Research Korner: Book Reviews Samples

JONATHAN D. SPENCE’S GOD’S CHINESE SON: A BOOK REVIEW

JONATHAN D. SPENCE’S GOD’S CHINESE SON: A BOOK REVIEW             THE BOOK               Jonathan Spence’s book God’s Chinese Son: The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan is a remarkable account of the largest and bloodiest civil war in human history, the Taiping Rebellion, and the terror that this uprising brought to twentieth century China.[1]  The literary creation is a short analysis of the narrative history wherein the author uses speculations to cover unavoidable gaps in the sources and gives the right amount of background information on Chinese folk customs and religious beliefs to make the story comprehensible. The result is a literary masterpiece of objectivity shadowed by sympathy to the principal figures.[2] The book is recommendable even for readers who do not have interest in Christianity or Chinese history. It does not only provide a detailed and well-documented analysis of probably the most effective Christian revolutionary movement world history has ever witnessed[3] but also follows the intellectual development of a young man who became a central figure in the Taiping Rebellion and had a striking impact to Chinese history.[4] THE STORY                 The ”Chinese Son of God” is a tale of a young village school teacher named Hong Houxiu, later renamed himself to Hong Xiuquan, who was filled with hope and determination to succeed in an important examination of his life but then failed four times. This failure sparked in him a sense of self-resentment and depression that led to a grave illness.  He was on the verge of death when he saw a vision of the Heavenly Kingdom and the Heavenly Family of God the Father, His wife and His son Jesus. The dream renewed Hong’s strength and drove him in a fanatical quest to establish heaven on earth. Hong had no idea from the start that his quest would lead to a fatal civil uprising and numerous grave deaths among his fellowmen.             The story began when Hong, younger son of a poor farming family from the mountains north of Canton, member of a linguistic and quasi-ethnic minority in the region called the Hakka, and a village school teacher traveled about fifty miles to the northwest to take the provincial civil service examination. While he was in the area he came upon and kept some literature being distributed by an American missionary, including translations of some of the apocalyptic texts of the Bible.[5] After failing four attempts at the examination, the young man was forced to continue teaching in his small village. He developed depression and hostility and fell severely ill. He was dying when he dreamed or hallucinated to have been obliged by the Heavenly Father, the Heavenly Wife and their Son, Jesus, to abolish the “demon devils'' and drive them out of the Earth. When he found the Bible tract he had been given by a Christian missionary some years before, he absorbed the writing and tried to fit its contents to his vision. He then realized that he was actually Jesus’ younger brother sent to save the world.  He began by preaching to his friends and family, and eventually set out to conquer the ruling Qing dynasty, the demon-devils of his vision. With his followers and their entire families, he started a long trek from their original base on Thistle Mountain to the old imperial city of Nanjing, located in the prosperous Lower Yangzi region. Here they established their Heavenly Capital in 1853. He proclaimed himself the Taiping Heavenly King and formed the cult known as the God Worshipper Society. Taiping expanded the role of women. It pioneered the first set of women soldiers in the world when women were allowed to serve in the army and civil service. They were countered by the authorities of the Qing dynasty and Europeans when they tried to siege Shanghai. These two adversaries became the greatest demons for the God Worshippers. Instead of being shattered, they broke out into rebellion and destroyed everything in their path. When the cult was finally put down after the death of Hong and the execution of his son, over twenty-million Chinese had lost their lives from battle or starvation.[6]                The story of Hong as God’s Chinese Son and the Taiping rebellion was triggered by unclear Western Christian ideologies personally interpreted by a Chinese who did not have the necessary background and orientation regarding Christianity. This haphazard and narrow interpretation and adaptation to personal and local circumstances led to absurd and fanatical struggles to establish a heaven on earth.  In some ways, Taiping history was like the development of a normally harmless bacterium that unexpectedly rages out of control in a weakened body.[7] It all started with a vision to preach Christianity and teachings about God but then Hong’s personal beliefs and idiosyncrasies grew out of proportion when faced with opposition from the very same people that he saw as enemies. The Taiping history is a shocking story staged by desperate people with erratic religious ideologies. Spence wrote that "in a community that was at once scriptural, imagined and rooted in the soil, the Taiping New Jerusalem was created and remained a base for eleven years until in 1864, after 20 million people or more in the regions under their sway had lost their lives in battle or from starvation, Hong and the remnants of his army perished in their turn from famine, fire, and sword."[8]  The book shows readers new ways of looking at the Heavenly Kingdom movement and its religious leaders. The author’s sources and mastery of the narrator's craft, has enabled him to reconstruct the Taiping fanatics’ voices in a most convincing way to reveal to the readers that stories of immense tragedies like the Taiping is crucial for a holistic view of the world.[9] More importantly, the author points out that as years unfold; many communities are gripped by a kind of "millenarian" fever - an apocalyptic belief in the end of human society and the coming of Paradise on Earth.[10]         	   	 		 		 		[1] Jon Fetter. “God's Chinese Son The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong 		Xiuquan,”           University of Michigan Center for the Study of 		Complex Systems, 1998 [article            online]; available from 		http://cscs.umich.edu/~crshalizi/reviews/gods-chinese-son; 		 		 		            Internet; 		accessed 24 November 2006. 		  	 		 		 		[2] 		John Reilley. “God's Chinese Son The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong 		Xiuquan,”        John Reilley Homepage, 1997 [article online]; 		available from    http://www.johnreilly.info/gcs.htm; Internet; accessed 		24 November 2006. 	 		 		 		 		[3] Paul Griffiths. “Books in Review: God’s Chinese Son,” Leadership 		University, 		 		            2002 		[article online]; available from http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/ 		 		            		ft9606/reviews/griffiths.html; Internet; accessed 24 November 2006. 		 		  	 		 		 		[4] 		Zhou Guanghui. 		“Jonathan D. Spence. God's 		Chinese Son: 		The Taiping Heavenly 		Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan,” University of California San Diego, 		2003 [article 		 		            online]; 		available from http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/chinesehistory/pgp/spence2.htm; 		 		            Internet; 		accessed 24 November 2006. 	 		 		 		[5] 		Reilley, God’s Chinese Son. 	 		 		 		[6] 		William H. Duquette, “God’s Chinese Son,” 		Ex Libris Reviews, 1997 		[article 		 		            online]; 		available from http://www.wjduquette.com/exlibris/ex19970901.html 		 		            		#gods_chinese_son; Internet; accessed 24 November 2006. 		  	 		 		 		[7] 		Reilley, God’s Chinese Son. 	 		 		 		[8] 		“A Chinese who claimed to be the son 		of God,” Asiawind, 2006 [article online]; 		 		            Available from 		http://www.asiawind.com/pub/forum/fhakka/mhonarc/ 		 		            msg00451.html; Internet; accessed 24 November 2006. 		 		  	 		 		 		[9] 		Barend ter Haar, “God’s Chinese Son: The Taiping Heavenli Kingdom of 		Hong Xiuquan”- 		 		            Book reviews,” Journal of Social History, 1997, 2. 		 		 		            	 		 		 		[10] 		Chinese.

