European Missionaries in Africa Essay -- African Missionaries Religion

European Missionaries in Africa      At the start of the nineteenth century, Christianity was limited to the waterfront zones of Africa. Right now in Western Africa, there were an aggregate of three preacher social orders working in western Africa. There was the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG), the Wesleyan Missionary Society (WMS), and the Glasaw and Scottish Missionary Society (GSMS). In the southern bit of Africa, the Morovian Missionary and the London Missionary were predominant. There was just a single society in eastern Africa and there were none at all in northern Africa. Be that as it may, by 1840 the quantity of minister social orders had expanded to more than fifteen in western Africa, eleven in southern Africa, five in eastern Africa in 1877 and there were six in northern Africa in 1880. Not exclusively were these social orders dynamic in the beach front area of Africa, yet they additionally began extending inland to lands where they haven’t came to previously. Around the year 1860, these social orders in southern Africa had gone as far north as present day Botswana, Lesotho and Zambia. (Boahen 15) Famous names of this time incorporate David Livingston and Robert Moffat. (Gordon 285) Perhaps it is acceptable to take a gander at how these ministers spread and shared their plans to each of the four corners of Africa. At the point when the Europeans arrived in Africa first and foremost, they had no information on the kind of individuals that they were managing. They don't knew anything of their way of life, language, religion or anything of that nature. So the Europeans needed to discover a person or thing to educate them regarding the individuals they were managing. The Europeans looked no farther than the slaves†¦mainly in the United States. The United States sent out liberated slaves back to Africa so as to enable the colonization to process run smoother. All things considered, these individuals thought about African culture and language and the individuals of Africa would most likely tune in to somebody of their own shading before a white European whom they don't knew the slightest bit about. The Christian Africans were best around the Guinea coast†¦around Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria. (Gordon 44) truth be told, most African Catholics owe their transformation to dark catechists. Catechists were Africans who were generally undeveloped and unordained, yet lectured the gospel and set up Catholic people group all over Africa. These catechists were the fundamental individuals liable for ... ...ed† individuals, which chiefly included the laborers and the less fortunate residents of Africa. The consequence of this was, obviously, much social strain and change.      Even however the individuals of Africa were given a consistent eating regimen of Christianity and Christian tenet from the preachers, there were as yet numerous that had no goals of changing over. Most Africans maintained their own conventions, there own religion, and their own traditions. It likewise didn’t take some time for the Africans to understand that the preachers and colonization went connected at the hip. The teachers help the colonizers stir up bargains that duped Africa clans out of their territory and their assets. Kenyan patriot pioneer, Jomo Kenyatta, was cited saying â€Å"When the ministers came the Africans had the land and the Christians had the Bible. They instructed us to implore with our eyes shut. At the point when we opened our eyes we saw that they presently had the land and we had the Bible.† ( Gordon 286)  â â â â This is the dismal truth. The teachers used Christianity as an approach to control the Africans and make the colonization procedure simpler. These individuals were doing very well without having Christianity in their lives†¦believe it or not.

Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 3

Key Management - Essay Example Exceptionally referencing, vital administration helps present day business associations to take powerful choices and direct exercises for achieving achievement, bringing about accomplishing unrivaled serious position and continuing over the long haul (Wells, 2003). In this article, the perspectives on two unique writers of vital administration will be extravagantly talked about so as to increase an appropriate comprehension of system. The article expects to investigate and think about the perspectives on Mintzberg’s ten schools of considerations alongside Whittington’s four key focal points. An appropriate examination will be directed so as to pick up bits of knowledge about the various degrees of methodology. As per the perspectives on Michael Porter, technique is a choice, which remembers a cognizant methodology of performing exercises for an alternate way from that of the rivals so as to achieve a reasonable long haul upper hand. Doorman expresses that it is significant for the associations to concentrate on the operational points of view as well as on the key exercises that will in general be successful in performing adequately in the business markets (Sage Publication, n.d.). In addition, according to the perspectives on Strickland and Thompson (2003), methodology is portrayed as an administrative procedure, which is utilized to shape key dreams, goals and approaches that are viewed as fitting so as to achieve long haul achievement. It is mirrored that a methodology is supposed to be incapable without the execution of legitimate vital administration. It is frequently seen that there are different systems that reflect as very helpful for creating generally speaking business execution, yet doesn't prevail over the long haul because of the absence of key administration activity. It is perceptible that the accomplishment of the associations is reliable on different components and in this manner there exists different degrees of technique for satisfying the

