Omnibus Paper by Blake Hansen, R2

The Education of Nero

The great library of the palace lay directly above the great hall. It was an enormous place, and when I was young and free, I would sneak away from my palace chores to hide away and read in its labyrinth of wood and stone. Sunlight poured laughingly in through the high windows, frolicking on the swirling clouds of dust. It would leap, run, and dance, landing finally on the plush carpet, sinking in, warming it, drawing me to come and sit and read. And so it is not surprising that in my older years I find myself here once again—now that the more strenuous work has passed on to younger, broader shoulders. But somehow, I fear it is not so with the empire. The hard labor of the palace may now be carried strong by the young men, but the youth who is to inherit the kingdom possesses not, I think, shoulders broad enough to bear the troubles of the Roman world.

For at present I sit at a small table in the library, writing my history of the Claudian line, as I often do in my times of attendance on the young master. But as I listen, I begin to write this little piece, for I fear that the great deeds of this line will not be passed on to the the future generation. Young Nero sits one aisle over in the library, grumbling as he waits for his tutor, Seneca, to arrive. And I think that perhaps this narrative may not be so much a sidetrack from my work about the Claudians. For methinks it may lend a little peephole to the viewer, one that explains the mystery surrounding the ruin of this great family.

Seneca enters. I know by the swishing of his robes. The floor creaks. Nero rises to honor his teacher. “You have come, Seneca.” Abrupt, yes, but ordinary for the young master.

The old voice, almost an oral door-hinge, “Yes, my young protégé, and not without reason for my tardiness.” Another swish of robes; Seneca must be seated. He proceeds without a pause, “We will begin with your Greek.”

Paper rustles.

Firmer now, “Your Greek.”

Nero’s voice speaks, sweeter than honey, “I was thinking it would be wise to begin with astronomy.” Neither speaks for some time.
“Then astronomy we shall begin with.” It was Seneca who broke the silence.

I could almost picture the triumph on Nero’s face. All know he hates Greek; rhetoric and grammar, too. But music and astronomy he loves. Seneca is clay in the boy’s hands—clay that can be twisted to do whatever the maker might will. Seneca knows that it is Agrippina who has plucked him from exile, and if the boy so wishes, it will be Agrippina who sends him there once again. So it is that day after day, the future emperor learns his music and his astronomy and not a drop of language or history. For all the power Seneca actually wields, it might as well be Nero teaching himself. The sessions, too, end at the pupil’s bidding and not the master’s, a strange twist of fate for the once-renowned orator.

But once Nero comes to the throne, and his incapacity for ruling an empire becomes apparent, I am confident that upon Seneca’s thin, frail shoulders the weight of blame will fall. So I remain here and wait and watch and learn, knowing that emperors—dynasties—empires—come and go with the winds of time, and only the memory of them remains. And so I return to my writing, that I might leave my small mark on the landscape of history, when the Roman empire has finally been dismantled from without and within by a foolish imp at the reins. And though it may seem itself an idle prophecy, perhaps those on the outside looking in, those on the wiser side of history, will read this little piece and realize that though it takes a nation to build an empire, by a single man it may be destroyed. Nam urbes constituit aetas, hora dissolvit.

Science Research Paper by Garett Button, G3

Food Allergies

Witnessing an immunological response in a friend or family member can be scary.  Their face gets red; they cough and sometimes gasp for air as if they cannot breathe.  They might break out into hives.  In some cases, the victim will experience stomachaches and vomiting.  Food allergies are a very serious medical condition that affects four percent of people in the United States.  Food allergies have an interesting history, the way they affect the body is fascinating and diagnosis and treatment varies.

Food allergies mystified ancient people.  Sometimes innocent hosts would  be accused of murder after their guest had died of anaphylactic shock.  In 430 B.C., Hippocrates was the first person to relate food and sickness.  He observed that some people ate cheese and got sick.  Yet others did not sick from the same cheese.  In 131 A.D., Galen observed that goat milk caused some children to have sick symptoms.  Other Greek writers later recorded violent physical reactions in some due to having eaten foods like honey, strawberries, nuts and fish.  Scientists now know that those foods act like irritants to the body to some people.  These irritants are called allergens and these people suffer from food allergies.  The most prevalent allergies in kids are:  peanuts and other nuts, seafood, milk, eggs, soy and wheat.

An allergy attack affects the immune system.  The immune system is flawed- it thinks that a particular food is bad for the body.  When that happens, it produced antibodies which are sent out to attach to mast cells.  They communicate to those mast cells to release a chemical called histamine.  These chemicals go to war in your body by attacking cells that are harmless by landing by receptors.  These histamines can cause symptoms like itchiness, hives stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea.   In extreme cases,  anaphylactic shock can occur when histamine attacks the airways, causing muscle contraction.  This leads to not being able to breathe and serious cause for concern.  An injection of epinephrine is the only way to temporarily reverse the effects of anaphylaxis.  For most people that suffer from severe allergies like this, they carry an auto injector of Epinephrine as a life saving tool.  For milder cases of food allergy attack, the treatment would be antihistamine like Benadryl.  The antihistamines block receptors so that histamines cannot do their job.