JONATHAN D. SPENCE’S GOD’S CHINESE SON: A BOOK REVIEW

JONATHAN D. SPENCE’S GOD’S CHINESE SON: A BOOK REVIEW THE BOOK Jonathan Spence’s book God’s...

BRIEF ANALYSIS OF THE MOORE BOOK

Brief Analysis: “Touchdown Jesus: The Mixing of Scared and Secular in American History” by Robert Laurence Moore Introduction             This book is a thought-provoking and belief-breaking yet highly informative and interesting.  Based on his writings, Moore deals with the attitudes, behaviour and perception of the Americans regarding their respective individual sacred and secular lives.  He reveals the pattern of American spirituality and the revolution of religion from the 19th to 20th centuries.  The author also examined the role of popular culture and religion about shifts in boundaries between sacredness and secularism and its overlapping practices in shaping the American religion. Analysis             Moore narrates the direct and indirect effect of ‘public display of religion’ for both the sacreds and the seculars. The people were influenced in terms of history, lifestyle, work, education, governmental procedures/politics, sporting events, music, marketplace, literature and womanhood. How religion can serve the initiative for racial militancy and terrorism was also scrutinized. As mentioned, such can threaten the equality, domestic security and national identity.             From different values and worldviews, religion and prayers can adapt different meanings for self-confessed sacreds and seculars. Though, the Americans always tend to relate those perceptions to self-discipline and sense of self-worth. In connection, the author presented the limitations and perils of being religious from Protestants’ and Catholics’, moralists’ and churches’ view.             Specifically, Moore observed religion’s involvement regarding women’s right of suffrage, immigration and acculturation and scientific neutrality. Arguably, Moore touches the political and social struggle of women and then impliedly expresses that women are settled with domesticity. Yes, even without a vote women always attempt to participate in politics.             However, women knew that the ultimate expression of freedom and independence is the right to vote. If women, regardless of religion, are settled to take the mothers and wives roles, then, we can never witness a woman casting her ballot or holding an electoral position.             The author and I are of the same mind when he related that immigration has encouraged diversity and blurred the American identity. The Immigration Act of 1965 repelled the immigration quotas and favored an overflowing migration of new citizens. He even specified that acculturation is difficult. Indeed.             The American experience of repetitive immigration witnessed the unfolding of culture reinvention. And since religion is protected by the Constitution, Palestinians, Jews, Catholics and Muslims freely expressed their beliefs and practices which subsequently blended to American spirituality and culture.             Still, Moore and I share the same opinion that scientific neutrality is astute. If it teaches something that somebody’s religion hold untrue, is science neutral? As a fact, the law has no intentions to harm religion but abiding the law puts a significant burden to religious practices, e.g. parents believed that teaching Darwinian evolution destroys faith.             Reasonably, the conflict is placed on the principles: parents’ right to instill to their children moral values founded on a strong religious faith and state’s responsibility to provide the best possible education in all subjects. Perhaps, a clear distinction between science as a science and religion or spirituality or faith must be settled. It’s best to make the students understand that believing such subject is a personal decision.             I have realized that a person can make a difference like that of Robert Laurence Moore along with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Louis Farrakhan. These outstanding persons echoed the voice of the majority, take pride of their beliefs and elevate their status.               Certainly, I would like to reveal more of the author regarding his works and his thoughts such as: a) Do you pray? What are you praying for? b) Are you different? Or special? In what way? c) How real is ‘therapeutic culture”? Do you feel it? to fully understand his work and his reasons for publishing such book. Conclusion             Touchdown Jesus reveals the religion when it is about something else and the right to be different. A variety of religious experiences resides everywhere even on a political assembly or at the heart of a terrorism attack.             Generally, the entire book calls for another culture – a culture of respect. If Charles Darwin believed in man’s evolution from apes, then so be it. If Robert Moore believed that the sacred and the secular overlapped in practices, then so be it. If George W. Bush believed that religious faith could change the lives of social delinquent, then so be it.               God made us completely different and unique from each other. Even science believes that there is no same person in the world. The least we could do is recognize such differences, value them and then start from there.