The Government Of Indira Gandhi The Strengths And Weaknesses - 550 Words

The Government Of Indira Gandhi: The Strengths And Weaknesses (Essay Sample) Content: Student’s Name Professor Course Date The Government of Indira Gandhi Question 2. Discuss the government of Indira Gandhi, the strengths and weaknesses. Indira Gandhi was an Indian political and a central figure in the national congress. She was the only daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru who was an Indian prime minister (Gandhi et al. 12-15). She rose to the position of a prime minister in 1966 after getting strong support from the agriculturally based communities because of her food production policies and succeeding in the Pakistani war. The victory in the war saw the creation of Bangladeshi in early 1971 (Frank 43-45). A profound analysis of her policies during her reign reveals a number of strengths and weaknesses. One of the biggest strengths was her ability to effectively connect with the common people especially the grass-root workers of the party. She also had a great passion for ensuring that the national security was guaranteed. The Indian army suc cessfully crushed the West Bengals’ communist militants through the declaration of the state of emergency. Gandhi underscored the importance of the north-eastern regions and suppressed any revolts like the Mizo uprising that was overrun by the Indian army (Goswami 579-582). Indira Gandhi also pushed for social reforms with the central agenda of guaranteeing equal pay for both men and women. The idea of equal pay came into being under her administration, and she continued to push for the equal rights of all citizens, arguing that inequality was behind the revenue deficit that the government was incurring (Goswami 581). Her ideas seem to be one of the earliest by prime ministers in the push for feminism. Gandhi believed that if women were given the opportunity to develop, they would be financially independent and contribute positively to the economic growth. Despite the strengths she possessed as a leader, her weaknesses made her voted out of office particularly becau se of the increasing authoritarian policies being enacted. She was behind the 21 months’ state of emergency that greatly infringed on the constitutional rights of the Indians (Kaviraj 1698-1703). Gandhi also made a big mistake in offering an indirect support to Zarnail Bhindrawala and failed to control him as he grew powerful and influential (Goswami 582). The results of this decision made her suffer in the Operation Blue Star that cost her life. She was assassinated by two of her bodyguards and her son, Rajiv, rose to power sparking anti-Sikh protests all over the country. Besides, it is worth noting that her dictatorial form of leadership that saw her arrest all members of the opposition, pretending to be guided by the code IPC 109 of arresting people who roamed at night (Kaviraj 1707-1708). Conclusively. Indira Gandhi is a ce...

The Struggles of Immigant Woman Searching for Employment...

Based on the preliminary research I conducted, I have been able to identify two key topic areas that are of interest to me and these include: immigrant women attaining jobs in Ontario and violence experienced by women in Canada. In regard to immigrant women attaining jobs, there are significantly higher unemployment rates and lower wages that they are faced with, in comparison to other immigrant men and Canadian-born men and women. The debate circulating around this issue seeks to answer whether gender, immigrant class, age, ethnicity and sexuality all play a role in an immigrant woman’s ability to be employed (TIEDI, 2010, p.1). Some key questions that have arisen focus on workplace policies and programs that create further disparity†¦show more content†¦It is evident that transhistorical approaches have reduced the complexity of this issue and the positions of these women seek to take a macro-level approach in order to identify the factors that lead up to violent ac ts against girls and women. d) From the preliminary research I conducted on the two topics, I will specifically focus on immigrant women and girls attaining jobs in Ontario and the many obstacles they encounter due to sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, class and age. Since this is such a broad topic, I will focus on specific areas that analyze how cultural norms/traditions/stereotypes and government and workplace gendered policies/regulations all impact women and girls’ abilities to be employed. I will seek to answer questions that explain what factors lead up to immigrant women ending up in these circumstances, why it occurs so frequently and what possible solutions are available to bring about change. As identified by Papp (2010), a key issue of concern is that many immigrant women of South Asian communities, who are sponsored by their husbands to reside in Canada, are not adequately educated about their rights and freedoms. The lack of information can lead to women continuing with their practices of cultural norms from their home country, which often involves being forced

Columbine High School Massacre The Facts, Theories,...