There are many ways to discover is one suffers from food allergies.  The skin prick is when a doctor scratches the surface of your skin and lightly dabs the skin with a potential allergen.  An intradermal skin test is when the doctor injects the allergen into the patient’s blood stream and sees if there is a reaction that bubbles up under the skin. The elimination diet is when the person goes without foods that he or she thinks is the reason for the reaction and then eats the foods one at a time. The blood test is when the doctor takes a vile of blood from the patient and exposes it to food proteins that the doctor suspects the patient is allergic to.  This would help confirm that a particular food is or is not the culprit.

Food allergies are a serious condition that affect the quality of life for many people today.  Sufferers have to be diligent in their environments and monitor closely the food they are exposed to and eat.  Though some people react mildly to offending foods, others have serious life threatening reactions to specific foods.  Food allergies were documented as far back as Hippocrates.  They are still being studied and recorded today.  The attack on the immune system by the body’s antibodies cause a violent reaction in the body leading to serious distress.  Though there are many ways to discover whether a patient suffers from food allergies or not, the most important thing is for a patient to be tested than to find out the hard way.

 

Glossary

 Allergen- substance causing allergy

Anaphylaxis- a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death

Antibody- protein that fights infections

Epinephrine-synthetic adrenaline

Histamine- the chemical  your body produces when you’re having an allergic reaction

Immune system- system that recognizes and opposes disease

Mast cell-connective tissue cell

 

Bibliography

“Food Allergies,” http://www.kidshealth.com.

 

Landau, Elaine. Food Allergies.

 

Sohn, Emily.  “Think You Have Food Allergies? Think Again,” http://www.latimes.com.

 

“Study Concludes 8 Percent of Children in the U.S. Have Food Allergy,” http://www.foodallergy.org.

 

“Why are Food Allergies Becoming 
More Prevalent in America?,” http://www.hs.riverdale.k12.or.us.

 

 

Science Research Paper by Grace Warner, G4

Diabetes

What do Halle Berry, Thomas Edison, Ernest Hemingway, Elvis Presley, and Vanessa Williams all have in common?  Is it that they have all achieved great fame and wealth?  Maybe, but they also all share a common disease:  diabetes.  Diabetes is a disease that can affect anyone of any age, race, or gender.  It is a widespread disease and the world’s fourth leading cause of death. (Ambrose, 9)  To understand diabetes, people must become familiar with its symptoms, its causes, and its treatment.

Symptoms of the disease known as diabetes were first recognized as far back as ancient Egypt.   A written record called the Ebers Papyrus from 1552 B.C. discussed a disease where people urinated more than normal. (Ambrose, 42)  This disease got its name later from a Greek physician known as Aretaeus.   He said, “Diabetes is a dreadful affliction…life is short, unpleasant, and painful.” (Ambrose, 44)  Some of the symptoms of this disease include extreme thirst, excessive urination, bladder problems, frequent infections, weight loss, and lack of energy.  (Loughrey, 17) Many people have these symptoms but don’t know that they have diabetes. Some of these people are diagnosed when they go see a doctor for other reasons. Diabetes can cause several serious complications including, blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, and heart disease.  Many people live happy lives with diabetes, but it needs to be taken seriously.

Diabetes occurs when someone’s pancreas does not work correctly. The pancreas is a small organ that produces a hormone called insulin. Insulin is used to break down glucose from carbohydrates to create energy for the body. When someone is a diabetic, his body either creates little insulin or sometimes even none at all. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. The pancreas of a type one diabetic does not produce any insulin.  This type of diabetes is genetic, and it is usually noticed when someone is still young.  In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not create enough insulin to help break down glucose.  Type 2 is also known as adult-onset diabetes because it is most common in adults.  Some of the causes of Type 2 diabetes are lack of exercise, obesity, poor eating choices, and family history.

Although diabetes is not curable, it can be treated. The most important thing every diabetic must do is monitor their blood glucose levels several times per day.  This is done by pricking their fingers to draw out some blood and then putting the blood on a test strip.  The test strip is then put into a blood glucose monitor that reads how much glucose is in the blood. To keep blood glucose levels even, diabetics often have to inject insulin through a needle. The goal is to imitate how the pancreas works by giving just a little insulin at a time. Some diabetics are able to control their insulin through exercise, diet, and other healthy habits. Some more extreme treatments involve experimental surgeries such as pancreatic transplants and even pumps that act like an artificial pancreas.

