. He first looks at Kegan's most famous study, in which he fills two identically shaped beakers with equal amounts of water. He then asks the child whether or not they are of equal volume, and when the child agrees, he pours the contents into a thinner beaker. The child then has to decide which has more, and usually opts for the taller and thinner beaker. Kegan is pointing out the relative adaptive balance that is being made by the child. Children have their own perceptions of the physical world, and often have difficulty discerning relative differences in shapes and forms, among other things. Kegan purports that, "For the preoperational child, it is never just one's perceptions that change; rather, the world itself, as a consequence, changes" (29).

Kegan then goes on…

Amos is one of the Twelve Minor Prophets of the Tanakh, and was active in the 8th century before Christ -- he is roughly contemporary in that century with the other Hebrew prophets Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah. Although in the opening chapters, Amos prophesies divine vengeance for a number of foreign nations -- including Damascus, Tyre, Edom, and Moab -- perhaps the biggest single shock for the reader comes at Chapter 2 verses 6 through 8, when Amos prophesies divine vengeance upon Israel itself. The text of this passage reads:

Thus says the Lord:

For three transgressions of Israel,

and for four, I will not revoke the punishment;

because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals

they who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth, and push the afflicted out of the way;

father and son go in…

" Therefore, Spero says, there is the fifth requirement, calling the reader to keep the commandments and statutes. Spero explains: "where the reverence and love are weak, the actual observance of the commandments, with its evocation of the Presence of God, can strengthen these elemental emotions. Thus, the function of the practical commandments is both expressive and impressive" (p. 155).

The book of Deuteronomy, and specifically its tenth chapter, has multiple meanings and may be interpreted differently, depending on one's approach. But it is clear that the chapter speaks to us, to the community of faith today. Even in his secular interpretation, Nelson (2003) tried to link the book to values we consider important today (the system of checks and balances or democracy). But the book has a theological message, which is as relevant today as it was for Israelites thousands of years ago, as explained well by Tanner (2001).…

"This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of not just one nation, but a multitude of nations. . . I will give you millions of descendants who will represent many nations. Kings will be among them" (Genesis 17:4, 6).

Then, in relation to how Joseph ended up where he did -- why was he loved more than his siblings? We know Joseph was born was Jacob was in his "old age" (Verses 2-3), but it was more than that. Historically, scholars say that Jacob recognized that having a child with Joseph's mother, achel, was a blessing from God because she was barren for many years. "Then God remembered achel's policht and answered her prayers by giving her a child. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. 'God removed my shame,' she said. And she names him Joseph. . . " (Genesis 30:22-23). The…

Here we have an account of the definitive formation of the twelve-tribe league incorporating people who may well have had ancient ties with Israelite tribes but who only now pledge their undivided allegiance to the God of Israel."

Thus, Shechem is, according to Hillers, one of the most important place for the Covenant renewal, since it was the first that was witnessed by the united Israelite tribes.

John Van Seters, on the other hand, offers a different explanation for the origins of the text in Joshua 24. He concludes that the resemblances in form between the Covenant at Shechem and the Deuteronomy Covenant makes it plausible that the Joshua 24 has to be just an addition to the Deuteronomy work:

There is only one solution to this dilemma and that is that Joshua 24.1-27 was composed as an addition to the Dtr. work. It is post-Dtr. And was inserted before…

In the context of these visions, any admixture of Jewish identity with foreign ways represented not only just such a hypocritical failure to trust God in all things but, ultimately, a decision to vanish from history. First, Ezekiel reminds his audience, the nations closely related to Israel failed through jealousy, pride, and treason.

Next, he prophesies that the great merchant cities of Phoenicia

are eventually doomed to ruin in the fullness of time -- whereas Israel itself will be regathered into its own land again.

This reminder of the election of Israel must have come as both a bitter challenge to the exiles (who had seen their nation brought low and their connection to it severed) and an argument that, even in such challenging circumstances, fidelity to the Covenant would ultimately reap much greater rewards than any attempt to attach themselves to a foreign civilization.

Significantly, Ezekiel's prophetic vision singles…

In verse 13, God directly challenges the false Gods to save the Israelites. God tells them that their idols will do them no good and that he can and will destroy them. God also reiterates his promise to the righteous that he will keep them safe and the land will be theirs. This verse demonstrates God's ultimate authority and superiority over the old pagan gods. It proclaims his undisputed position and his intolerance for the worship of other deities.