Columbine High School Massacre: The Facts, Theories, Issues, and Solutions On April 20, 1999, one of the largest school shootings in American history took place at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Two teens, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, shot and killed 13 people and wounded more than 20 others both before committing suicide. Many believe the two teens decided to hold this school massacre because both were bullied and were outcasts. This paper will examine labeling and social control theories to explain the behavior of these two juveniles, and this paper will also include issues and solutions pertaining to these theories. The labeling theory is based on social deviations that result in the outsider becoming labeled (UK Essays, 2013). Labels make expectations that the labeled person will act in a specific way. These labeled people will eventually begin to accept their labels as personal identities (Siegel Welsh, 2014). In other words, this theory explains society makes people deviant through those who label those people as delinquent; that stigmatizes those people and encourages them to accept the label as a personal identity. Another part of the labeling theory is that the process helps create a self-fulfilling prophecy; deviant behavior patterns are a response to being previously labeled (Siegel Welsh, 2014). The social control theory suggests that â€Å"people engage in criminal activity when their bond to society has weakened† (Ortiz, 2011). This theoryShow MoreRelated We Must Work to Prevent Mass School Shootings Essay1394 Words   |  6 Pagesshootings at schools. The public, and even the president of the United States, is asking if anything can be done to prevent these tragedies. There are many theories on why students kill their peers at schools; these range from increased violence in video games and movies to bullying troubles at school. Almost always, the perpetrator suffers from some form of mental illness (Khadaroo). Because of this, motives for these crimes are extremely difficult to discern. Although the theories for the causesRead MoreHistory Behind The Gun Control2680 Words   |  11 PagesCapone is most well known for his acts of violence against other gangsters.(â€Å"Al Capone†, 2016) In 1929 Capone had Jack Mcgurn, a hitman, pose as a police officer and kill seven men from a rival gang.(â€Å"Al Capone†, 2016) After this â€Å"Valentine s Day Massacre† there was a lot of heat on Capone and co. and President Hoover called for the government to finally catch and jail him for tax evasion.(â€Å"Al Capone†, 2016) Capone was eventually arrested and jailed and in from 1934 to 1938 President Franklin RooseveltRead MoreGun Laws Decrease Violence1972 Words   |  8 Pagesclose eye on him, he would do so, but if not, he would’ve admitted him for further care and evaluation (para 9). â€Å"That’s what society does. It would no more abandon this man to fend for himself than it would a man suffering a stroke,† he said. His theory is basically to help the people who need help instead of turning them away and assuming they are going to be fine. In cases such as this, why would any police officer, doctor, or anyone else be willing to take that gamble? He closes up by saying â€Å"WeRead MoreZero Toleranc e Policies During The Late 1980 S2602 Words   |  11 Pagesenforcement and arrest. In 1994 Congress passed the Gun-Free Schools Act, which forced states to pass laws mandating expulsion for a minimum of one year for bringing a weapon to school in order to receive federal education funds. By the mid 90’s roughly 80% of schools had adopted zero tolerance policies beyond the federal requirements and in response the federal government began to increase funding for security guards and other school based law enforcement officers and equipment. These changesRead MorePopular Culture and Violent Behavior Essay11795 Words   |  48 PagesIntroduction In 1871 E.B. Taylor defined culture as that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and many other capabilities and habits acquired by...[members] of society.[1] Taylor was talking about high culture, an aristocratic view of the past-times such as ballet, theatre and art. Popular culture, on the other hand, is a form of low culture and is based primarily on marketing, mass production and revenue. Low culture is what is soldRead MoreViolence on Television Does Not Impact Behavior Essay3474 Words   |  14 Pagesindisputable fact that violence sells in the 90s. turn on the television during prime time and right away a throng of gruesome programs amasses you from Extreme Wrestling to CNN news. Whens the last time you heard something positive on the news as opposed to civil war in Europe, the death of an inner-city youth by a rival gang, or the brutal rape and murder of a child by their parent? Perhaps the news contributes more than just an insightful knowledge of events. Perhaps Columbine copycats and school bomb

Preparing to Conduct Business in China Essay Example For Students

