Introduction
The Roman Catholic Church is the major and leading Christian denomination in the world. It has existed as an institution since the first century AD, and its form, scope, and teachings have changed over the years. The headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church is in Italy, the Vatican City of Rome. The Church is headed by the pope who has supreme authority over the practices and the beliefs of its members. The fact that the church is based in Rome and has a Greek meaning for “universal”, forms the basis for its name (Thomas, et al, 2003). The word Catholic stands for the fullness of the church and many centuries, the Roman Catholic Church has declared that it is the sole true denomination for Christians.
Middle Ages
Many theologians and historians of Christian history categorize the years 500-1500 to be the Medieval Period or the Middle Ages. Medieval Roman Catholicism stands for the transition between ancient Christianity and modern Christianity. The first 500 years of this age, called the Early Middle Ages, was marked by a low level of learning and culture hence they were referred to as the Dark Ages. After 1000 years, there was a change in Christianity and the way they carried out themselves economically, socially, and politically, courtesy of the efforts of the Roman Catholic Church at that time that commanded political authority and influence. It played a big role in history since it laid a base on which the advancements we see in modern Christianity were founded.
The most significant role
The most significant role the Medieval Roman Catholic Church played in the development of Christianity was the spiritual life and the work of a Christian. This was a large influential civilization in the Medieval Ages. The political role played by the church then is reflected in Christianity today as most church leaders now take up political positions and give their opinions on how governments should be run. This comes from the fact that the Medieval Roman Catholic church had a strong influence in Europe. Everybody was part of the church and felt its power and influence, except of course the Jews and the Arabs. The power and the wealth of the pope were far more than that of the kings and the nobles put together. This gave power to the pope and Christianity was a religion not to be taken lightly. Up to now, Christianity, whichever denomination has great wealth and still has some extent of authority that is respected by the rulers of this world (Thomas, et al, 2003).
The Medieval Age also saw the church taking part in proceedings of court cases especially those involving the clergy and property of the church. It also took up the responsibility of taking care of families, marriages, wills, the poor, the widows, and the orphans, which is seen in the charity works done by churches today. Christian churches like the Joyce Meyer Ministries, Trinity Broadcasting Network, the Potter’s House, and even the modern Catholic Church have programs that take care of the less fortunate in the society (Frank, et al, 2002). A function that was spearheaded by the Medieval Catholic Church in the Middle Ages.
Discipline
Discipline is another role the Roman Catholic Church played in molding Christianity. The church believed in the spiritual power of ex-communication of the people who broke the law. A person who offended the church and was found guilty of the offense was expelled from the church and the assembly of Christians. Christianity then grew to be an institution of integrity and good deeds. This is still being expected from Christians today and those leading corrupt lives are always suspended from their leadership positions in the church, just to defend the integrity of Christianity to the common public (Frank, et al, 2002). The church also fought for the rights and worth of individuals as it still does today. Christians were people who knew their rights and their positions in society and they still do so today.
Conclusion
The Roman Catholic Church is the mother of all Christianity that made tremendous progress in the Medieval Ages that amazingly changed the face of Christianity. It was and is still the wealthiest church in the world and this influenced other churches to try and get wealth since it was the basis of their authority in the political world. The cases of discipline, the life of a Christian individual, the position of Christianity, the spirituality and function of a Christian are things that stem from the Medieval Roman Catholicism that has influenced Christians over the years.
Reference
- Frank, Bruni, Elinor and Burkett, (2002). The Gospel of disgrace: Children, Sexual violence and the Catholic Church. Harper Perennial. p. 336. ISBN 978006052232
- Thomas, P., Rausch, Catherine and E. Clifford (2003). The Third Millennium Catholicism and Christianity; The Liturgical Press. ISBN 9780814658994.