BRIEF ANALYSIS OF THE MOORE BOOK

Brief Analysis: “Touchdown Jesus: The Mixing of Scared and Secular in American History” by Robert Laurence Moore Introduction ...

Sex and Social Justice

I.             Introduction The article is a part of Martha Nussbaum’s work “Sex and Social Justice.” The discussions particularly evolve around the arguments presented towards the subject of the judgment of one culture to another. The article made use of one of the most debated issues internationally, genital mutilation. This paper will be analysing the said article by providing a summary and looking critically at the structure and the way the arguments are presented.      II.           Summary The issue of female genital mutilation (FGM) has been one of the most debated issues from the past years. Nussbaum’s article is an addition to the wide array of literature dedicated to the said topic. The article employed the case of Fauziya Kassindja, a Togo national who tried to apply for political asylum in the United States in order to get away from her relatives compelling her to commit FGM. The arguments on the said article then turn to specific attributes brought about by the case. First noted by Nussbaum is whether Westerners have a responsibility or even the right to bring this practice to an end. The article basically presented several arguments why the Western countries should not disparage the actions of other cultures, especially if these are considered deeply ingrained and considerably a part of the traditions of the said culture. What Nussbaum see in the said arguments that the notion of culture has been utilised in the sense that there is a set of elements that basically delineate what is right and wrong. To some degree, she claimed that these arguments demanding Westerners to be indifferent to the traditions (hideous or otherwise) of other cultures is rather naïve in a way that it shuns its attention to the fact that other forms of cultures exist. This is further indicated by the indications noted in her argument relating to the fact that within the same cultures mentioned, there is some sort of opposition to the practice (FGM). As presented in the case of Kassindja, her father vehemently opposed of the practice of FGM despite the fact that is considered a requirement for marriage in their culture. The article even took note of the claims of Tamir specifically on the claims against the practice of FGM is basically anchored on the deep-seated attributes of the Western society particularly related to sexuality of the individual. In the case of FGM, pleasure on the part of the female is removed. Nussbaum argues in this sense that compelling women to mutilate themselves as a part of what is seen as cultural conformity is basically inappropriate. This shows that the arguments presented by the said author are based on the freedom of women to express themselves with regards to their sexuality and their respective behaviours towards it.      III.         Conclusion Martha Nussbaum is considered in the academic community as among the “liberal perfectionists” of our time. (1998) Basically that means that her arguments are basically leaning towards the doctrine of state responsibility and the sensitive issue of autonomy among individuals. This is shown in the article discussed above. It is shown in such flair that Nussbaum presented it through arguments in feminist ethics and politics. The importance of the freedom of having to choose among individuals is shown in her arguments in such a way that one could in actuality appreciate and understand why such elements are needed in human existence.

Sex and Social Justice

I. Introduction The article is a part of Martha Nussbaum’s work “ Sex and Social Justice. ” The discussions particularly ev...