Preparing to Conduct Business in China Essay Conducting business in china requires a great deal of patience, respect, timing, humility, knowledge, cunning, and just the right amount of aggression. Knowing these are the tools that are to be employed for successful negotiating is completely worthless unless you know how and when to use each of them. Missing a cue for changing from being patient to aggressive, or being humble instead of cunning, will make or break a negotiation in an instant. As the article entitled, Scaling the Great Wall: The Yin and Yang of Resolving Business Conflict in China states, as Americans with aspirations of obtaining a piece of the Chinese-market pie, we must invest the time to understand the sources of Chinese culture and not just the culture itself. Because within the culture of todays Chinese business tactics, are glimpses into the ancient history of a people that have not only survived, but flourished longer than any other civilization in the history of the world. Knowing only what we (Americans) want to achieve from a particular negotiation with a Chinese business person is extremely near-sided and will almost guarantee certain defeat. Instead, we must have a firm understanding of what our Chinese counterpart is also seeking from the negotiation and therefore be able to anticipate their strategy for succeeding. This anticipation tactic is vital because it is the very tactic that will be employed by our Chinese counterpart against us, and as history has proven many times, that is a very successful tactic. The Chinese consumer market is like that of a massive mountain that contains the worlds highest concentrations of gold. However, there are some very difficult obstacles to be overcome before reaping anything short of gold dust. This mountain has been closed off to outsiders for centuries, and most prospectors are even unsure exactly where the mountain is located or where to even start climbing the mountain. This mountain is unmapped by anyone other than its inhabitants, is very difficult to reach and is made of solid granite. The gold is extremely deep in the mountain, and it will take many years of diligent, patient and backbreaking work to reach the gold. Even if the gold is ever reached, and mined, anything that is removed must be shared with the people that live on the mountain. As an added consideration, the inhabitants of the mountain do not necessarily have much use for the gold, have gotten along just fine with out it, and could continue to flourish if they never had it. This article has the potential to impact and influence the manner in which a prospector would go about finding the mountain in question. It (the article) provides some very basic tools for conducting business in China. It not only reiterates the notion that as Americans we must put aside our ethnocentrism, and provides insight into why and how our Chinese counterparts approach and conduct business. If these guidelines are to be taken seriously, it requires us to not only abandon our own methods, but we must become our counterpart in our ideas, thought patterns, and adapt the same motivations for the outcome. The profit potential of the Chinese markets is widely known, but the manner in which to go about tapping those markets has been somewhat of a mystery. The mystery deepens with every failure incurred by what we in the west consider unstoppable giants in our own culture. Never before have companies needed to be more prepared for entering new markets as they must with China. Not bei ng prepared, or being ill prepared to negotiate in China has swift and irreparable consequences. The successful companies are those that have implemented the guidelines (to some extent) outlined in the assigned article. .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3 , .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3 .postImageUrl , .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3 , .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3:hover , .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3:visited , .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3:active { border:0!important; } .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3:active , .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3 .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6ff7155c189247078ea8534e4c9e58e3:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Obesity Essay SummaryThe author of the article is forthright in making his point that American managers must not expect to use the same techniques that work in the western world and apply them to business in China. Instead, there are some basic guidelines that every reader must understand before attempting to negotiate in China. The first being that American managers, to be successful in China, must first step out of their cultural comfort zone and be open to a new paradigm of thought processes. Eastern and western cultures are on opposite ends of the spectrum, and those culture differences create vast gaps in our belief systems, areas of value, and strange if not uncomfor table methods for obtaining our individual objectives. Successful American companies will accept these differences and learn to use them to their own advantage. The second guideline is that a Western businessperson must have clear objectives before beginning a negotiation with the Chinese. Knowing their own objectives should not be confused with needing to dictate the course to be taken to obtain the objective. In fact, remaining flexible is an extremely important attribute that must be maintained at all times. Thirdly, Conflict should not only be expected, but be used as a tool for encouraging and maintaining dialogue, hence the need to remain flexible. By remaining flexible, the inevitable conflict will not catch the American manager by surprise, but will instead be seen as a progression in the negotiation process. American managers should be comfortable in dealing with conflict and should not let emotion enter the negotiation. The fourth guideline addresses the art of deception. Deception is another area that most western managers are not accustomed to dealing with on a regular basis, and yet it must be expected and used as yet another tool in negotiations with the Chinese. The Chinese negotiator will use this tactic in an attempt to unbalance its counterpart at critical times in the negotiation process. Deception shouldnt be seen as flat out lying, instead, should be