Decline of Christiany in Europe Essay -- Religion

Introduction The decline of Christianity in Europe did not happen spontaneously. It was a process which took place over many years. Further, it would be impossible to identify any one trigger for the decline. Numerous factors have combined to erode Christianity in Europe. Changing political parties, with varying tolerance towards Christianity, have been a major factor in the decline. In addition, new ideas about the ability and goodness of man to create a good society, without the need for God, served to undermine Christianity. Finally, the failure of the church to respond firmly to the crises of the modern world significantly accelerated its decline. While many of these factors have roots going back as far as the seventeenth century, many came to a head in the twentieth century. Political Parties In the nineteen hundreds, many European countries were being swept by changing political tides. This era saw the rise of socialism for many European countries. Some of these new governments discriminated against Christianity. Education and even some professions were closed to Christians. Some countries were harsher in their anti-Christian policies, and others merely neglected the church.1 The church was in a dangerous position; it was expected to comment on the political situation of Europe, but in grave danger if it did so.2 Furthermore, Christianity was generally seen as contrary to the ideology of these governments. At worse, Christianity was seen as a threat to Marxist ideals. At best, it was seen as silly superstition, an unnecessary crutch.3 While some Marxists respected Christianity and perhaps even learned from it, many felt that religion was primarily a tool of oppression which should be banished in the name of so... ...and Biography, July 18, 2003. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/news/2003/jul18.html?start=2 (accessed February 1, 2012). Hindson, Ed, and Ergun Craner, eds. The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. Eugene, OR.: Harvest House Publishers, 2008. Kannampilly, Vijaykumar. "Marxism and Christianity." Social Scientist 3, no. 3 (October, 1974): 57-63. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3516372 (accessed February 1, 2012). Pauck, Wilhelm. "National Socialism and Christianity: Can They Be Reconciled?" The Journal of Religion 20, no. 1 (January, 1940): 15-32. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1198646 (accessed February 1, 2012). Tolson, Jay. "European, Not Christian." U.S. News and World Report 138, no. 20 (May 30, 2005): 52-53. http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mth&AN=17115426&site=ehost-live&scope=site (accessed February 1, 2012).

Teen Suicide Paper

Teen Suicide Teen suicide has been a continually growing problem over the years. Each year thousands of teens are attempting or completing suicide. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for 15-24 year-olds, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is also the sixth leading cause of death for ages 5-14. The risk of suicides increase tremendously when there’s access to firearms at home. Nearly 60% of all suicides in the U. S. are committed with a gun. That is one of the reasons why they say you should keep them unloaded, locked and kept in a safe place away from children.Another increase in suicides is overdosing on over-the-counter drugs and prescriptions, and non-prescription drugs because it’s very easy for teens to have access to these. Suicide rates differ between boys and girls. Girls think about it twice as often as boys and tend to attempt suicide by overdosing or cutting themselves. Yet boys die by suicide about four times more than girls only because they use guns, hang themselves or jump from heights. When you’re a teen there are many possibilities but also a lot of stress and worry.There is pressure to fit in, perform academically and to just be a responsible teen. Which cause many teens to break and want to give up and end their life. Teens with mental disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder or insomnia are at a higher risk of suicidal thoughts. As well as teens with major life changes such as parents divorcing, moving, financial changes, or just conflict with a parent and those who are victims of bullying are at a even greater risk of suicidal thoughts. Bullying can cause someone to have suicidal thoughts, attempt or commit suicide.That’s why you should think about what is going on in someone elses life before you pick on them because that one comment from you could cause them to end their life. Some warning signs to know if a teen is thinking about suicide might be them giving hints that they might not want to be around anymore, pulling away from family and friends, losing interest in school or sports, grades dropping, and changes in eating and sleeping habits. These are all possible signs that they may be struggling and thinking about suicide.One thing you should NOT do is think that they’re just saying they want to kill themselves â€Å"for attention†. That will make them not want to confide to you or anyone, and could lead them to actually attempt suicide. If you’re a parent and feel you can’t handle it contact your doctor and have them refer you to psychiatrist. If you’re a friend be there for that person and show them that you care and want them here and then ask them to call their doctor and get help or call (888) SUICIDE. I hope that this speech taught you about teen suicide, the risks and warning signs and how to help someone having these thoughts.

Views on Childhood My Heart Leaps Up by William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth once wrote a poem called My Heart Leaps Up in which he claims that â€Å"The Child is father of the Man;† this quote provides a basic understanding of his views on childhood (Allison 240). Wordsworth saw children having a close connection to both god and nature, this connection is explained by the theory of transmigration of souls (which claims that children experience preexistence; a period in which they share the company of god while waiting to be conceived). According to Wordsworth, children were also provided with insight into the world which was gradually lost as they matured into adults. Wordsworth’s poetry is key to understanding the romantic view of childhood as a period where the senses are heightened as well as the†¦show more content†¦Once the young Wordsworth rows towards the summit he describes it as â€Å"huge and mighty forms, that do not live/ like living men, moved slowly† (Allison 236). This second depiction of the sc ene is aided by Wordsworth’s imagination which sees the summit move slowly (an image that haunts him). The same type of description can be found in Ode: Intimations to Immortality, Tintern Abbey, I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud, and many more. This sense of wonder is lost to the child as he matures into adulthood during which the world loses its splendour. However, adults may revisit their childhood memories to view the world as it once was to them through spots of time. In this sense children are superior to adults because they are able to the world as purely as they ever will. Much like their sense of wonder at the world, children also lose their heightened senses as they mature into adults. Children, in Wordsworth’s view, are superior to adults in their heightened senses, thoughts, feelings, and motion. Adults often access moments in which they experience heightened senses, thoughts, and feelings through spots of time. However the aforementioned is easily accessed by children because God grants them â€Å"the elements of feeling and thought† (Allison 236). These elements allow children to have different experiences of the world than those of adults. These experiences later on turn into spots of time for them to revisit. Wordsworth describesShow MoreRelatedIn William Wordsworth’S Poem â€Å"My Heart Leaps Up,† The Poet1628 Words   |  7 PagesIn William Wordsworth’s poem â€Å"My heart leaps up,† the poet is writing about the beauty and the simplicity of nature. Wordsworth manages to say a lot in the short nine lines that this poem consists of. Like much of Wordsworth’s work, this is a poem about nature. Specifically, he is speaking about seeing a rainbow in the sky. 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