In conclusion, diabetes is a world-wide problem which has been recognized for a long time. While the causes, effects, and treatments are well-known, there is still no cure for this disease.  Until a cure is found, the most important thing people can do to avoid Type 2 diabetes are to exercise, eat lean meats and vegetables, and avoid eating too much starch and sugar. Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” (www.ushistory.org)  His wise words should be heeded.

 

Bibliography

 

Ambrose, Marylou. Investigating Diabetes.  Melrose Park: Enslow Publishers, 2010.

 

Bryan, Jenny.  Just the Facts: Diabetes. Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2004.

Loughrey, Anita;  Explaining Diabetes. London: Watts Publishing Group, 2010.

 

The Electric Ben Franklin. http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/quotable accessed on November 8, 2012.

 

http://dictionary.reference.com/, accessed on November 8, 2012.

 

 

Glossary

1.   Genetic:  something that originates in a person’s genes or heredity.

 

2.  Glucose:  a sugar that comes from the breakdown of carbohydrates.

 

3.  Hormone:  a secreted compound formed in the endocrine glands that affects receptive organs and tissues.

 

4.  Insulin:  a hormone produced in the pancreas that regulates the metabolism of glucose.

 

5.  pancreas:  a small organ near the stomach and liver that secretes insulin and other enzymes to break down glucose and fats.

 

Science Research Paper by Andrew Cox, G4

Leprosy

Leprosy is a disease that is mentioned in the writings of ancient cultures, including the Bible. It is a horrible, disfiguring disease that causes those affected to be social outcasts. Leprosy is an infection that affects many body systems, affects people young and old, men and women, and is curable.

Leprosy, or Hansen’s Disease, is a bacterial infection that affects the skin, the nose cartilage, nerves, hands, feet, eyes, muscles, bones and the upper airway. Initially, the first signs are skin lesions, which begin as red patches. These lesions then become bumps and can be different colors. If left untreated, it can affect the nerves, and eventually bones. Lepers can lose fingers, toes, their nose and even their eyes. It is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium leprae, however it is unknown exactly how this infection is spread.

Anyone can get Leprosy, but children are more likely to get infected. Also, men are more likely than women to get infected. However, 95% of people exposed to the antigen will never get Leprosy. Therefore, it is not very contagious. In the United States there are currently about 6,500 cases of Leprosy. In 2009, there were 213 new cases, mostly in the south.

Although it is not completely understood how Leprosy is spread, some theories include contact with an infected person, flies and breathing in the bacteria. Testing for the infection includes skin smears (which looks for the bacteria under the microscope with special stains) and skin biopsy. Thankfully, Leprosy is curable. The most effective treatment is multidrug therapy (MDT), which includes Dapsone, Rifampicin, and Clofazimine.

In conclusion, Leprosy is a disease caused by infection with M. leprae, which affects several body parts and may cause terrible disfigurement. Although most people exposed to the bacteria won’t get infected, those who are may face social isolation. Finally, with MDT and early discovery, people can be cured completely and live normal lives. Maybe one day this disease will cease to exist.

Bibliography:

Donnelly, Karen. Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease)

“Leprosy Today”, http://www.who.int/lep/en/

Lynette, Rachel. Leprosy

“National Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) Program”, http://www.hrsa.gov/hansensdisease/

Epicurean Essay by Alyssa Sandberg, R3

Epicurean philosophy began with Epicurus in Greece around the third century B.C. It made an impact on the ancient Roman world, as it also does on the modern world. Epicureans lived to please themselves and Epicurus himself “encouraged seeking after the highest quality of pleasure.” Many atheists today have developed a partial Epicurean philosophy about life.
Epicurus himself was not an atheist. He believed in the gods but thought humanity should ignore them like they had ignored humanity. Epicurus lived from 341-270 B.C. and started a school called “The Garden.” One of the best Epicurean books written is On The Nature of Things by Lucretius who learned from Epicurus.

One of Epicurus’ greatest teachings is that everything is made up of atoms and void. Atoms were little tiny particles of varying shapes and sizes. These particles, in combination with the “void,” make up everything in life. Our bodies, souls, sights, and sounds are all made up of different particles. These atoms were indestructible and eternal: little ultimate beings that make up the universe. Lucretius tried to explain everything using his atom theory. He tried using reason and “science” to describe how the world worked. Today, atheists try to do the same thing. Scientists have already proved that most things are made up of atoms, and atheists have taken this to heart. Even Christians agree on that point. However, atheists believe that everything can be explained through science and fit into its reasoning. Athiests use scientific reasoning to “prove” God doesn’t exist, because they believe, like Lucretius, that everything can be explained through logic, reasoning, and science.
Lucretius tried to teach humanity that they should not be afraid of death. Since the soul was made up of miniscule, invisible atoms, it was just another part of the body. So when the body died and started disintegrating, the soul did too. There was no afterlife to be concerned with. When a person died, his body and soul just stopped existing. Atheists also believe that when the body dies, the soul does too. They believe that “because the person consists only of matter, he or she ceases to exist at the point of death as a conscious entity altogether.” That is why both Epicurean and atheist philosophy teaches people to do everything they can to enjoy this life, because there is nothing after it.