seen as simply feigning in an attempt to make the other side reveal weaknesses that might not otherwise be noticed. The last technique from the article to be pointed out deals with honour. As with all eastern cultures, honour is an extremely important aspect of everyday life that must be maintained at all times. The most critical commodity to be respected in China is the dignity of your counterpart. If the eastern counterpart losses face, or is on the verge of losing face, the Chinese will cease negotiation and business will be stopped and not be resumed. To gain additional insight into the Chinese business philosophy, one needs to simply look at the basic underlying influence of their culture, which are the martial arts. The term martial arts, which has become synonymous with self-defense and fighting styles such as Karate or Judo, among others, has its real meaning in the understanding of all forces present in any situation (military or business) and utilizing those forces to your own advantage. As an example, the martial art style of Judo was created by the Chinese thousands of years ago. Its purpose was to perfect the idea of using your opponents strengths (and subsequent weaknesses) against them, without ever yourself throwing a punch or kick. One way this is accomplished is by letting the opponent develop a false sense of superiority, then redirecting the energy of your opponent, contained in the form of a punch or kick, and letting the laws of inertia take over. The momentum of such an energy is increased because your opponent expects (now, more so than before) contact to be made, but by stepping aside or dodging the energy, the momentum of the misdirected energy will throw the opponent completely off balance, thereby making them, in turn, very vulnerable to a counterattack. This basic philosophy is played out in the form of deception when negotiating, as discussed earlier. The false sense of security made possible by means of deception leads to complacency and reduces ones guard against attack, or in this case, negotiation. When the anticipated outcome, brought about by complacency, is instead replaced with a completely unexpected counter-attack, the immediate reaction is based on emotional response, which leads to the downward spiraling ability to control emotion, which in turn reduces the ability to think clearly, which in turn leads to the complete collapse of good judgement and will certainly bring about (partial or complete) defeat. .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb , .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb .postImageUrl , .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb , .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb:hover , .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb:visited , .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb:active { border:0!important; } .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb:active , .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u415a8d22959d2a575a5abdcb43513fdb:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: VARK Analysis EssayAn American manager must never allow complacency to take the place of caution and down right paranoia when dealing with a Chinese counterpart. The consequences can be devastating. The Chinese people are that of an ancient culture. This ancient culture is full of philosophers whose philosophies are still widely practiced in every day life. One philosopher in particular I personally found to be interesting is Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu is the author of a book entitled The Art of War. This book, is literally a handbook for military strategies, but not the strategies we in the west would expect to find. Rather, Sun imparts wisdom to the reader on strategies to expose the weaknesses of your opponents then capitalize on those exposed weaknesses. For example, in the chapter entitled Laying Plans, Sun instructs the reader to Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. This same strategy is echoed in the text of the assigned article when the authors guard against deceptive tactics utilized by the Chinese. This article is an excellent tool for getting acquainted with the basic strategies used in the course of Chinese business. I would encourage any reader to use it solely as an outline and then encourage one to read Sun Tzus book and also study the military strategies of the Chinese over the centuries, because those same strategies used in victory on the battlefield against foreigners are the same ones being used on the new battlefield of today, called business.

The Religious and Political Views of the Epic Poem

Introduction The poem Paradise Lost by Milton is a piece of art that has been coined wonderfully to pass both political and religious messages. The name Paradise Lost was carefully chosen as a summary of what Milton was talking about in the entire book. According to Sander (64), the way Milton has used diction in this poem, and the way themes come out shows a high level of expertise in this field. The book brings out the historic nature of the creation of mankind.