Protestant Reformation Essays - Anglican Saints, Anti-Catholicism

Protestant Reformation Religion is a predominant force in our world today. It also had a strong impact on the lives of those alive during the Protestant Reformation. Many changes were brought along by this historical chain of events. Recently, many incidents have occurred to change the way people view religion. Examples include the Holocaust and, more recently, the Branch-Davidians in Waco, Texas. Even a more spectacular event in history occurred when a group of people decided that just because everyone around them had said it was so, that did not mean that they should blindly follow this idea. The Reformation was led in three different countries by three different men who varied in the reasons for their country's need for reformation. ?The Reformation was an attempt to recover a lost golden age of primitive purity as set forth in the Bible. This search for the primitive purity led to some very impure acts by some on the quest to regain this cleanliness? (Gonzalez 31). The origin of the word "Protestant" roots back to an event that took place nearly a half-millennium ago in April of 1529. At an assembly of political and religious leaders, a protest was read against the accustomed traditions of Roman Catholicism. The protesters, who consisted of fourteen free German cities and six Lutheran princes, read their complaint to those in attendance at the assembly known as the Diet of Speyer. The assembly itself contained Roman Catholic princes of Germany and the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. ?The challengers of the previously untouchable Catholic dogmas stated that if they were forced to choose between obedience to God and obedience to Caesar, they would unanimously choose in favor of God? (Gottfried 4). The Diet was not delighted to hear such slander against everything their country stood for. ?This milestone of rebellion in religion furnished the name, Protestants, to those gathered there to protest? (Gottfried 4). ?Although the protesters did not immediately welcome this new label placed upon them, their enemies did? (Gottfried 4). The protesters main foe became the Roman Catholic Church, which in turn declared all those who claimed to be Christian, but opposed Catholicism, as Protestants. This declaration included the protesters, Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and other denominations. ?Commencement of the Reformation was spearheaded by a German monk, Martin Luther? (Rosten 9). Born in 1483 in Eisleben, Martin Luther began his schooling in Magdeburg. ?Although he led a very strict childhood, his parents used this rigid boarding only as positive re-enforcement? (Backman 19). ?Martin Luther was brought up to believe in superstition mixed with Christianity, which led to his more liberal interpretation of the Bible? (Backman 19). After his initial schooling, he went on to study in many different universities across Germany. During one of his daily travels, Martin was thrown to the ground when a bolt of lightning struck near him. He interpreted this as a sign from God. At that instance, he declared that he would give up his schooling and become a monk. ?As a monk, Martin Luther led a very expected solitary life? (Backman 22). He devoted himself to endless hours of contemplation of religion and the fundamental workings of all aspects of Catholicism. Nevertheless, the hours of constant meditation and study of the Bible led him to find flaws in the papal doctrine of that day. ?A loyal member of the Catholic Church, he was later to shatter the structure of the medieval Catholicism. A devoted servant of the Pope, he later related the popes with the Antichrist? (Gottfried 10). Many of Martin Luther's followers proclaimed him to be a prophet of the new era. ?Some went as far as to compare him to Moses because he reformed the culture of the religious world just as Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt? (Backman 20). ?After Martin Luther, there came a man from France who would take the Reformation to the next plateau? (Green 49). Born in 1509 in Picardy, France, John Calvin was the fourth son of the secretary to the chapter of the Noyon Cathedral. ?Calvin was given many excellent schooling opportunities because he was friends with a family that was relatives of the bishop of Noyon? (Green 52). Later, Calvin attended college in Noyon. His

The eNotes Blog 7 Middle School Book Recommendations for EnthusiasticReaders