TONI MORRISON’S BELOVED: A BOOK REVIEW

TONI MORRISON’S BELOVED: A BOOK REVIEW   "Love is or it ain't. Thin love ain't love at all"… - Sethe, p. 164   Sethe (pronounced “Seth-uh”) – a woman who escaped from the bond of slavery (Krumholz 79) and a mother is one of the main characters who are remarkable in the story. After her escape from slavery, Sethe and her daughter Denver struggle to start anew. In the process, Sethe remembers her countless broken memories of slavery and her struggle for liberty. In the novel, Sethe comprises the succeeding occurrences of events. She is the moving framework of behind the novel. Her storytelling moments to a mysterious young woman named “Beloved” brought back her bitter memories especially when she murdered her baby girl. Sethe, when psychologically analyzed constitute the personality of a Persephone type (Marks 2). She enacts through a love gone awry when she killed her baby daughter in order to prevent its being consumed by the oppressive forces of slavery. She uses her “rememory,” as she calls her memory as a strategy to actually discourage memory and “keeping the past at bay”. Other scenes from the novel identifies Sethe as the main participant, thus her significance makes up the entire emotional rollercoaster ride for the readers through the later turn of events.             Aside from the themes of suffering and rebirth, fragmentation and wholeness (Cowan-Barbetti), there are numerous themes inherent to the novel. Among these themes, the most universally accepted and have a shared consequence to the readers is the concept of motherhood. The figurative exposition of a motherly love throughout the novel is heartwarming. Sethe’s act of killing her baby girl is a manifestation of an overarching and great love and sacrifice that any rational man cannot understand except the mother herself. This theme was portrayed perfectly in the parts wherein Sethe escaped from Sweet Home, the ironical name of slave plantation; her desire to be alive not for herself but for her children; her expressions of guilt in what she did and at the same time her willingness to “give up her life, every minute, hour, second of it, to take back just one of Beloved’s tears”. The theme of motherhood is elusive in the novel because it deviates to the current and ordinary manifestation of a mother’s love to her child.             The story took place in two different settings namely: the countryside near Cincinnati, where the principal characters have ended up, and a slave-holding plantation in Kentucky, paradoxically named as Sweet Home, from which they ran away 18 years prior to the opening of the narrative (Bloom 8). The novel was took place after the end of the Civil War and during the period of Reconstruction. This period is characterized with a great deal of indiscriminate violence towards blacks. Historically, the significance of the setting is that it pertains to southern part of America in which the slaves took their refuge.               Major events that happened and considered as important in the development of the story as well as the characters are: the emancipation from slavery, the emergence of Beloved to life of Sethe, and the moments in which Sethe had flashes of painful memories of the past. The emancipation from slavery paved way to the start of new life for Sethe and her daughter. It means a new day, life, and beginning. The emergence of Beloved in the life of Sethe made Sethe’s character somewhat emphatic as manifested in the presence of incidences happened between her and Beloved as well as Paul D. and Denver. Finally, the storytelling and flashbacks (rememory) of Sethe helped in the development of Beloved’s portrayal and understanding of readers (Koolish 169). By the expressions of motherly love of Sethe to her baby girl, readers will understand the past and the present of Sethe, Beloved, and the other characters in the novel.             The best thing I liked about the novel is the idea of freedom as manifested in Sethe’s major decisions in life (e.g. the killing of her daughter in order not to become a slave, having sex with the headstone engraver in an act that sanctions her killing action, making tombs of her love, her womb, her home, and her life, and thereby doubling the harmful consequences of the original killing). I consider this as the best thing that I like about the novel because it qualifies my predetermined definition of freedom. For me, freedom is absolute. This entitles every person to do whatever he/she wants to do but at the same time taking conscientiousness and accountability to the consequences of his/her action – may it be beneficial or destructive in nature. Like Sethe, she made her best and worst decisions but she still stand liable to them even to the extent of ending her own life.             The least thing I liked about the novel is the idea of revenge as manifested in the character of Beloved. In my own perspective, revenge is equated to evilness. In reality, I cannot imagine a child taking vengeful actions towards the person who carried her for almost nine months. Maybe I sound conservative but it is just that I really acknowledge the fact that mothers are the half portion of every individual. What a person decides to do to his/her mother, it simply means doing it to his/her own self. In the period of dynamic change, it is unfortunate to think that some things such as values and religious principles are viewed intangible. And that people dwell on what is material and concrete, forgetting the real essence of it. In relation to the novel, Beloved is an ideal exemplar of numerous people living today – blinded with the idea of revenge as the ultimate solution to every harm that other inflicted to them; and coward to carry out the act of forgiving as a clear evidence of real love and humanness.             Believing in my won standard of what is literally beautiful, I will give Toni Morisson’s Beloved an 8. The reasons behind this are: <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="disc"> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	The novel an amalgamation of various 	sciences such as history, politics, sociology, and most specially psychology 	and philosophy.</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	It presents a wide array of divergent themes 	that are existent in the lives of people.</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	It clearly describes what a mother can do 	for the goodness of her children.</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	It narrates how a person struggles to 	survive no matter how hard the situation is.</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	It presents the imperfection of every person 	that in some moments; people are blinded and confused on what to choose 	between good and bad.</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	The author used this novel to deliver her 	personal beliefs on woman and womanhood.</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	The novel is widely accepted and considered 	as one among the best American literary masterpieces in the past 25 years. 	</li> 	<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> 	Lastly, the novel is entertaining because it 	entails different emotions ranging from love, happiness, sacrifice, 	suffering and others.</li> </ul> With the considered reasons above, I indeed recommend Toni Morrison’s Beloved for intellectual, emotional, historical, and philosophical exploration.