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Religious and Political Views of the Epic Poem specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More When man was created, he was supposed to live in heaven with God. He was supposed to enjoy a life free from any toil, pain, death or any other form of suffering. This was what God intended for man. This poem brings this message in a careful and very interesting manner. The poem brings out the cunning nature of Satan. Determined to compete with the power of God, Satan comes out to put a challenge to God. He uses a special creature of God, the mankind. Paradise Lost skillfully knits religion and politics into one large garment. As Storr (84) observes, Milton has successfully brought together politics and religion into one plate. He has managed to demonstrate that the two are very closely connected. In this poem, it would be easy to see how religion and politics are closely related. From the perspective of Sander (86), some of the facts that are brought out in this poem can either be considered as political or religious. Depending on the approach one takes in the analysis, major themes may be categorized into the two topics. As this scholar puts it, when the poem is given to a political scientist, he shall see politics on the other hand. On the other hand, when this work is given to a student of religion, he shall see a lot of religious facts. This poem is focused on analyzing the poem Paradise Lost from both the religi ous and political standpoints. Religious Views of Paradise Lost and The poem ‘Paradise Lost’ strikes as a religious poem. John Milton brings out the kingdom of God before the fall of man, the process where man fell off with God, and how he was finally sent from Garden of Eden. As Milton says, man was a special creature of God. God considered man a special creature as compared to other creatures. As such, he was given freedom to rule over other creatures of God. He was given power to eat of all the fruits that were in the Garden of Eden extract the fruit of knowledge. God provided man with everything in the garden. He offered man immortality and every other thing that he would need while in the palace. According to Milton (117), besides any other reason that may exist, one of the reasons why God gave Adam and Eve the instruction not to eat from the fruit was to ensure that mankind obeyed him. He had created man and offered all that he might need in the Garden of Eden. Ho wever, after the rebellion of Satan and other angels who were loyal to him, God wanted to ensure that this special creature do not fall off his glory. He gave the instruction to man in order to ensure that he remained faithful to him. However, it unfortunately happened that Satan had plans against God, and against this special creature of God.Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Satan was disguised as a snake, came to Eve and convinced her to eat of the fruit. Milton (78) says that Satan knew that it would be difficult to trick Adam directly. He therefore, chose to use someone who had the capacity to get through to the heart of Adam, and that was Eve. Sure enough, Eve easily fell to Satan’s trick and ate the forbidden fruit. Consequently, Adam was convinced to eat from the fruit of knowledge as demonstrated in the poem. Milton says: Of Mans First Disobedience, and the Frui t Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal tast Brought Death into the World, and all our woe with loss of Eden, till one greater Man (1.1.1-4) Milton says that the decision of man to eat from the fruit of life was disobedience. God had given man all the freedom he would have needed in this kingdom. He only left him with one instruction. The instruction was that he was not to eat from the fruit of knowledge. When man committed this sin, God considered it disobedience. Just like Satan who was his servant but rebelled, God considered man as a special creature who had rebelled against Him. Given his nature, God does not tolerate disobedience. He banished Satan and all other rebellious angels to hell. Man also had to receive a similar treatment. Milton says that this sin brought death and woe to the world. Besides this, man was sent out of the Garden of Eden. Man, unlike Satan, was never given a heavier punishment of being banished to hell (Fromm 28). When Satan tricked man through Eve, he knew that God would banish man from paradise to hell. In hell, Satan knew that he would have control over the special creature of God. However, this was not to be. Unlike Satan who was keen to continue fighting God for the control of the heaven and earth, man realized that he had sinned. He humbled himself before God and told him that he appreciated the fact that his actions warranted punishment. His reactions after sinning shows that man remained loyal to God. He was able to realize that Satan was evil minded and therefore, tricked them to eat from the forbidden fruit. His words and actions reaffirmed his trust and loyalty to God. Even after eating from the fruit of knowledge, man still realized that God was the creator, protector and provider. This was the reason why Satan was hiding from God. He had realized suddenly that they were naked.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Religious and Political Views of the Epic Poem specifically for you for on ly $16.05 $11/page Learn More Milton says: Say first, for Heav’n hides nothing from thy view Nor the deep Tract of Hell, say first what cause Mov’d our Grand Parents in that happy State, Favour’d of Heav’n so highly, to fall off From thir Creator, and transgress his Will For one restraint, Lords of the World besides? (2.1.27-32) Upon realizing that they were naked, Adam and Eve tried to hide their nakedness from God. However, God told them that under the sun, man could not hide anything from him. He had knowledge of every single activity that was taking place in the garden and any other place in the world. God had to punish man although he had admitted his sin. However, the punishment given was not as great as that which was given to the Satan. He was not sent to hell. He was only sent from paradise where everything was given by God, to the earth where he was expected to toil in order to earn a living. He was sent from heaven where there we re no deaths, diseases, sufferings and all other evils witnessed on earth. The life that was offered in heaven would never be seen to man again in all his life on earth. He had rebelled against God. He had listened to the enemy of God, and ate from the forbidden fruit. Sander (37) says, â€Å"Adam and Eve lived a life in paradise where they lacked nothing. They were under the care of God who provided for all their needs till they sinned.