Coelho’s Biographical Representations In “The Alchemist”
Introduction
Paulo Coelho is one of the most famous novelists of the world of today (Coelho, 2009). This Brazilian author wins a lot of respect for his talent of making people think of the simplest issues they have never thought of before, even when those issues directly touch their lives (Horlick et al., p. 60). Thus, philosophy of life is the major topic of works by Coelho, irrespective of the specific subjects he writes about: “I see philosophy as something alive, something that changes according to our inner needs. But if I were to synthesize my work, I would say: live your Personal Legend, pay the price of your dreams, read the omens, awaken your feminine side, and dare to be different.” (Bhattacharya, 2008) This paper will focus on the biographical elements that one can find in the most significant work by this Brazilian author – “The Alchemist”.
Background
To start with, it is necessary to find out the reasons to suppose that “The Alchemist” contains those biographical references on the whole. The first reason to prove that it does is the attitude of the author himself to this work. Calling this work “the metaphor of his own life”, Paulo Coelho allows the researchers to state that “The Alchemist” is an artistically processed autobiography of this author (Coelho, 2009). Coelho himself has experienced numerous revelations in his life, and he writes about this in his novel. Such concepts as the Personal Legend, following the omens and believing in one’s destiny constitute the basis of the work by the famous Brazilian novelist. However, to see the biographical representations in “The Alchemist”, it is necessary to take a brief look at the plot of this book.
Plot Summary
The book under consideration tells a story about a young Spanish man who lives his life between the wishes to follow his destiny and the necessity to work hard to feed himself. While working as a shepherd, Santiago dreams about finding a treasure and being able to marry the daughter of his rich neighbor. Reading books leads him to the meeting of the King of Salem who prophesizes his trip to Egypt, meeting with the Alchemist and finding the treasure. However, having spent a lot of time and experienced a lot of challenges, Santiago comes back home to find the treasure in the church he has been visiting since his childhood (Coelho, 2001). In this brief overview one can find the obvious parallel with Coelho’s life – rejected by his parents he pursues his Personal Legend and finds his treasure becoming successful at what he liked most of all.
Coelho’s Philosophy
Personal Legend
One of the basic concepts “The Alchemist” develops is the idea of the Personal Legend. Describing his major character as a person in search of his destiny in this life, Paulo Coelho actually describes himself in his youth. In 1986, as a person with little values and achievements in life, Coelho takes up the 500-mile trip of Santiago de Compostela looking for the divine revelation that can direct his further life (Bhattacharya, 2008). Accordingly, speaking about Santiago, the author recollects his own doubts and hesitations as for the one and only right path in life:
The boy didn’t know what a person’s “destiny” was. It’s what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their destiny is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their destiny (Coelho, p. 22).
Thus, it is obvious that Paulo Coelho expresses his own philosophy of life in these lines from “The Alchemist”. The ability of a person to imagine things, to have wishes and to strive for their realization plays the role of the Supreme Will of the Universe for Coelho. His attitude towards life also focuses on these issues, as far as being a grey-haired experienced man he does not lose the faith in his destiny and in his ability to speak the so-called “Language of the World” (Coelho, p. 117).
Following the Omens
Drawing from this, another prominent feature of the philosophy by Paulo Coelho is the belief that a person should pay attention to the voice of nature, and follow the omen sent by the Universe. Accordingly, Santiago from “The Alchemist” starts listening to the voice of the Universe later then he could but not too late to lose the treasure of his life. Meeting with the King of Salem is the turning point that persuades Santiago to follow his dream. Paulo Coelho has also had his turning point:
My turning point was my pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. It was then that I, who had dedicated most of my life to penetrate the ‘secrets’ of the universe, realized that there are no secrets. Life is and will always be a mystery. We have to follow the omens, and pay attention to others. Life is a constant miracle, and this miracle manifests itself in encounters with other people (Bhattacharya, 2008).
As a result, the whole story about the Spanish young man is nothing but an autobiographical work using the character of Santiago as an allusion to the author’s trip in the pursuit of his destiny. Even the name of the main character is the reference to that trip, and the demonstration of the fact that every person can find his or her destination on this Earth – the only thing necessary is the strong wish. Thus, it is obvious that the philosopher from Brazil created “The Alchemist” as both his autobiography and the practical guide for ordinary people as for how they should perceive the reality and which ideals they should pursue.