Lucretius also tried to cure people of their fear of religion. The gods were merely matter living in their own sphere. It was best for everyone to just forget about the gods because there was nothing to be afraid of in them. Today people, and atheists in general, take ignorance of the gods to an extreme. Atheists no longer show reverence for anything spiritual. They claim rather boldly that there is nothing to be afraid of because there is no god. They go even farther than Epicurus and fight till their last breath against any kind of theism.

Atheism has been greatly shaped by Epicurean philosophy. However, there is something rather ironic in all of this. Epicurus’ greatest purpose for man was to achieve peace of mind in whatever way. Atheists today don’t seem to have achieved this. They spend their entire lives frantically arguing against God and trying to find scientific reasons why he can’t exist. They try everything to achieve peace in their lives, but all that does is lead to stress and tension. The only peace that can be obtained is through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Therefore it is Christians who have obtained true peace because we believe in and are grounded in the God of Peace. “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cook, Vincent. “Home Page.” Epicurus and Epicurean Philosophy. http://www.epicurus.net/ (accessed February 8, 2013).
“Epicureanism.” Religion Facts. http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/epicureanism.htm#4 (accessed February 8, 2013).

“Epicurus.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epicurus/ (accessed February 8, 2013).Halverson, Dean C., ed. “World Religions Overview.” In The Compact Guide to World Religions, 16. Grand Rapids: Bethany House, 1996.

Evans, Jules. “Epicureans.” Philosophy For Life. http://philosophyforlife.org/philosophies-for-life/epicureans/ (accessed February 8, 2013).

Leithart, Peter J. “On the Nature of Things.” In Omnibus IV. Lancaster: Veritas Press, 2009.
“Lucretius.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/lucretius/ (accessed February 8, 2013).

Church History Glossary of Terms by Matthew George, L2

People:

Chapter 8 Glossary Terms

John Calvin – He was a Renaissance humanist who lived at the time of Martin Luther. He was from France. He was forced to move away from the university of Paris because he quoted Martin Luther and Erasmus. He moved away to Switzerland and there he wrote the Institutes of the Christian Religion. John Calving began ministering to French protestants, which were called Hugeunots. He lived from 1509 through 1564. He was important in history because he created a new religion against the Catholic Church.

King Henry VIII – King Henry was a huge figure in history. He had a total of seven wives which is a lot of wives!!! He declared himself as the head of the English Church. He was born in Greenwich. He was born in 1491 and died in 1547. He really wanted a male heir to the throne, although he could not get one. Sir Thomas More was beheaded for not recognizing Henry’s leadership. William Tyndale was also killed because he denounced King Henry. He put a Bible in every church in England in 1539. The English services began to use the Book of Common Prayer to lead the country away from the Roman Catholicism. His big impact on history was how he helped the Christians and put Bibles in every church in England.

Huguenots – The writings of John Calvin the 1530’s began the Hugeunots during the 16th and 17th centuries. They were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France. There was roughly five hundred thousand Hugeunots in France. Eventually they relocated to England, Denmark, Switzerland, the Dutch Republic, the Electorate of Brandenburg, Electorate of the Palatinate, and the Duchy of Prussia, and the Cape colony. This was a huge impact on history because it was against the Catholic religion.

Jesuits – This began in 1540. It is the society of Jesus. The members of this society were called Jesuits. It was a Christian male religious order of the Roman Catholic Church. Ignatius of Loyola began the group. Their major impact on history was that it continued the transmission of knowledge, science, and culture in many countries.

Ignatius Loyola – Ignatius was born in 1491 and died in the year of 1556. He was born in Loyola. He was a Spanish knight from a local noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian who founded the Society of Jesus which is named, Jesuits. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter Reformation. He was a Catholic missionary. His major impact on history was that he began the new religion for the Catholics which was Jesuits. They were Catholic missionaries.

Martin Luther – He was born in 1483 and died in the year of 1546. Martin Luther was a Lawyer who became a monk after being terrified in a thunderstorm. One interesting fact about him is that he said, “Love God? I hate him.” He was tormented by a deep awareness of his own sin and the remaining guilt. He changed very much when he learned the true meaning of righteousness. One meaning of righteousness is the condition of being righteous, and the other definition of righteousness is the act of declaring someone to be righteous. He found great peace by learning and uderstanding God’s truth. Martin Luther was credited with starting the Reformation. He became enraged by the selling of indulgences by Tetzel. In response to this, he posted 95 theses which are topics to debate.