† This scholar says that the glory of paradise was taken from man because of the sin. He was sent to earth where he would face evil power determined to destroy him. The animals that he named after their creation, and controlled when in paradise would turn against him, just like he turned against God. The serpent, which was a harmless creature in paradise, was given ability to bite and kill man given the opportunity. However, God realized that man could not survive if left alone on earth. He therefore maintained his presence through his trusted angels who watched over man. Milton (56) says that although God sent man out of the garden, he kept a close eye on him to ensure that he was protected from any harm, especially from Satan and his forces. Milton says that following this sin, God considered man a rebellious creature. Because of this rebellion, the paradise was lost forever.Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More When God created the law to Adam, it was supposed to make him know how he would rule over other creatures that had been bestowed under his watch. Forsyth (29) says that God never gives laws that are oppressive. God loved His creatures Adam and Eve. For this reason, He could not hide from them anything which was good for them. They were God’s favorite creatures. God gave them the garden where they would find everything they needed without any struggle. God knew that eating from this fruit would harm them. This is proven when Adam and Eve struggled to hide their nakedness from God. All this time man and woman had been naked, but never realized. They never struggled to hide from God. However, this fruit brings shame, struggle and the need to run away from the presence of God. All these are sufferings that God wanted to save Adam from when he gave him the law. Political Views of Paradise Lost According to Sander (93), poems are always based on issues about the society. This schol ar says that although poems are always fiction as the actions would take place in the mind of the author who will then transfer it into a written art, the actions are always based on facts on the society. Poets would use their skills to bring out specific information about the society in a special way. In this poem, Milton brings out how politics manifests itself in the society. This is brought from the leadership perspective. In this poem, Milton brings in a case that demonstrates revolution from the leadership. When God created man and woman and placed them in the garden, they were supposed to obey the command given by God. Political perspective comes in when Satan challenges power of God. He convinces man to disobey God and challenge His authority. Milton says: Who first seduc’d them to that foul revolt? Th’ infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile Stird up with Envy and Revenge, deceiv’d The Mother of Mankind, what time his Pride Had cast him out from Heavâ €™n, with all his Host Of Rebel Angels, by whose aid aspiring To set himself in Glory above his Peers, He trusted to have equal’d the most High (2.1.33-40) In this extract, two centers of power are shown to be fighting for control. As shown in this extract, Satan, through the serpent, was determined to win over Humankind because it was the most treasured creature of all. He seduced humankind to revolt against God. The extract shows that Satan had developed an empire by joining forces with other rebel angels. According to Milton (114), Satan formed a very strong kingdom where he was the ruler. In his kingdom, this scholar says that Satan made a great effort to ensure that he fought against the powers of God. He wanted to reign over the world. These two forces have been in constant battle. They are struggling to rule Humanity. From the extract, Satan was full of envy towards man, and the need to revenge. Man had been considered as the most precious creature that pleased God . By attacking him and making him part ways with God, Satan knew that he would be left to control mankind (Sander 86). This scholar says that the mission of Satan was to separate man from God so that he would find his way between the two. By manipulating man to disobey God, Satan knew that mankind would be sent away from Heaven where God would offer full protection. However, by managing to separate them, he would have time to attack man with a lot of ease. According to Sander (86), in a political environment, powers will always clash while trying to determine which power is stronger. Two empires staying side by side will never be at peace until one exerts its authority and proves that it is stronger. In this poem, we are introduced to two kingdoms. The first Kingdom is headed by God, and has all the angels that remained loyal to God. The second kingdom is headed by Satan, and has various followers who fell from the first kingdom. Satan himself was an angel under the leadership of Go d (Milton 73). These two kingdoms are fighting to gain control of the kingdom. Milton says: That Glory never shall his wrath or might Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace With suppliant knee, and deifie his power, Who from the terrour of this Arm so late Doubted his Empire, that were low indeed, That were an ignominy and shame beneath This downfall; since by Fate the strength of Gods And this Empyreal substance cannot fail, (3.1.110-117) From this