Conclusions
To make the respective conclusion to this paper, it is necessary to state that Paulo Coelho is the acknowledged genius of the modern novel. The masterpiece of his, “The Alchemist”, proves this fact by presenting numerous biographical representations of the author: “…this is an autobiographical philosophical examination of life through the eyes of a man who experiences a series of revelations.” (Wansell, p. 56) Considering the role of fate and destiny in the human life, Paulo Coelho exemplifies his argument with his personal experiences, and this makes an immense impression on the intended audience – Paulo Coehlo shares his soul with the readers and the latter answer with their admiration of his literary works (Day, 2005).
Works Cited
Bhattacharya, Anupama. “Everybody is a Magus.” Life Positive. 2008. Your Complete Guide to Holistic Living. Web.
Coelho, Paulo. The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream. Sagebrush, 2001.
Coelho, Paulo. The Official Web Site. 2009.
Day, Elizabeth. “A mystery even to himself.” Daily telegraph. 2005. Web.
Wansell, Geoffrey. “On Form? Paulo Coelho.” The Daily Mail (London, England) 2005: 56.
Horlick, Nicola et al. “The Book That Changed My Life.” The Daily Mail (London, England) : 60.
Impacts Of Genetic Engineering Of Agricultural Crops
The contemporary world is increasing from time to time. This increase considers the growth of the population and, in return, the same growth of needs that should be satisfied. The life of a human being is hard to imagine without the extent of food, meals, and crops, as the main sources of nutrition and as a guarantee for further living. In present days the importance of genetic engineering grew due to the innovations in biotechnologies and Sciences. Scientific and technological progress provoked the decisions of many problems with the purpose to make the lives of people better and more convenient. Along with this, hazardous effects appeared as well. This menace is contemplated with nature and a man in their reciprocal connection as of the inevitable influence of nature on a man and a natural man. Nature is concerned as a background for crops, and a man – as a consumer of these crops. This paper urges to work out a bilateral nature of genetic engineering in agriculture with points on its advantages and limitations.
Loomis & Connor (1992) provide a brief statistical of the population growth in the world from times of colonial expansion provided by the European countries in 1650 until the year 1990. Thus the population within these frames grew from 500 million to 5,200 billion. Today’s statistical data prove that the population on earth increased to the index mark of more than 6 billion people. Such a demographic explosion terrifies scholars due to the character of geometric progression. Thus, the need for food supply is increased rapidly, and poor countries, namely those peoples from Central Africa are at risk of starvation and extinction on the whole. Thus, the need for additional crops supply and food made of it should be taken into account by the world community. Due to the investigations in the sphere of high technologies and biotechnological approach, scientists provide today many programs for resolving this vital, in the proper sense of the word, issue.
The role of nanotechnologies becomes higher and higher for using this approach in the food industry. As Jim Dingman (2008) points out, the use of nanotechnologies in food in the year 2015 in the US will be impacted by “$1 trillion annually”. This statement should bear in mind that genetically modified or influenced meals are present in stores and supermarkets, and human beings should be aware that this issue is incorporated into the sphere of the food industry. Ernie Hood (2004) gives a distinctively correct definition of nanotechnology, as the “creation, manipulation, and application of materials at the nanoscale” (Hood, 2004, pp. 740). Looking at the problem from the other side, one can get to the point of paradox that appeared in the contemporary world. It is considered with the fact, that people are trying now to solve the huge significant problems connected with food supply using tiny devices or technologies. Moreover, this scenario for the implementation of the genetic approach in the food industry presupposes the main advantages for human beings.
It is understood that along with the fast tempos of peoples’ growth on earth the necessity for food reserves becomes vital. That is why nanotechnologies provide a very strong flow of innovations toward the protection of crops from, for example, insects and other negative impacts. Thus the hybrids promote protection for crops being on the edge of extinction so that to stimulate their growth and endurance against herbicides and pesticides as well (Holthaus, 2006). In this case, Ariel D. Arencibia describes all possible and current advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering for crops and nature, in particular. Thus, the author is intended to state that “the accurate quantification of the genetic diversity of major crops is therefore important, both scientifically and socio-economically” (Arencibia, 2000, p. 30). Mankind cannot go without the genetic approach when facing a demographic boom on the planet and probable migrations of people. It is emphasized also with natural cataclysms appearing in different places of the world, which provide floods or dryness due to greenhouse gases.