TONI MORRISON’S BELOVED: A BOOK REVIEW

TONI MORRISON’S BELOVED: A BOOK REVIEW "Love is or it ain't. Thin love ain't love at all"… - Sethe, p. 164 ...

So far from God

So far from God                         This novel is a story of a Chicano family. Sofi, her husband Domingo together with their four daughters – Esperanza, Fe, Caridad, and Loca live in the little town of Tome, New Mexico. The story focuses on the struggles of Sofi, the death of her daughters and the problems of their town. Sofi endures all the hardships and problems that come her way. Her marriage is deteriorating; her daughters are dying one by one. But, she endures it all and comes out stronger and more enlightened than ever. Sofi is a woman that never gives up no matter how poorly life treats her. The author- Ana Castillo mixes religion, super natural occurrences, sex, laughter and heartbreak in this novel. The novel is tragic, with no happy ending but at the same time funny and inspiring. It is full of the victory of the human spirit. The names of Sofi’s first three daughters denote the three major Christian ideals (Hope, Faith and Charity).             Esperanza, the most liberated of the sisters, devoted her life to make other people’s lives better. She became a reporter and later on died while covering the Gulf Crisis. She returned home, to her family as a spirit. At first, she spoke through La Llorona, a messenger who informed La Loca that her sister has died. All her family members saw her. She appeared to her mother as a little girl who had a nightmare and went near to her mother for comfort.  Caridad had conversations with her about politics and La Loca talked to her by the river behind their home.             Fe, the second daughter is the one who most subscribed to the traditions of her culture. She was jilted by her fiancé but later on found a new boyfriend. In order to secure a better future for them, Fe left her position at the bank for a higher paying job at an arms manufacturing company. She was soon promoted but the promotion proved fatal as the company exposed her to hazardous chemical. She died of cancer.             Caridad, after being abandoned by her husband, lived a promiscuous life. She was known for “loving anyone she met at the bars who vaguely resembled her husband Memo”. She was brutally raped and mangled by a mysterious spirit identity known as “Malogra”.  However, she healed miraculously and from that moment on, she lost interest in men. She became an apprentice curandera, and during a religious pilgrimage, she saw a woman and she instantly fell in love with her. She found out that her obsessed stalker, Francisco raped Esmeralda – the woman of her affection. She jumped off a cliff while holding hands with Esmeralda as they were being pursued by Francisco. The people searched for their bodies but they were nowhere to be found. It was believed that they were taken by the deity “Tsicktinako” who led them deep within the soft, moist earth where they would be safe and live forever. Here the author connects her work to the Acoma creation myth in order to question the patriarchal constructions of Catholicism. The legend of Tsichtintako was adopted by the author.             La Loca died when she was just Three years old. One night, Sofi was awakened by the howling of the animals. She went to check on her daughters and found the baby, La Loca  jerking and foaming in the mouth. The entire town of Tome mourned for the death of La Loca. Domingo, Sofi’s husband did not come to the funeral. At the funeral mass, everyone was astonished when the seemingly dead child pushed open the lid of her coffin and flew onto the roof of the church. The child argued with the priest and claimed that she came back from Hell. She also claimed that all humans have odors that are akin to that which she smelled in the places she had passed through when she was dead. The townspeople called her “La Loca Santa”. They accepted the young girls return from the dead as being of a divine nature.  She abhorred human touch and only allows the animals and her mother to touch her. Like her sisters, she was destined to die young. She was diagnosed with AIDS. On her death pilgrimage, the people canonized her and made her the saint of the kitchens, new brides and progressive grooms.                The town has a considerable host of curanderas, santeras, penitents and healers. These people have a particular way of interpreting God’s messages. They make use of the earth and its products to perform rituals and produce remedies. The characters in the novel combined Christianity with traditional beliefs and practices.             So far from God is a novel that incites rebellion against the norms and values of Chicano patriarchal society. The novel by Ana Castillo is concerned with the lives of the four Chicana sisters and their mother. Sofi as the head of her family created a home for her daughters, a space they can call their own. Her three older daughters left their home, in search of a more meaningful life in the “big world” outside. Her daughters had gone out into the world and had all eventually returned to their mother’s home. All three of them ( Esperanza, Fe, and Caridad) experienced traumas and cruelties in a world that is dominated by males. Only La Loca remained at home with her mother. She helped in healing her sisters’ spirit.  Drawing on the legends of the second-century martyrs (Faith, Hope, Cahrity, and Sophia), of Nuestro Senor de Esquipulas, and of Tsichtintako, the author revitalized and emboldened the representation of women, in the face of the ideological construction of supposed preternatural myths. The novel presents a religious realm in which, in spite of the established Catholicism people still follow traditional beliefs. Legendary figures interact with the main characters. The story is enhanced by the combination of real and mythic character. The legends that the author included in her work depict the complexity and richness of the Chicano heritage. This novel demonstrates how outrageous life is for a Mexican-American woman.             Sofi later on decided to run for Mayor de Tome. She wanted to improve the people’s lives and to protect their village against destruction. She became the spark that started the fire. She founded an organization, MOMAS (Mothers of Martyrs and Saints). After the death of her daughters, Sofi dedicated her life on improving Tome and helping the people of the village.