Chapter 57: It's Place in Isaiah

According to Isaiah, it is the duty of every Israelite to adhere to the morals and commandments of God

. Isaiah viewed Assyria as God's tool for doling out punishment to the rest of the world for transgressions

. Isaiah, Chapter 57 is a plea for the Israelites to take action as a nation so that they do not collectively suffer as sinners.

The Great…

..hat in these last days spoken unto us by his Son...by whom also he made the worlds," thus arguing that Jesus' message is an expansion of the Old Covenant. (Ellingworth, 1993).

The Catholic interpretation of the Epistle to the Hebrews is that it is a firm announcement of the superiority of the New Testament revelations made by Jesus over the Old Testament revelations made by the lesser prophets. Further, the Epistle to the Hebrews successfully proves this point by comparing Jesus to the angels as mediators of the Old Covenant, Moses and Josue as founders of the Old Covenant, and by opposing the high priesthood of Christ. (Lane, 1985).

At its core, this passage is an extension of Pauline Christianity, or the version of Christianity advocated by the Apostle Paul and which survived as the dominant version of Christianity. First and foremost, as a part of the Pauline Christianity, this…

164-72). Though this dramatization is rather simple, it is still quite deeply meaningful and profound, according to Block; the depiction of Jerusalem that Ezekiel is commanded to draw on the tablet, his rigidly controlled dietary intake, and the lying in two directions signifying his lamentation are all effective means of making more visceral and more physical the siege of the city and the collapse of the Hebrew people due to, according to the prophecies, the evils of their ways and their abandonment of God (Block 1997, pp. 171-86). Though highly symbolic, Ezekiel's actions can also be interpreted as a series of direct and concrete reenactments of what occurred between God and his people.

While this direct interpretation is certainly possible, it is not the only means of understanding and interpreting Chapter 4 of the Book of Ezekiel. It has been noted that one of the rhetorical strategies that Ezekiel employs…

Judgment oracle

Usually introduced by formula, "I am against you"

21:1-5

Aftermath or restoration oracle

Reversing judgment formula, "I am for you"

34:11-15

Command formula

Especially "Son of man, set your face ...

6:2-3; 20:46-47

"Woe" oracle of indictment

13:3-7; 34:2-6

Demonstration oracle

Usually containing "because ... therefore" clauses

13:8-9; 16:36-42

Disputation oracle

IN which popular proverb is recited and then refuted by prophetic discourse (e.g., "sour grapes" proverb)

18:1-20; cf. 12:22-25

Lament

Over Tyre

Over Pharaoh

26:15-18

32:1-16

Wailing lament

Introduced by "wail"

30:1-4

32:17-21

Riddles, parables, allegories

E.g., parable of the vine Allegories of the eagle and cedars, lion, boiling pot etc.

15

Chaps. 17, 19, 23, 24, 27

ibliography

lenkinsopp, J. Ezekiel. Westminster: John Knox Press, 1990.

lock, D. The ook of Ezekiel, Volume 2. Erdmans, 1998.

occaccini, G. Roots of Rabbinic Judaism: An Intellectual History. Eerdmans, 2001.

Cooke, G.A. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the…

The term conversion would be etymologically closer (Blenkinsopp 84)

By the charge of acting without principle (verses 25 and 29), the Israelites accused God of punishing the innocent along with the guilty. Implicit in his rejection of the charge is Ezekiel's belief that all deserved the punishment that had come upon the nation. The opportunity for each generation to live or die according to its own behavior is now extended to each individual within his life time. The possibility of the righteous dying because they turn to sin may seem harsh; but the opportunity for the wicked to leave past guilt behind is all the more significant for Ezekiel's sweeping condemnation of Israel elsewhere. The oracle of verses 30-32 is the climax of the chapter, commanding response to the possibility of attaining life that had just been declared.

In contract to the earlier promise of the people's spontaneous renewal by…

The scene is reminiscent of Egyptian burial chambers; the walls were covered with brilliantly painted images of deities in animal form, including Anubis, the jackal-headed god who weighed the soul of the dead. This second phase of the prophet's vision of Jerusalem illustrates a number of important points with respect to the state of religion in the capital city. The nation's leadership was actively engaged in the pursuit of evil. hen the integrity of the nation's leadership is lost, there is no hope for its people.. It is already clear from the first part of the prophet's vision that the worship of the temple had become sadly debased; a pagan altar had been set up in the temple's outer court. So why, with a public altar outside was there a secret worship of the other false gods inside? Probably, there were two forms of the false religion? The open altar…

"

Schultz relates in this work that the child of God carries' the essence of God wherever they go and that even during the time of Naomi's loss and bitterness that Ruth was drawn to her because of having been drawn to God.