7 Middle School Book Recommendations for EnthusiasticReaders As a 6th grade teacher, I have the hardest time finding books that challenge my students to think critically without crossing the line into mature content. YA novels can be some of the most violent, steamy, and explicit books on the market since they target readers aged ten to eighteen. On the other hand, middle-grade books can be too low for some of my advanced readers. For this reason, I’ve spent a lot of time vetting books that have interesting themes, beautiful prose, or perspectives that my students might not encounter in their lives. Here are seven absolutely fantastic books that are age appropriate for middle school students. Offer them to readers who are looking for an engaging challenge! 1.  The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse Genre: Historical Fiction; Mystery Page Count: 320 Age Range: 11-14 Set during WWII, The Girl in the Blue Coat follows Hanneke, a clever young girl who smuggles black market goods to customers in Amsterdam. Hanneke has a cynical outlook on the war after her boyfriend was killed fighting to keep the Nazis out of the Netherlands. But her desire to survive above all else is jeopardized when Mrs. Janssen asks her to perform a dangerous task: find the girl in the blue coat, a Jewish teenager that Janssen had been hiding. Hanneke’s journey leads her to resistance meetings, underground hideouts, and into the most notorious deportation center in Amsterdam. This is a stunning novel about courage, selflessness, and the human will to survive. 2.  I Will Always Write Back  by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda Genre: Memoir Page Count: 416 Age Range: 9-14 This is an excellent book about compassion, sacrifice, and learning. Martin, a young boy living in Zimbabwe, and Caitlin, a white girl living in Pennsylvania, become pen pals in 7th grade. While Caitlin’s family lives comfortably in the US, Martin’s family lives within a notoriously poor slum in Zimbabwe. Martin works incredibly hard to be the top of his class, knowing that an education will be his ticket to a better life. But when he is kicked out of school because his family cannot pay, he must rely on the friendship he has built through his letters for support. Caitlin and her family dedicate themselves to supporting Martin as he bravely pursues his future. Caitlin learns how truly privileged she is, recognizing the injustice of the world. Told through two distinct voices and perspectives, this memoir will give your students a perspective not generally addressed in teen literature. 3. The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen Genre: Realistic Fiction Page Count: 336 Age Range: 12 and up Jessica is a runner. Running means everything to her. But tragedy strikes when she loses her leg in an accident. While Jessica initially believes her life is over, she puts herself back together over the course of the novel. She confronts her own biases towards disabilities as she realizes that she treated Rosa, a girl with cerebral palsy, differently just because of her disability. Jessica overcomes the dramatic change in her life, her biases, and her negativity to realize her dreams in this inspirational novel. 4.  Irenas Children: A True Story of Courage (Young Readers Edition) by Tilar J. Mazzeo Genre: Non Fiction Page Count: 272 Age Range: 10 and up This is the story of Irena Sendler, an incredible Polish woman who saved 2,500 children during WWII. Often called the â€Å"female Schindler,† Sendler’s story has largely disappeared from history books. This young reader’s edition of her tale brings the story to life. Sendler used her wits, bravery, and fearlessness to smuggle children out of the Warsaw Ghetto. She used sewers and secret passageways, coffins and coats, abandoned buildings, and a network of underground resistance workers. Her heroic tale will not only teach young students about one of the most horrific times in modern history, but also about choosing to do the right thing when it is not easy. 5.  The Book Thief  by Markus Zusak Genre: Historical Fiction Page Count: 608 Age Range: 13 and up   * â€Å"When Death has a story to tell, you listen.† So goes the tagline of Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, a story of WWII told through the perspective of Death- a cantankerous narrator with a verbose vocabulary. Death becomes fixated on a young German girl named Liesel and her foster family the Hubermanns. They are not like the other families on their streets. Rosa, Liesel’s foster mother, shows love by hurling profanities and wooden spoons at those she loves. Her husband, Hans, paints houses and plays the accordion. But this unconventional family takes on the greatest sacrifice: agreeing to hide a Jewish man named Max. Beautifully written, heart-wrenching, and endearing, this novel explores the power of words and the human will to survive. Above all else, this is a story about how far people will go to do what is right. **This one is appropriate for more advanced and mature students because of the complex vocabulary and a few depictions of violence. 6.  Harbor Me  by Jacqueline Woodson Genre: Realistic Fiction Page Count: 192 Age Range: 9-15 This is an incredible book by the author of â€Å"Brown Girl Dreaming.