So far from God

So far from God This novel is a story of a Chicano family. Sofi, her husband Domingo together with their four da...

“Why Revival Tarries?” By Leonard Ravenhill (The Spiritual Thermometer of the Church in the 21st century)

"Why Revival Tarries?"  By Leonard Ravenhill (The Spiritual Thermometer of the Church in the 21st century)   The book “Why Revival Tarries?”  written by Leonard Ravenhill, was all about spiritual revival which was published four decades ago. The author himself was being considered the religious specialist who carried the conventional work of the church through his writings.  He became one of the greatest 21st century’s influences   to the people before over the major role of the church in the lives of the people. His book contained all the messages that were drastic, fearless and more often radical.  He discussed in his books the disparity between the New Testament church and what the present church teaches to the new generation.  Hence, the author focused his religious writings on the call for biblical revival, who born in 1907 in Leeds, Yorkshire in England.  Later, he decided to convert his religious belief into Evangelism.  There after, he underwent training for the ministry at Cliff College; and soon, he engaged in evangelism works and principles as his new way of life and religious belief and practices.  Sooner, he became one of the England’s leading outdoor Evangelists. He encountered wars for many years in Great Britain, and he was able to persuade people to convert their religious beliefs and practices into Evangelism.  Majority of his converts not only followed the Evangelism principles but also serve in the Christian Ministry through volunteering themselves in a Christianity mission worldwide. (http://www.amazon.com/Why-Revival-Tarries-Classic/dp/0871236079) Furthermore, Leonard Ravenhill got married to Irish nurse named Martha in 1939. They were blessed with three sons, Paul, David and Philip.   The first two sons became ministers of Christianity, while the third son became a teacher.  This English author and evangelist died in November 1994.  God made him an instrument to bring thousands of people in Great Britain to Christ and to the church all throughout the country.  When he was still alive, way back in 1980, he and his family went to the United States, there; he worked with the Bethany House Publishers. They lived near Lindale, Texas, near also to Last Days Ministries.  Leonard taught classes at Last Days Ministries; and he became a mentor to the late Keith Green.  In addition, A. W. Tozer, Leonard’s friend, said that "To such men as this the church owes a debt too heavy to pay. The curious thing is that she seldom tries to pay him while he lives. Rather, the next generation builds his sepulcher and writes his biography? as if instinctively and awkwardly to discharge an obligation the previous generation to a large extent ignored. “ (http://www.amazon.com/Why-Revival-Tarries-Classic/dp/0871236079) Moreover, though, Leonard Ravenhill did not carry the conventional work of the church, and there were groups of people who did not believe in him and his purpose of spreading Christianity to entire world.  Despite the fact, that he was already weak and frail, at the age of 82, he was able to   spoke with fire and still able to convince people about the goodness of God.  His eyes seemed to pierce right into the soul of anyone who in front of him and hearing him talking about the words and works of God for mankind.  For the last few years of his life, he devoted  his time to a prayer meeting that held every week, then later on, became once a month because of his health condition.  All these religious gatherings were always attended by pastors and evangelists.  Several of the men attended in the  prayer meetings were from far away places that did not mind to travel for 4-hour round trip just to be present in every meeting. These evangelical prayer meetings were stopped when he died. (http://www.holytrinitynewrochelle.org/yourti19238.html) Many people deeply affected by Leonard’s death, because he already touched the lives and the hearts of  millions of people in his own country, and even other countries as well, specifically United States of America.  His friends and followers expressed their saddest feelings about his death; they considered his death such a big loss from the Christian world. In the final note, though Leonardo Ravenhill did not do the usual practice and ceremonies that the new church is doing nowadays, still the writer believes that he did more than enough effort, sacrifices and contribution to spread the principles of Christianity worldwide.  Apparently, priests of today master their subjects and homilies in front of many people in the church, but, it does not make any difference on the way Leonardo preached and taught people during his period.   God has his own way to manifest on the people’s act and behavior, as long as the Christianity belief and practice are present all the time to serve the Lord.  (http://www.holytrinitynewrochelle.org/yourti19238.html) References: (http://www.amazon.com/Why-Revival-Tarries-Classic/dp/0871236079) (http://www.holytrinitynewrochelle.org/yourti19238.html)   Interesting News Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