At the beginning of the story of Naomi and Ruth, it is obvious that Naomi does not acknowledge and clearly does not recognize Ruth for her true value and all that she represents for Naomi's future. However this story does inform the reader that a child was born to oaz and Ruth who was named Obed and that this child, upon his birth was taken and laid into the arm's of Naomi, a woman's whose hands had been so empty.

Summary & Discussion

There are several lessons learned from this study and the first of which is the lesson of hope, faith, and the everlasting love of…

Riders to the Sea

John Millington Synge's one act play "Riders to the Sea" details the hardships that a family has to go through and the risks and sacrifices that they have made in order to survive. "Riders to the Sea" takes a lot of its inspiration from Synge's personal experiences and observations from living on the Aran Islands in Ireland "for a number of years…with peasant seamen and their families" (J.M. Synge, n.d.). Despite its length, "Riders to the Sea" is able to show "a window in to the life of the people in ancient times: the life of the Aran community is archaic: untouched by modern life, untouched by colonialism" (Notes on Synge's "Riders to the Sea," n.d.). In "Riders to the Sea," Synge provides a commentary on the power that the sea holds over the people that have been isolated because of it -- the sea is…

Ahead IT Curve Case Study eview

Before reading the commentary

Peachtree in its IT planning process has lost clarity regarding their strategic goal for what they intent to accomplish with their systems along with a roadmap for achieving that goal. This should be the starting point of any large-sized institution going for an IT overhaul. The organization's acquisition over the years has brought diverse medical institutions under its fold, each unique in terms of its workflow patterns. anging from large and midsized institutions, trauma centers, nursing systems to rehabilitation facilities, each has its own set of unique work processes, overlaps between them. This poses inherent challenges to devise an integrated Information System -- IS. Development of an integrated IS at Peachtree has to translate into increased efficiency which would seamlessly function across its distributed facilities in a hassle-free manner. (Glaser; Halvorson; Ford; Heffner; Kastor, 2007)

Paul Lefler, the Board Chairman,…

In fact, the Toy is considered to be one of the most racist films of all time due to these issues (Sastry).

Blazing Saddles and the Toy approach comedy from distinct perspectives, and although they may have common elements, the differences in their approach to humor, comedy, and race allow the audience to understand why Blazing Saddles is successful in its commentary on society and why the Toy fails miserably at changing people's perspectives about society in a positive way. Brooks's approach to race and social status helps to redefine how blacks were viewed in cinema, and also helps to demonstrate that previous cinematic depictions have been skewed due the control exercised by Hollywood executives. On the other hand, Donner's approach to race and social status ends up being degrading, racist, and further reinforces negative stereotypes of race and social status. It is through these various depictions and approaches that…

French New Wave cinema was established by film critics, who founded the Cahiers du Cinema, whom felt cinema had become too commercialized, formulaic, and unoriginal. This group of critics would come to identify two major characteristics of the New Wave movement, which included the manner in which mise-en-scene was utilized in the film and how their auteur theory could be applied to work of art created. A contemporary film that incorporates French New Wave cinema elements into its production and design is the 2009 film District 9.

Among the major elements used in French New Wave film are loose story plots; improvised dialogue; erratic character behavior; unique use of jump cuts; and the use of natural lighting, location, and direct sound recording. District 9's unique documentary style and editing allows Neill Blomkamp to successfully incorporate these elements into the film's narrative while maintaining a cohesive feel.

Additionally, District 9 is…

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Finally, in that regard, it seems that the author's choice of Christopher as Tituba's betrayer may suggest that while racial, religious, and ethnic prejudices may have subsided substantially in modern Western society, a fundamental conflict still exists in which men cannot be trusted by women.

The Significance of the Book

The significance of the book is that it provides a personal account, albeit fictionalized, of the horrors of slavery, violent oppression, gender inequality that characterized Western civilization in the 17th century. The narrative illustrates the humanity and the personal experiences of slavery from the perspective of the slave instead of the usual historical perspective. It effectively highlights the state of injustice and fear that were the everyday reality of countless individuals who were ripped fro their families and societies, sold into slavery, and usually brutalized for the rest of their lives in servitude of those regarded as the founders…

Harris, rown and Moore (2000) explain that in the instance depicted in Joshua 8:9, where Joshua again sent out his army, Joshua's attitude has changed. He has realized that he needed to take the threat of the enemy seriously; that to win he had to plan in accordance to and had to adhere to God's directives "on the west side of Ai" (Joshua 8:9 (NKJV) (lue Letter ible 2010).