Mennonites – It began in the 16th century in Europe. The Mennonites are a Protestant group based around the church communities of the Christian Anabaptist denominations named after Menno Simmons. The Mennonites are described as religious denomination with members of different ethnic origins or as both an ethnic group as a religious denomination. The Mennonites rejected infant baptism, the swearing of oaths, military service, and worldliness. They practiced strong church discipline in their congregations and lived simple, honest, loving lives and imitated the earliest Christians. Their impact on history was that they spread the Christian Anabaptist religion.

Menno Simmons – Menno Simmons was born in 1496 and died in the year of 1561. He was an Anabaptist religious leader from the Friesland region of the Low Countries. Simmons was a contemporary of the Protestant Reformers and his followers became known and the Mennonites.  His actual name Frisian name was Minne Simens which is a patronym meaning Minne son of Simen. His impact on history was that he began the religious group named the Mennonites.

William Tyndale – He was born in 1494 and died in the year of 1536. He was born in England.  He believe that God’s law was higher that the pope’s law. He said, “I will cause the plow-boy to know more about Scripture than you! (a priest).” William Tyndale translated the Greek New Testament into simple English. The English bishops bought William’s translations and then the burned them. William Tyndale was burned at the stake under King Kenry III. His impact on history was the translation of the Greek New Testament into simple English.

Other:
Bull – A bull is a notice written in the pope’s name.
Consubstantiation – It is the doctrine in the Lutheran belief that the substance of the bread and wine coexists with the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist.
Council of Trent – It was an ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, held in three sessions between 1545 and 1563 in Trento, Italy. It was prompted by the opposition of the Reformation, the council clarified and redefined church’s doctrine, abolished many ecclesiastical abuses, and strengthened the authority of the papacy. These measures provided the church with a solid foundation for the Counter-Reformation.
Diet of Worms– A meeting of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V’s imperial Diet at Worms in 1521, at which Martin Luther was summoned to appear to recant. Luther committed himself there to the cause of Protestant reform, and his teaching was formally condemned in the Edict of Worms.
Institutes of the Christian Religion – It is John Calvin’s seminal work on Protestant systematic theology. It was highly influential in the Western world and still widely read by theological students today. It was published in 1536.
Ninety five theses – It was written by Martin Luther in 1517 and is widely regarded as the initial catalyst for the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther posted the theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg. The disputation protests against clerical abuses, especially the sale of indulgences.
Recant – Say that one no longer holds an opinion in belief, and one considered heretical were burned if they could not recant.
Reformed Churches – Protestant churches, such as the Presbyterians, that were strongly influenced by Calvin and Knox.
Righteousness (give two definitions) – One meaning of righteousness is the condition of being righteous, and the other definition of righteousness is the act of declaring someone to be righteous.
Sola Gratia, sola fide, sola scriptura – Latin for “grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone.”  These words sum up the Protestant belief that justification is received by grace alone through faith alone and that the Bible should be the church’s only authority. It became the motto of the Protestant Reformation.

Omnibus Paper by Ben Kraphol, R2

The story of Job presents challenges to our thoughts regarding the nature of suffering and the role of God in the midst of suffering. Job teaches us that we are not the center of the universe. Sometimes things happen to us for a larger purpose than we may ever know because this purpose is beyond our understanding. What was the “bigger purpose” in the book of Job? Why did God allow him to suffer? Compare this to the suffering that took place in Homer and the role the gods played in that suffering.

What if God could be put on trial? Certainly, his accusers are many. Pain and suffering covers the earth, and the mockers shout their challenges at the heavens. ‘Where is God?’ they cry. Surely he cannot exist, or else, is a monster. Even Christians, caught in the grace of the Creator, speak out in the silence. ‘Where is God?’ they ask. What have they done wrong? They look for meaning–the reason for their suffering. So did Job. His story is one of the oldest—if not the oldest—in Scripture, and, fittingly, it addresses one of the most ancient questions of man. Why does God allow suffering? Its answer is not an easy one; indeed, it sits unassumingly the dusty pages of a Bible while the world rages in its pain all around. But it has the answer. God would hold man’s feet to the very fires of hell to save him—because He loves him. Job was a righteous man, but through suffering, God gave him greater faith, trust, and humility—hope for the promised Redeemer that Abraham would one day recognize. The mockers see the heavens as cruel, and fickle. Even the righteous suffer, and, like Job, their faith will be tested. Yet for all the ideas of man and trials of life, God has a greater purpose, and this is the message of Job.