“Why Revival Tarries?” By Leonard Ravenhill (The Spiritual Thermometer of the Church in the 21st century)

"Why Revival Tarries?" By Leonard Ravenhill (The Spiritual Thermometer of the Church in the 21st century) The book “Wh...

Theme of child abuse on Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner

Theme of child abuse on Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner   Introduction  (2005) have indicated that, ‘The Kite Runner derives its name from an ancient Afghan hobby of dueling kites. Kite flyers attempt to down their opponent's kites. In most cases, the kite flyer is encouraged to duel aggressively at high altitudes by 'string giver' who usually holds the string reel while the hands of kite flyers are cut by the ground glass coating of kite string. When the opponent's kite has been downed, then the real battle turns into race, the kite run, to see who retrieves the fallen kite. Further noted that, Hosseini depicts the sociopolitical climate of Afghanistan and the Afghan community living in exile or as immigrants in the United States. Hosseini recreate lost Afghanistan during the last days of the monarchy of Zahir Shah and the regime that overthrew him ( 2005). There explores emigration during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the tragedies of displaced and tired people living in exile, describe the process of immigration and its implications for the expatriate community. The last part gives insight into the Taliban's regime in Afghanistan.  (2005) noted that, as ‘Hosseini made clear when visiting our campus, he believe that despite the many media stories about Afghanistan, little has been said about the Afghan people themselves, their culture as well as their traditions how they lived in their country and how they have managed abroad as exiles’.   The readers will then find that the author is telling story he has invented from his life experience as an Afghan American and from what he imagines about those who lived through the turmoil he dramatizes’ (2005) To create unique story about Afghan people, Hosseini knits together dialectical phrases of Dari and Pashtu with Afghan history, cultural traditions, humor and social criticism as well as confronts many prejudgments that exist in some Afghan groups and families.   Research Questions   <li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"> What is the Kite Runner about? Tell something about Khaled Hosseini and his work</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"> How the author touches the theme of child abuse? Elaborate and cite examples such as those of Afghanistan context </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"> What about human rights? How can the latter be realized through present reality regarding child abuse? </li>   Hypothesis <li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"> There is positive relationship of child abuse and human rights</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"> There is negative relationship of child abuse and human rights</li>       Research Methodology   For methodology, applying and executing of preliminary literature (novel/book review) with comprehensive basis on critical discussion and analysis of Khaled Hosseini's novel, The Kite Runner upon such assumptions as well as signifying reflections in specific themes regarding the issues on child abuse in accordance to human rights principles. Furthermore, applying and integrating of case study method and analysis will be a part of this research presenting cases specifically cases of Rashed and Najia, Khushal Arsala as written by Sheetal Khemchandani-Daswani. Moreover, have in-depth analysis towards The Kite Runner chronicles the lives of Amir and Hassan within politically, socially and culturally charged landscape that is Afghanistan. Indeed, for community settings or small group settings, it may be sufficient to use only the movie and not on the novel as a means for discussion in order to amiably spark dialogue and debate linking to child abuse.   Several Themes <li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"> Child Abuse Assumptions </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"> Afghanistan: Face of Child Abuse  </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"> Child Abuse Experience in Afghanistan</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"> Child Abuse and Human Rights</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"> Peaceful Resolution and Implications </li> ____________________________   Interesting News Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Theme of child abuse on Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner

Theme of child abuse on Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner Introduction (2005) have indicated that, ‘The Kite Runner deri...