Joshua's neglect of prayer, according to Rick Grieve (2009) in the book, On the Way, proved to be the beginning of his downfall, noted in Joshua 7. "In this second battle plan, Joshua did not hear from God…. At Jericho[,] Israel won because their leader listened to the directives of the Lord and followed through. Absolute obedience brought absolute victory. Yet before the skirmish against Ai no such meeting occurred" (Grieve, p. 86). With Joshua's prayerlessness, he basically told God, that…

"This Epistle is marked by contrasts -- light and darkness, life and death, saint and sinner, love and hate, Christ and antichrist." (346) the messages are of complete totality, in that they build upon the idea of being either a follower or a sinner and that from the knowledge of the lord and redemption through confession, any son of Satan can become a son of God and live within the fold and love of the lord eternally. John makes clear that his word is not a word of teaching, as the word of the lord is known by his followers, instead it is the word of a reminder of the grace of the lord and the destiny of those who follow him, to live within his love and guidance for eternity. "I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that…

Humor in 3 Films

Comedy has often provided the perfect vehicle for social and political commentary. Three films that use comedy to as the basis for social and political commentary are Duck Soup (1933), The Great Dictator (1940), and Some Like It Hot (1959). Duck Soup, The Great Dictator, and Some Like It Hot provide commentary on social and political issues, as well as on issues of sex and gender.

Duck Soup is a Marx Brothers classic directed by Leo McCarey in which Groucho Marx plays Rufus T. Firefly, a man who is appointed to the position of Freedonia, a small country that has recently gone bankrupt (Duck Soup). Firefly's appointment as leader is made as part of an agreement between undisclosed members of the country in exchange for continued financial support from Mrs. Gloria Teasdale, a wealthy widow. At the same time, Freedonia's neighbor, Sylvania, is plotting to take…

Synge's iders To The Sea

Analysis of structure, narrative, and irony in Synge's "iders to the Sea"

John Millington Synge is considered to be one of Irish literature's most influential writers. Born near Dublin in 1871, he was highly interested in studying music before turning his attentions to literature. In 1898, Synge made his first visit to the Aran Islands, which he continued to visit at various intervals for the next four years (J.M. Synge, n.d.). It was during this time that he began to study the way of life on the islands. "On they rocky, isolated islands, Synge took photographs and notes. He listened to the speech of the islanders, a musical, old-fashioned, Irish-flavored dialect of English. He conversed with them in Irish and English, listened to stories, and learned the impact that the sound of word could have apart from their meaning" (J.M. Synge, n.d.). The influence of…

The theme is clear; the Temple alone would not protect them. The points it is teaching is that repentence would and that there was still time to do it to stay in the land. Otherwise, by implication here and direct statement in later verses, they would suffer the exile promised in the Torah as punishment for violating their covenant with God.

e see ourselves as the spiritual Israel. In our walk with God, we have many of the same temptations as the ancient Israelites and Judeans did. e have an agreement with God to live moral lives and to continue in the path carved out by the Jewish people as a light to all of the nations. If the people of God do not live according to his law, this reflects badly upon how he is perceived by the public at large. As John H. Leith notes in the Basic…

" This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Passage Analysis- Acts 2:21-47 focuses on spreading the word of God and salvation, if one is worthy. The promise is that those who are faithful and spread the faith -- or follow hrist's example, are the faithful of the Lord, and thus deserving of a generalized conclusion of salvation. The story preceeds the rucifixion and takes place during the Pentecost festival. Scholars tend to agree that the 12 Apostles were together and that the plea was…

It is a work that seems to be eerily familiar to what is happening in many areas of society today, and that is one aspect of the novel that makes it exceedingly frightening to read.

eferences

Abdolian, Lisa Finnegan, and Harold Takooshian. "The U.S.A. PATIOT Act: Civil Liberties, the Media, and Public Opinion." Fordham Urban Law Journal 30.4 (2003): 1429+.

A secondary source that gives useful information on the U.S.A. Patriot Act. Includes commentary on the pros and cons of the act, and how the media portrayed it. Also includes opponents to the act, and some of the most controversial policies included in the act.

Deery, June. "George Orwell. Nineteen Eighty-Four." Utopian Studies 16.1 (2005): 122+.