As has been said, God’s mockers are many. Their views of him are fractured, distorted, because they wrongly understand the nature of suffering. Look to Homer’s Iliad, one of the greatest secular works in history, a masterpiece of literature that would influence Greek thought, and, by extension, all of the Western world. Homer’s characters are fascinating: Priam, the reluctant king; Hector, his honor-bound champion; the raging Achilles and brilliant Odysseus; the self-pleasuring Paris and Helen, who mourns for her own captors. Yes, Homer understands men—but not God. The motions of life, the turning of tables, the constant change and struggling break apart the Greek’s view of the Creator into a petty pantheon, and Homer gives us front row seats to the consequences of their squabbles. They nag, compromise, betray, and compete; meanwhile, the true heroes bear the brunt of their games. Their suffering is needless, pointless, and meaningless. For Homer, and for countless throughout the span of humanity, the tragedy of life is that suffering has no meaning at all.

Even Job, considered righteous and godly, cannot see any reason for his suffering. Yet he believes that there is one. He just wants to know why. His friends crowd around him, offering their own opinions, trying to speak for God on high. “ It must be God’s justice!” they declare. He must have sinned, and be hiding it. Or perhaps he sinned, and never realized it. Maybe his children sinned, and their faults have led to his suffering. Yet Job knows God, and he understands himself. Their conclusions are false, because God has a relationship with man. He interacts with his creations, on a personal and complex level, rather than standing aloof like a celestial police force. He has mercy. He has plans. As he wrestles with his pain, Job longs to understand them. In time, God answers the suffering man’s questions with a profound truth: though we can know God personally, we can never totally understand him. Even as believers, we may not always understand why we must suffer.

When Job is finally delivered from his suffering, this seems to be the final answer to his allegations–that we cannot always know the plans God has for us. Yet Job accepts this with shocking humility. When he finally has God on trial, when the defendant finally rises to the stand, Job’s desperate search for answers is gone. In retrospect—as it often is with suffering—we see why. Job 19:25-27 reads, “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!” This is, literally, the central verse of Job, and in it, we see that Job learned something in the midst of his suffering. He glimpsed the plan of salvation, and, just like Abraham, had faith, and was saved. When God appears to answer his accusations, Job has no questions, because he understands God’s motivation–His love and his salvation–and he trusts Him.

Ultimately, our view of suffering shapes our view of God. The Greeks saw irrational pain, and they were left with irrational gods. Job, like all Christians, could not give answers for suffering, and it anguished him. Yet, in the end, he could trust God’s plans. He did not see the reason for his pain, but he did see the motivation of his Maker. Because the Redeemer lives, we share with this ancient man what so many have missed: the trust to accept God’s plan, whatever it may be, because all He does, every tear and every death and every bloody hand leads us back to Him. Like Job, we can be content, because, as Job confessed, we will see Him with our own eyes.

Omnibus Paper by Bethany Rylander, R3

INSIGHTS FROM PLATO

            Though Plato’s Republic was written over 2,000 years ago, it brings up issues that are still debated today.  Topics such as the distinction between knowledge and belief, his insight into evil and the importance of a strong education, and his definition of morality are the focus of this classical masterpiece.  Plato has amazing insight into the “heavenly” realm, despite his pagan worldview.  These insights can be helpful when trying to show the necessity of God’s existence to an unbeliever.  By reading Republic, one can build up a better defense for Christianity by showing that even an extremely intelligent pagan philosopher recognized the need of a higher realm. 

            First of all, Plato makes the correct distinction between knowledge and belief.  Plato states that knowledge is an objective realm and belief is a subjective realm.  Yet he makes an even further assertion when he states:

So if it is reality that is accessible to knowledge, then it is something else, not reality, that is accessible to belief, isn’t it?

Yes.[1]

In essence, he says that one cannot “know” anything earthly for all earthly thoughts are really just beliefs.  One must travel to a higher realm in order to gain pure knowledge.  This idea is intriguing, especially considering how most Christians hold a similar view of the Bible.  They believe that it is an objective Book, but every human reads it subjectively.  Therefore, no human will truly be able to understand the precise meaning of every part of the Bible because every human brings his own presuppositions into his interpretation.  One distinction between Plato’s view and the Christian view is that Plato believed that until one travels to a higher realm in his mind, he cannot know anything.  This opposes the Christian belief of general revelation.  As is shown, though Plato has many plausible ideas, they contain flaws.  Another distinction that needs to be made between Plato’s view and the Christian view is that Plato believes the human philosopher kings can reach the objective realm of knowledge.  On the other hand, Christians do not believe that humans, while on earth, can always make objective statements. 

          Within his distinction between knowledge and belief is also a subtle notion of a higher realm.  It is interesting how Plato believes that there is something beyond this earth, despite his non-Christian worldview.  Not unlike the Christian worldview, Plato believes that not everyone will reach this higher realm.  Instead, Plato believes that only the philosopher kings will reach this higher realm,[2] just as Christians believe that only followers of Jesus will reach Heaven.