extract, Milton appreciates the existence of the two kingdoms. He appreciates the fact that the two are very strong kingdoms, but with forces pulling in different directions. While God is determined to see a peaceful society, with humanity living within the freedom allowed, and obeying the rules given, Satan is determined to counter this. He challenges God and uses terror to counter the power of God. Milton finally appreciates the fact that God’s empire is actually beyond any failure. According to Forsyth (116), the war between God and Satan can be viewed from the political perspective. The argument of this scholar is in support of Milton’s Paradise Lost. This scholar says that when Satan was in the same kingdom in heaven under the leadership of God, he believed that the power of God could be challenged. He envied the power of God. This was despite the fact that he was one of the most trusted angels of God. However, he wanted to be like God. He wanted to experience how it would be as a leader of a given community. He wanted to create a territory where he would be the leader. For this reason, he rebelled from God. This rebellion did not come because God did something that Satan considered outrageous. It is only that Satan was yearning for power. He wanted to reign, just like God. Storr (56), in his review of the poem ‘Paradise Lost’, says that Milton presents a struggle for power in those early days. This scholar says that the paradise which was lost was actually the ability to enjoy the benefits of being in a superior kingdom. This scholar further says that during those early days, the rulers based their ruling strategy on rod and stick. Those who obeyed the stronger power would enjoy the benefits that come with it such as staying in paradise where man would not be subjected to any labor and pain. This story clearly demonstrates that disobedience comes with consequences. Mankind lost the paradise because of the failure to obey God. As such, he was made to suffer. According to Forsyth (47), the poem Paradise Lost is a narration of the events that took place in the Garden of Eden just before man was sent to earth. This scholar says that religion is about obedience. From religious perspective, people have the responsibility to ensure that they follow the laws and all the regulations put in place by God. When God made the first law and gave it to Adam, it was supposed to guide him within the Garden of Eden. These laws were not meant to oppress him. The law was not mea nt to make him foolish before other creatures in this Garden. Other than God and His angels, man was the most intelligent animal. He was given power to control other creatures on the earth. Man lacked nothing within this garden, and was always under tight security. Just like in an earthly kingdom, this kingdom had laws. These laws always help in defining relationship between one man and another, and between man and nature. This is what this law given to Adam was meant for. The law was to help define the relationship that exists between man and nature, and with God. God knew why the tree’s fruit was never to be eaten by man. Adam had all the reason to obey this law that was defining how he would relate to nature (Shaffer 57). This law was also a sign of how God wanted Adam to behave with Him. Disobeying this law was a disobedience to God who created the law. Just like in a kingdom, such a behavior could not go unpunished. Being banished from the Garden of Eden was the punishme nt given. Conclusion The epic poem ‘Paradise Lost’ by John Milton presents a story of how man came to fall off from paradise. The poem skillfully knits together religion and politics into one garment. Satan is seen determined to challenge the power of God. He fights God directly, but realizes that that is dangerous. He then chooses to fight God through His special creature, man. Again he realizes that man is very loyal to God, and would not disobey Him if he was to approach him. Canning as he was, Satan found his way into the Garden of Eden. He sneaks into this garden in the form of a snake. Using his oratory skills, Satan manages to convince Eve to eat from the forbidden fruit. Eve goes ahead to eat the fruit without realizing that this is an act of rebellion against God. She takes some to Adam who also eats this fruit of knowledge. They suddenly realize that they were naked, and hide their nakedness from God when they heard him enter the garden. As a result, man is se nt to earth from the Garden of Eden. He is relieved of all the privileges that he enjoyed while he was loyal to the kingdom of God. Now that he had listened to the Kingdom of Satan, he had to experience the suffering that comes with this kingdom. He was to toil in order to eat. He had to protect himself from wild animals in order to survive. He was assigned various tasks that were strenuous just because of this sin. Paradise was lost, and lost forever. He had to stay on earth with all its challenges. This is the message that this epic poem by John Milton brings out. Works Cited Forsyth, Holly. Gardens of Eden: Among the World’s Most Beautiful Gardens. Carlton, Miegunyah Press, 2009. Print. Fromm, Erich. On Being Human. New York: Continuum, 1994. Print. Milton, John. Paradise Lost. London: Vintage Classic, 1758. Print. Sander, Theresa. Approaching Eden: Adam and Eve in Popular Culture. Lanham: Rowman Littlefield Publishers Inc, 2009. Print. Shaffer, Jackie. Adam and Eve: The Tree and What They Ate. Pittsburgh: Rose Books, 2008. Print. Storr, Catherine. Adam and Eve. Milwaukee: Raintree Books, 1983. Print. This essay on The Religious and Political Views of the Epic Poem was written and submitted by user Amira Jennings to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.