The Synthesis of Actualizing and Escaping the Self in Christian Identity and Conversion :: Essays Papers

The Synthesis of Actualizing and Escaping the Self in Christian Identity and Conversion Ever since encountering Socrates’ simplistic but profound maxim, â€Å"know thyself,† I have taken intentional steps along the journey of my own self-discovery. However, the more I attempt to analyze the complex integration of motives, thoughts, actions, unconscious memories, sensual experiences, emotional reactions, etc. that composes my â€Å"self,† the more I realize the infinite depths into which Socrates’ seemingly simple saying has plunged me. Nevertheless, my curious mind, whether a curse or a gift, craves any tidbit of wisdom someone wishes to impart about how/where/with what means one can come to â€Å"know thyself† better. Perhaps it’s a result of growing up in a capitalistic, progressive, individualistic society, but my continual search proves I believe more knowledge will somehow lead to a fuller life. I want to improve, upgrade, supersize, maximize! Along this journey, I have stumbled upon many recent psychologists who propose that to help someone know the self more fully, the psychologist must provide â€Å"unconditional positive regard† for the personhood of the other, that is, identify with the client without questioning the position from which she or he speaks (McAdams 440-1). Allowing clients to talk, these psychologists believe, provides them opportunity to access their own self-knowledge. They already possess the answers they need to improve their lives; they simply need someone to affirm that truth so they can begin to believe it themselves. No outside authority needs to tell them what they’re thinking or feeling, let alone what they ought to do to change themselves. Since I believe in and have experienced unconditional positive regard as a catalyst to personal empowerment, I wanted to stand up and cheer, â€Å"Yes!† with these professionals. But another professional caused me to reconsider. Paul Vitz, a Christian psychologist, authors Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship, a response to the self-actualization and self-help movements popularized by these psychologists. He criticizes Rogers’ client-centered therapy as encouraging a narrowly-focused, self-centered lifestyle that excludes broader cultural and historical themes (Vitz 21). â€Å"Selfism† as he labels this movement, simply encourages people to feed their own egos and ignore both the reality of their fallenness and the responsibility to love others. Not only that, but selfism defames God, for it places self at the center of one’s focus, thus creating an idol: â€Å"To worship one’s self (in self-realization) or to worship all humanity is, in Christian terms, simple idolatry operating from the usual motive of unconscious egotism†(Vitz 93).

Comparing Literature Poems

â€Å"HAVISHAM† In the poem â€Å"Havisham†, Carol Ann Duffy presents the subject of this poem as an old, embittered woman with â€Å"ropes on the back of her hands†, while Browning presents the subject of his poem as a strong and determined but very jealous and embittered young woman. The poem is written in the first person in the form of a dramatic monologue, â€Å"The Laboratory† by Robert Browning is also written in this form. Miss Havisham is aware of her own stink – because she does not ever change her clothes or wash. She stays in bed and screams in denial.At other times she looks and asks herself â€Å"who did this† to her? She sometimes dreams almost tenderly or erotically of her lost lover, but when she wakes the hatred and anger return. Thinking of how she â€Å"stabbed at the wedding cake† she now wants to work out her revenge on the lover that betrayed her. Parent/Child Relationship Compare the ways parent/child relationsh ips are represented in ‘Before You Were Mine' by Carol Ann Duffy and three other poems, one by Simon Armitage and any two from the Pre-1914 Poetry Bank.The relationship between a parent and a child can bring about any of a range of emotions. In ‘The Affliction of Margaret', we see a parent's desperation at not hearing from her missing son in seven years, while in ‘On my first Sonne', the poet bids farewell to his dead son. In ‘Before You Were Mine', the poet describes the effect her own birth had on the lifestyle of her mother, whereas ‘My father thought it bloody queer' describes a strained relationship between father and son.The differing structures of the poems affect their impact. Wordsworth's structure for ‘The Affliction of Margaret' consists of eleven verses of seven lines each. How does Ben Jonson use language and structure to convey the message of the poem â€Å"On my first Sonne†? â€Å"On my first Sonne† is a poem where Jo nson describes his reaction to sorrow when his first son dies. Jonson confronts conflict, loss and despair when â€Å"Ben Jonson his best piece of poetrie† was â€Å"exacted by fate, on the just day†.He uses his son as an inspiration in this poem and describes his different stages that he has gone through by using language and structural features in this poem. The structural layout in this poem suggests that a progression of ideas is taking place. The first five lines indicate struggle, conflict, loss and despair. He experiences shock and guilt as he says, â€Å"My sinne was too much hope of thee, loved boy†.

Changes Within The Criminal Justice System - 821 Words

The Criminal Justice System has undergone numerous, yet significant, changes within the last century. In fact, current research reflects the progressive movement from one of rehabilitation to that of punishment and retribution. Such transition reflects issues pertaining to the management and supervision and treatment of offenders. This study will, therefore, consider and evaluate dilemmas within the Criminal Justice System, as well as, issues that have transpired while trying to reduce crime through punishment. Furthermore, the Criminal Justice System will be discussed through a law perspective regarding supervision and management in order to understand the current challenges and issues involving crime. Within the past decades, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of heinous crimes committed, causing some of the laws to significantly change. During the 1970s, some dramatic changes occurred when laws shifted from one extreme to another: rehabilitation to retribution. Such circumstances created an additional emphasis on the offense rather than on the offender. During the 1980s, the â€Å"get-tough-on-crime† era began; thus, radical changes in laws continued up until the late 1990s. Throughout the period of the Industrial Society, the United States had two bipolar types of punishment: harsh and lenient. Today, the main focus of the Criminal Justice System is about retribution and punishment. In order to understand the current dilemmas of management and supervision,Show MoreRelatedCrime System And Criminal Justice System Essay1399 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction: The criminal justice system has evolved on the decades. From initially being constituted by the victim to eventually becoming constituted by written laws. There have been several changes made within the justice system, so in the following I will discuss my perspectives of the researched information and the noted changes of a system that was created by the people for the people. 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