            Secondly, Plato recognizes the presence of evil in the world and the inclination of men to fall for money and selfish gain.  He believes that training children with the morals and laws that his ideal community holds will allow them to counter practices which may tempt them.  He states:

From childhood, we’ve held certain views about moral and right conduct.  These views formed the environment of our upbringing…and we obey and respect them…Now there are also enjoyable practices which run counter to this moral code.  These practices flatter and tempt our minds, but anyone with even a scrap of restraint doesn’t give in, and continues instead to respect and obey those traditional views.[3]  

To a Christian, this statement will sound strikingly similar to Proverbs 22:6, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”[4]  Plato saw man’s sinful inclinations, but thought that with proper training during youth, a man would be able to overcome his sinful passions during adulthood.  Plato also believed that training men in the way they should go would produce perfect men who would eventually lead the country as philosopher kings.[5]  He could not realize, however, that it is ultimately not the training that makes the difference, it is faith in God.  It is here that his idea wavers away from the Bible.  The Bible says that there is only one mediator between Heaven and earth—Jesus Christ.  On the contrary, Plato claimed that every philosopher king would be a mediator between the community and the higher realm.  In addition, the Bible states that men will continue to sin while on earth; they will not reach perfection until Heaven.  Despite the faults in Plato’s view of a strong education, he did recognize the importance of forming young minds to help strengthen a community.

            Finally, Plato gives an intriguing definition of morality.  His definition of morality is, “…doing one’s own job and not intruding elsewhere…”[6]  Today, many people seem to think of morality as doing the right thing.  The “right thing” tends to be defined however they wish.  Morality is relative.  Interestingly enough, Plato does not define morality as relative.  This over-arching definition of morality ties in with his belief in a higher realm.  In addition, the definition of morality itself is quite remarkable.  Basically, he believes that morality happens in a community when people do their own jobs.  Essentially, they “mind their own business.”  Morality happens within an individual when each part of the mind does its own job and does not interfere with the other parts.[7]  This premise is thought-provoking after growing up in a culture which lives out the 21^st century definition of relative morality.  Coming from a pagan philosopher, the idea of a universal definition of morality was almost shocking.  While reading the Republic, one can begin to understand how definitions of abstract concepts can really shape a culture.

            In conclusion, Plato’s Republic is a perceptive book.  Personally, it helped to give me insight into God’s general revelation.  Plato comes so close to the truth on many occasions.  He is able to distinguish between knowledge and belief, recognizes the importance of training children, and believes that there is a universal definition of morality.  His insight has helpfully shown to what extent God has revealed Himself to creation, if one intellectually is honest enough to acknowledge it.  Yet it is important to realize that Plato was never able to come to a solid conclusion of God, because God cannot be found solely through pure reason as Plato seems to suggest.  Jesus Christ was not the cornerstone of Plato’s argument, reason was.  That is why his arguments, though extremely intriguing and insightful, are flawed.  Christians must be wary of these flaws and not elevate rational arguments to a place of supremacy.  “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is.”[8]          

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[1] Robin Waterfield, Republic of Plato (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008), 478b.

[2] Ibid, 480a.

[3] Ibid, 538c,d.

[4] NIV.

[5] Waterfield, 571b.

[6] Ibid, 433a,b.

[7] Ibid, 434d-441c.

[8] 1 Cor. 3:11-13.

Formal Logic Paper by Natalie Leahy, L1

Why the Bible is a Legitimate Source

             There are several arguments that prove that the Bible is a legitimate source.  According to the Oxford American Dictionary and Thesaurus, legitimate means “reasonable or able to be defended,” and a source is a “book or document that provides information.”  So its authenticity can be defended with good reasons.  The Bible has been proven accurate by eyewitnesses to the events recorded, non-Christian historians and archeological discoveries.

            First of all, eyewitnesses to the events in the New Testament confirm its truth.  In The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable, F.F. Bruce declares that the New Testament documents were written and passed around during the lifetime of people who lived while Jesus was alive.  Because they would have been able to remember his life, they would have been able to confirm or deny what was being said in the gospel and Paul’s letters.  Because there are no documents from anyone at that time disputing the claims of the Bible, this shows it is accurate.

            Next, Bible facts have been confirmed by historians.  One of the most important facts in the Bible is whether Jesus really lived.  In Pastor David Jones’s sermon on Sunday, September, 30, 2012, he gives three examples of non-Christian historians who said that Jesus lived, performed miracles and was crucified.  One of them was Josephus, a Jewish historian who was not a follower of Jesus, who confirmed what the gospels claim about Jesus.

            Lastly, archeology validates that the Bible is authentic.  According to the book Know Why You Believe, there are thousands of archeological sites that have connections with the Bible and have supported what the Bible says.  One example of this is that archeologists did not think there was really a king in Babylon named Belshazzar, so they concluded that the Bible’s claim was untrue.  However, a Babylonian chronicle was found that stated that Belshazzar was given the throne by his dad, who moved to Arabia.