A secondary source that talks about Orwell's novel, why he wrote it, and when it was reissued in 2003. Also discusses Orwell's motives for writing the novel, and what influenced him. It is a…

In all of the Gospels, Jesus is shown flouting some of the minor conventions of Mosaic Law, although he holds fast in his adherence to the en Commandments. Jesus teaches that following laws and protocols is no substitution for having a righteous heart. Material goods and glory, even the spiritual glories of fulfilling doctrine in a technical fashion, or giving ostentatious donations to a religious organization are not as important as inner, spiritual light. One must place the world its proper context, and put aside the petty, mundane concerns of the world to live in Christ.

Section 3: Personal reflection

he idea that one cannot 'buy' one's way to heaven accumulating material goods is an important idea. All too often people believe they have 'done right' by their families if they provide their families with material rather than spiritual wealth. hey use working hard in their jobs as an excuse…

Peachtree Healthcare

IT Architecture ecommendations to Peachtree Healthcare

The discussions and cursory analyses in the Harvard Business eview case Too Far Ahead of the IT Curve? (Dalcher, 2005) attempt to implement massive IT projects without considering the implications from a strategic and tactical level. There is no mention of the most critical legal considerations of any healthcare provider, and this includes compliance to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) in addition to highly specific requirements by medical practice area and discipline (Johnston, Warkentin, 2008).

Second, there isn't a framework described for governance of the IT strategies as they relate to Peachtree Healthcare's overarching strategic vision and mission. The lack of focus on governance in any strategic IT implementation will eventually lead to confused roles, cost overruns and chaos relating to the long-term contribution of IT to rapidly changing business priorities (Smaltz, Carpenter, Saltz, 2007). Max Berndt…

Anthropology

Shamanism is a practice that is pervasive throughout many cultures. The Songs of Salanda and Other Stories of Sulu by H. Arlo Nimmo explored shamanism amongst the Bajau people of the Philippines. Life and Hard Times of a Korean Shaman: Of Tales and the Telling of Tales is a novel created by Laurel Kendall which explores shamanism in Korea. The purpose of this discussion is to provide anthropological commentary on Life and Hard Times of a Korean Shaman while also comparing and contrasting the book to The Songs of Salanda and Other Stories of Sulu. Let us begin the discussion with some background information on the book by Laurel Kendall.

Life and Hard Times of a Korean Shaman

Like Nimmo, Kendall is also an anthropologist. Kendall worked with Korean shamans throughout the 1970's and the book came about as a result of those experiences. Life and Hard Times of…

oberto osellini's "Open City" with regard to the war in ome and "Paisa" for a view of different aspects of the war (religious tolerance, sex, inability to communicate and partisan activities, "Seven Beauties" (a grotesquely comic alternative view of the war) as well as Ignazio Silone, (Fontamara) for the prewar attitudes and Giorgio Bassani (The Garden of the Finzi Contini) for the life and attitudes of Jews and gentiles in Italy. Describe Italy in World War II and is aftermath through the late 1940's and how they impact through to the present day.

The history of any particular period can frequently best be described by the movies and works that were produced during that period. There is no exception made in the case of pre- and during the War Italy when certain movies and a novel that described the conditions captured the situation precisely. The description of this material and…

Bad Experience ith a Priest:

comparison of the Catholicism aspects in Scott's Ivanhoe and Twain's a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

In reading Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, one cannot deny that the blame for the collapse of Hank's new civilization falls on the Church. Throughout the novel, Twain paints a negative image of the Church and its priests. This negative image can also be found in Sir alter Scott's Ivanhoe. Scott gives us characters such as the confused Templar and the misaligned Prior. Both writers have poor views of religion and this is evident in their unflattering portraits of the corrupt medieval church.

Scott's portrait of the Prior is not a very pleasant one. Nothing about him seems to be spiritual. hen we first meet him, his costume is basically appropriate for a priest, but it is said to be "composed of materials much…

Paul's Thorn In The Flesh

Studying the Bible, it becomes apparent that Jesus handpicked a number of his disciples to continue to spread his message after Jesus ascended to heaven. In addition to the men who followed Jesus before his death and resurrection, the leaders of the movement known as "The Way" included the Apostle Paul. Saul of Tarsus had been one of Jesus' most vocal detractors during Jesus lifetime and was skeptical of Jesus' claims that he was the Messiah. However, when Saul encountered a resurrected Jesus on the Damascus oad, Saul's disbelief disappeared. He converted to what is now known as Christianity and began to travel and share Christ's teachings.

Paul was unique from the other apostles in another significant way; he was the only one who received a thorn in the flesh. What this thorn was is never explicitly stated in the Bible, though it seems to…