The idea of crops protection with the implementation of molecular controls to “make crops resistant to new classes of herbicides” is maintained in the invention which was underlined by Daniel D. Chiras (2005) in Human Biology. Thus, genetic engineering is helpful for crops because of making them resistant to “drought, frost, pests, disease, and herbicides” (Environmental Issues, 2009). This advantage goes without saying in terms of better conditions for crops planting. Clifton E. Anderson (2003) in the same response evaluates the benefits of genetic engineering for farmers. Miller & Spoolman (2008) outline that notwithstanding the pest-resistant capacity of genetic engineering; this technology also is effective to resist “genetically altered crops that produce natural pesticides” (Miller & Spoolman, 2008, p. 148). Also if the danger of crops decrease appears, nanotechnologies and genetic engineering will be helpful to clone different specimens of plants. This idea is outlined in the investigation work by Lawrence Alderson (2000). Thus, this researcher points out that the conservation of genetic research provided an extinction of more than 30 breeds of livestock on the British Isles during the twentieth century because of a lack of proper genetic stimulation for these animals. Moreover, genetic engineering can make it possible for people to breed cows with milk and meat of high quality, ships with more wool, pigs with less fat, and more meat (Environmental Issues, 2009). Genetically modified bacteria can make the problem of environmental pollution solved due to the ability of such microbes to absorb and break down the oil and heavy metals in water, air, and land (Environmental Issues, 2009). It will surely make the planet cleaner and safer. Many of such organisms were implemented into the wild already.
Michael Kent (2000) in his book Advanced Biology promotes other advantages of genetic engineering which touch upon the DNA structure of organisms so that to take genetic probes for their further use in artificial DNA synthesis. The author describes the current as well as potential use of this technology for prevention from genetic diseases utilizing “location, isolation, modification, and transferring” of donor genes toward host cells (Kent, 2000, pp. 406). Though, as it is seen, the practical use of genetic engineering along with nanotechnologies goes beyond ordinary understanding of all benefits which these technologies present for people in terms of their health improvement. Furthermore, genetic engineering gave many scientists possibilities to look into the “mystery” of a human gene and provide further researches in the field of human cloning.
Along with straightforward advantages, which can be assumed in terms of bioengineering, people are confronted with limitations and even dangers of suchlike a trend in science. Many people consider genetic engineering non-ethnic because they do not want to value domestic animals as a sort of machine. Moreover, crops may lose genuine genes due to o suchlike manipulations and may extinct, as a result. About livestock, disadvantages touch upon “a reduction in genetic diversity; potential and unforeseen health problems from genetically altered products” (Environmental Issues, 2009). Pest and herbicide resistance of crops can probably kill insects and organisms which represent food for different types of animals. In return, it will cause a misbalance in the ecosystems (Environmental Issues, 2009). Such “universal” plants may also mutate due to genetic modifications and present danger for human beings. Releasing genetically engineered organisms into the wild is an issue of great concern for today.
The extent of natural fruits and vegetables along with gramineous plants lose their qualities due to the implementation of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in products. This point constitutes the fact that a dangerous approach of genetic engineering in its biodiversity presents a hazard for human beings’ health (Sparks, 2005). Sally Deneen (2003) provides in her article the fact that the risk of GMOs is considered with several possible implications for health. As this field of biotechnology is not well studied, thus, there is no positive feedback according to the effects after use of suchlike food. Moreover, many companies earn large sums of money due to, for example, the modification of soy. Such widespread within the society consideration about the danger coming from the genetically transformed organisms find controversy in the book by Pool and Esnayra (2001), where the authors state the results of the National Research Council, which proved that there is “no strict dichotomy between the health and environmental risks that can be posed by transgenic and conventional pest-protected plants” (Pool & Esnayra, 2001, pp. 2-3).