† It follows six kids whose teacher asks them to skip their last period on Fridays so that they can talk in the ARTT Room (short for A Room to Talk). These kids have seemingly unconnected experiences: There’s Esteban, whose father may be deported; Haley, whose father is in prison; Ashton, whose family just lost everything; and Amari, who fears being racially profiled by the police. But when they are together in the ARTT room, they are able to discuss all the issues on their minds. Through their conversations, readers learn about the very real problems facing different teens in the US. 7.  The Girl Who Drank the Moon  by Kelly Barnhill Genre: Fantasy Page Count: 400 Age Range: 9-14 The Protectorate fears a witch. The people have been told that if they do not leave a baby every year as a sacrifice for the witch, she will destroy their city. Little do they know, their monster is actually a kind witch named Xan. Every year, Xan travels to the edge of the forest to rescue a baby that has been, seemingly, abandoned by its family. Xan feeds the child starlight and delivers it to a loving family in the Free Cities. However, on this journey, Xan makes a critical error: she feeds the baby moonlight and gives the human child magical powers. Now, Xan must raise the child as her own. But as Luna grows, so does the uncertainty in the Protectorate. A young man decides that he must hunt down the witch, and a volcano is close to erupting. This is a fast-paced, magical tale of love and self-discovery. It teaches the reader that stories, true or false, have power over one’s imagination.

Enterprise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Enterprise - Essay Example The success results from competitive advantage resulting from Enterprise 2.0 usage. The marketplace imperative to access the right information and people at the exact time has resulted in an enhanced interest in building a next-generation enterprise place of work setting where users carry out daily trade activities. Such a workplace necessitates for Enterprise 2.0 technologies and usage pattern to transition the workplace to an internet powered, which is user centered, as well as community centered. Web technologies have sites that form collective fabric tying people, processes and systems together. As such, Enterprise 2.0 technology can be used both as a resource and as a capability by an organization to give rise to competitive advantage (Taprial & Kanwar, 2012). Organizations can use social media platform to their advantage through what is referred to as the resource based view of the firm (RBVF). The resource-based view of the firm holds that firms possess resources that enable t hem achieve a competitive merit. In turn, the attained competitive merit results in excellent long term performance. Resources that are precious and rare may result in the creation of competitive merit, which can be continued for longer times periods if the business will be able to safeguard against resource imitation. Firms may use web 2.0 resources to make their resources and capabilities valuable, rare, imperfectly imitable and non substitutable (Westner, 2009). Web technologies will be valuable if they help a firm to put in place strategies than enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Priceless organizational resources owned by many rival firms cannot be sources of a competitive merit. Therefore, a firm should adopt web technology in an agile manner to ensure that its capabilities and resources will be rare, eventually resulting in a sustainable competitive advantage. In addition, the resources and capabilities should not be imitable and substitutable. Modern businesses face a wor ld of changing technologies, increased global competition and dealing with enlightened customers. Customers precisely know what they want, and use the web to look for every detail of their product of choice. This calls for businesses to use the fresh wave of enterprise 2.0 technology to act swiftly to optimize reaction to market opportunities to gain a competitive edge (Qualman, 2012). Web technologies in social media can be utilized as a resource for increased interaction between a corporation’s different stakeholders. The use of web 2.0 technologies can be used as a resource for driving revenue. Companies are looking for ways to enhance their efficacy in their innovation programs in a bid to gain essential competitive differentiation. This has come about as a result of a worldwide marketplace pattern of increasing rivalry and adding new competitive elements and means of conducting business online. It is worth noting that contemporary businesses will not succeed only by cutt ing costs and doing usual business activities day in day out. For instance, South West Airlines use social media to give information of flights, and notify customers on any flight changes. South West Airlines uses social sites like Facebook to build relations with the public, and this presents a potential to gain new