            In conclusion, there are many reasons why the Bible is a valid provider of information.  It has been verified as true by observers of what happened in the New Testament, by historians who were not believers and by discoveries in archeology over the past thousand years.

Formal Logic Paper by Rachel Littauer, L1

The Bible is a Legitimate Authoritative Source

             When you have a problem and don’t know what to do, don’t just sit around and be miserable, find the answer to your problems in the Bible.  If you have trouble believing the Bible is actually an accurate source, here are some points that can help prove that the Bible is a legitimate authoritative source.  First, there are several Biblical scientific discoveries that have been found.  Second, the Bible has numerous archeological findings that can prove its trustworthiness.  Finally, the Bible has overwhelming proof through fulfilled prophecy that explains why the Bible is the ultimate, authoritative source.

            First, there are many scientific discoveries that have been found that can demonstrate the Bible is a legitimate source. Over the years, the Bible has been criticized to be scientifically inaccurate, but the Bible has always proved to be true. One example is the stars in the sky.  For many years, astronomers like Hipparchus, Ptolemy, and Johannes Kepler believed the number of stars in the sky were 1,026, 1,056, and 1,006 respectfully.  That was until 1608 when Galileo, a devoted Christian, used his telescope to confirm his belief in the Bible.  Jeremiah 33:22 says, “The host of heavens cannot be numbered, nor the sand in the sea be measured.”  The Bible said the stars in the sky couldn’t be numbered so the Bible was proven correct.  Another example is scientists believed that the Earth was flat.  Even Aristotle didn’t believe that, as written in his book, “On the Heavens” which suggested that the Earth might be a sphere.  Isaiah 40:22 states “It is He (God) who sits above the circle of the earth”. Though many people could argue with that saying that a circle can still be flat, people also saw circle meaning more like a sphere shape.  If people would have listened to what the Bible said about the earth, they might have come to the conclusion that the earth was round earlier than they actually did.  The book of Isaiah was written between 740 and 680 B.C., 300 years before Aristotle even wrote his book.  We now know that the Earth is exactly as the Bible says.

            Second, there is archeological evidence that proves the reliability of the Bible.  In fact, Donald Wiseman, Archaeologist and Professor of Assyriology at the University of London, estimated that there were more than 25,000 discoveries that confirmed the truthfulness of the Bible.   But, instead of explaining all 25,000 of them, here are just two. The first point is on the existence of Pontius Pilate.  Many people believed that Pontius Pilate was just a myth since there was no evidence that he existed.  That theory was proven wrong in June of 1961 by Italian archeologists as they were digging on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea in Israel and found a limestone piece turned upside down that was being used as a pair of flight steps during one of the renovations of a theater.  It had an inscription on it in Latin “Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea.”  This piece of limestone proved that yes, Pontius Pilate was a real man, not a myth and that he was in authority. The second point is concerning King David.  Again, there was no evidence that David was an actual historical figure until 1993.  This is of utmost importance because the Bible clearly states that through the line of David came Jesus.  However in 1993, scientists discovered an inscription in Aramaic written by Israel’s enemies that said, “The king of Israel, King David.”  This proved that David was a real historical figure and more importantly, the King of Israel.  So far, archeological evidence has never proven the Bible wrong.  Though it may seem like they have sometimes, people always find a way to prove that the Bible is correct.

            Finally, the Bible has many a remarkable amount of fulfilled prophecies that is a strong reason for its reliability.  Fulfilled prophecy makes the Bible unique compared to every other religious book in that of the 26 religious books in the world that claim to be divinely inspired, none of them contain any specific, fulfilled prophecies.  In fact, 27% of the Bible contains what was predictive prophecy at the time that it was written.  The most famous prophecy is the prophecy of the Messiah.  The prophesy of the Messiah was not only true, but it was very detailed.  The Bible says that he would be born of the seed of Abraham, in the tribe of Judah, in the lineage of David.  It also says he would be born of a virgin and would heal blind, deaf and lame people.  All these things did happen.  Although skeptics might say that the disciples made up these things that Jesus supposedly did, the truth is the disciples endured persecution and horrific deaths for Jesus and they wouldn’t die for something they made up.  Someone might become a martyr for something they think is true, like a Muslim terrorist.  However, it’s hard to believe that someone would willingly be tortured and die for something they know is a lie.  The disciples all had the same stories about Jesus and his life on earth and they all knew that Jesus was indeed the resurrected Son of God because they saw Him with their own eyes.

            All in all, the Bible is a legitimate authoritative source.  First, there are many Biblical scientific discoveries that have been found, such as the amount of stars in the sky, and how the Earth is a sphere.  Second, the Bible has numerous archeological findings that have proven its accuracy.  Finally, there are an overwhelming number of fulfilled prophecies that prove why the Bible can be trusted.  In conclusion, the Bible has proven many things throughout history.  Why shouldn’t we believe that the Bible is a legitimate authoritative source?