Miller & Spoolman (2008) also provide a scope of last data about the researches of GM food and probable risks, and along with the National Research Council (Pool & Esnayra 2001) which claimed that no harms are coming from GM food after more than seven years still, there is no assurance that such food is safe for health. Many scholars tend to think in this prospect that it will be seen after years, others insist that GM food is mutating little by little. Nevertheless, the mechanism of producing genetically engineered food is widely used at the moment. Thus, Miller & Spoolman (2008) admit in their work:
Critics recognize the potential benefits of genetically modified crops. But they warn that we know too little about the long-term potential harm to human health and ecosystems from the widespread use of such crops. They point out that genetic engineering mixes genes from widely differing species, which has never occurred in nature or even in selective breeding (Miller & Spoolman, 2008, p. 145).
Such worries are not surprising. The thing is that nature is a highly balanced system, and the mechanisms in it are ordered to work as they were programmed primordially. One can logically suppose that those things which do not fit in nature can be rejected in it, or can cause several problems in the normal functioning of the biosphere. In the case of people, such disorder can al[so cause dysfunctions and the effects can be reflected on further generations of people. There is no assurance that such changes in the biological structure of organisms will improve the well-being of living organisms. Moreover, almost every scholar in this field expresses doubts about the future implementation of biotechnologies. Here the factor of a more rational approach toward the issue is significant, because any declension in the way of current researches on GM food may provoke negative results in practice.
Thus, the issue of genetic engineering still has many points which are poorly studied at the moment. The perspectives of this innovative technology strive beyond any possible dangers with lack of crops, livestock, and products so that to satisfy the needs of human beings. Among the advantages are protection, cultivation, cloning, etc. The issue of disadvantages props up against the worries of people according to possible harms to the environment. It is so due to probable total modification of nature which may reflect suchlike modification of human beings on the genetic molecular level.
Reference List
- Alderson, L 2000, ‘Genetic Diversity Blueprint’, Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 59, Washington.
- ‘All the News That Fits’ 2006, The Washington Times, pp. A19, Washington.
- Anderson, CE 2000, ‘Genetic Engineering: Dangers and Opportunities’, The Futurist, Vol. 34, pp. 20, Washington.
- Arencibia, AD 2000, ‘Plant genetic engineering: towards the third millenium : proceedings of the International Symposium on Plant Genetic Engineering, 1999, Havana, Cuba’, Volume 5 of Developments in plant genetics and breeding, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
- Chiras, DD 2005, Human biology, Ed. 5, Jones & Bartlett Publishers, Sudbury.
- Deneen, S 2003, ‘Food Fight: Genetic Engineering vs. Organics The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’, E, Vol. 14, pp. 26.
- Dingman, J 2008, ‘Nanotechnology: Its Impact on Food Safety’, Journal of Environmental Health, Vol. 70, No. 6, pp. 47, Atlanta Environmental Issues.
- Holthaus, GH 2006, ‘From the farm to the table: what all Americans need to know about agriculture’, Culture of the land, Culture of the land: a series in the new agrarianism, University Press of Kentucky, Lexington.
- Hood, E. (2004). ‘Nanotechnology: Looking as We Leap’, Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 112, No. 13, pp. 740, Washington.
- Kent, M 2000, ‘Advanced biology’, Advanced Science Series, Oxford University Press US, New York.
- Loomis, RS & Connor, DJ 1992, Crop ecology: productivity and management in agricultural systems, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
- Messer, N 2006, SCM studyguide to Christian ethics, SCM-Canterbury Press Ltd, London.
- Miller, GT & Spoolman, S 2008, Sustaining the Earth Cengage advantage books, Ed. 9, Cengage Learning, Stamford.
- Pool, R & Esnayra, J 2001, Ecological monitoring of genetically modified crops: a workshop summary, National Academies Press, Washington.
- Sparks, DL 2005, ‘Advances in Agronomy, Volume 88’, Advances in Agronomy, Serial Publication Series, Gulf Professional Publishing, London.