Virgin Suicides and Storytelling

Virgin Suicides and Storytelling     Storytelling is a powerful tool for social, political and personal activism. Experimenting with the power of storytelling to pursue the passion is essential in modern world. Teaching people in the organization how to tell their "who I am/why I am here" stories and will help any individual to find renewed their inner strength. Basically, this paper attempts to describe how narrators of Virgin Suicides illustrate the essence of story telling.    The setting of the story is in an unnamed suburb in the American heartland. The setting’s description of the novel “The Virgin Suicides” reverberate throughout usual suburban America. Basically, this novel explores the different variants such as love, passion, hatred, purity, happiness and sisterhood. Since the story presents in the milieu of a village whose crises, hypocrisies, conflicts, and characters are largely unexceptional, then the descriptions of the death of the characters are tragic. The exploration regarding the girls' deaths represents the endless details of ordinary life. It is merely about looking for the crucial and quietly significant instance where something went wrong.   Similarly, even though the suicides are stunning, the narrative sequence of the details of the story is not. As the story buzz happens in the community; the girls stay behind in their sober home and the boys attend school. Right the way through, the boys persistently assert the girls as normal human beings that should be conform to draconian law. The boys feel that the girls are their twins, according to Cecilia's diary. Actually one of the boys commented that the girls are just like his sister. Certainly, excluding for their suicides, the girls might be anybody. Their deep normalcy is perhaps finest proof by the planned failure of Ms. Perl to construct a persuasively thrilling documentary about their deaths.   In presenting the girls as ordinary, the novel intentionally tests the differences that individual tend to make between themselves and catastrophe. Based on the story, the girls kill themselves with normal items, and see annihilation where others saw just tools. Menace, uncertainty and even bereavement became a dodge of the light, a matter of looking doubtfully. By illustrating such usual revulsion and searching for the real cause of death, the readers tend to gaze the in-depth reason of wrong things. In the stir of normal catastrophe event, the reasons, the suspects, the triggers, and the cures are everywhere—they inhabit our insentient impulses bother our houses and drench the air we breathe. The outcome is much more shocking than stunning. Melodramatic catastrophe can be secluded and protected against, while the mundane is unavoidable.   With regards to the environment, the deliberate homogeneity of the Lisbons' suburb, with its consistently spaced houses, neighborhoods, and trees, describes the homogenized gladness of its residents. Thus, when this happiness is being challenged, then there would be a possible reaction than no one could ever expect. As the situation of the Lisbon’s family started to demur, their house also descends into hysteria, first within and then noticeably such that the neighbors and local media commence to take notice. Thus, it is remarkably to say that the changes in environments affect the inhabitants or vice versa. The force of environment's power is illustrated by the Lisbon sisters' outstanding revolution on the night of Homecoming, when they turn out to be glowing and typical upon leaving their dwelling. On the other hand, the power of the residents control on the environment is presented by the neighborhood’s swift physical turn down subsequent the Lisbon sisters' deaths.   The story's recurrent and unambiguous draw on of vision reveals its overruling sense of tragic fate. Actually, the death of the Lisbon girls is announced in the title of the book but the story continuously delayed this death and creates anticipation to the reader of a tragic death. As the Lisbon girls are introduced at Cecilia's party, the storytellers stated their ultimate means of suicide. Outstanding comments take on ominous quality, like when Mary calls Homecoming "the best time of my life." In general, the homologous arrangement of the events in the story provides to slyly pressure the reader's outlook of a scene. The trip of boys to the basement of Lisbon on the night of Cecilia's party absolutely advocates their identical plunge, after a year, on the night of the girls' suicides. Similarly, Lux's place as lookout on Homecoming night creates an idea to be in similar post as lookout on the night of June 15. Ultimately, the characters other than the storytellers infrequently also make prophetic annotations. Old Mrs. Karafilis is in deliberation to have commiserated with the Lisbon’s girls in the view of death, the workers in cemetery go on strike with the 1st suicide, and Dr. Hornicker advises of a lofty occurrence of rhythmic suicide in families.   With regards to the limits of facts, memory, and visualization, the story repeatedly raises these limits using symbols of physical boundaries. The failure of boys to enter the house of Lisbon and see its interior reflects to their failure to understand the character and identities of Lisbon girls. Equally, Lux's usual manifestation in windows and doorways and on threshold denotes her role as a mediator between the boys and her sisters. The neighbors got disappointed and bothered when the unraked leaves of Lisbon blow onto their lawns which symbolizes the hysteria of the house is beyond its acceptable limits. Lamentably, Cecilia’s jump after having a menstruation symbolizes that she is bounded and trapped between childhood and adulthood.   From the review and evaluation of this novel, the novel is very interesting and different, but the story is somewhat a little bit dark due to the death events. However it is not quite depressing, because it is so well written, but close -- not that one would expect a happy love fest with a title like that.   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Virgin Suicides and Storytelling

Virgin Suicides and Storytelling Storytelling is a powerful tool for social, political and personal activism. Experimenting with...