Indian Independence Speech Essay Example for Free

Indian Independence Speech Essay As you know all of us have gathered here to celebrate 67th independence day of our nation. This day, after the hosting national flag, we usually make mistake by remembering the heroic deeds of only few freedom fighters. But freedom fighting was collective effort. Without cooperation, sacrifice and involvement of all Indians it was impossible to get the freedom. So people of India were the real national heroes behind the success. We should express our sincere gratitude to all those who participated in the freedom struggle. This can only be done by defending our freedom like our ancestral property which cannot be valued. How to defend? Single person cannot defend it; again group effort is essential it is nothing but unity. How to form this unity? We should always remember that only patriotism can form unity irrespective of religion, language, caste, customs and traditions. So having patriotism only can save the freedom of our nation. To keep faith in secularism No compromise must be with patriotism, Punish the forces that support terrorism Else one bad day we will loose our freedom. I would like to express my views about the dark side of Present India. How should I say ‘My INDIA is great’? In this republic from schools to parliament, Elections are held at every moment, Children’s are taught fighting for the seat, How should I say ‘My India is great’? Even after golden jubilee of unconstraint, Many citizens are unable to fill their gut, Rich become richer and rests are indigent, How should I say ‘My India is great’? People are emotionally divided by communalist, Border in the north and south has water dispute, Leaders are selfish and have no solving interest, How should I say ‘My India is great’? Capable civilians are facing unemployment, Socially unfits have led the political movements, Voters are under tense of serious terror threat, How should I say ‘My India is great’? All are seeking benefits without effort, Bribery has become the style of management, Whole country pushed into a big corruption pit, How should I say ‘My India is great’? I pray to the divine creator with sentiment, Please give birth to sincere nationalist, Who should drive my nation towards overall development, So that I should say ‘My India is great’ Apart from these Our India is great country because Indians are generous, broad minded, kind hearted and united. No doubt we quarrel among ourselves for various reasons but we stay united in front enemies and in times of danger. I have got few facts which are in support of above statements. During Kargil war our Govt couldn’t spend even a single paisa from the budget but people gave every kind support for it. During Tsunami in Chennai, Flood in Bihar and Orissa, draught in the country, earthquake in Gujarat and Maharashtra and similar other natural disasters people stood united and helped each other, extended all kind of cooperation to start a new life. So I Say that My India is great and Indians are the greatest. â€Å"I am proud to be an Indian† India is a great country with many religions. It has rich natural resources and lengthy frontier with vast region. North has The Himalayas and south with the Hindu ocean, Bay of Bengal in the east and the west has the sea Arabian. It’s being administered with language wise partition. All are leading peaceful life with national integration. Enemy’s conspiracy is impossible with the unity of the nation. Festivals are celebrated here with memorable function.People help each other in time of affliction. So my India is great also I am proud to be an Indian.

Othello: the Abnormal Essay -- Othello essays

Othello: the Abnormal Five Works Cited  Ã‚  Ã‚   William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello presents to the audience a very abnormal character in the person of Iago. Also can one classify the epileptic seizure of Othello as normal? Let us in this essay consider the abnormal in the play. The abnormal behavior of the ancient is partly rooted in his misogynism. In â€Å"Historical Differences: Misogyny and Othello† Valerie Wayne implicates Iago in sexism. He is one who is almost incapable of any other perspective on women than a sexist one: Iago’s worry that he cannot do what Desdemona asks implies that his dispraise of women was candid and easily produced, while the praise requires labour and inspiration from a source beyond himself. His insufficiency is more surprising because elsewhere in the play Iago appears as a master rhetorician, but as Bloch explains, ‘the misogynistic writer uses rhetoric as a means of renouncing it, and, by extension, woman.’ (163) And how about epilepsy? In Act 4 the evil Iago works up Othello into a frenzy regarding the missing kerchief. The resultant illogical, senseless raving by the general is a prelude to an epileptic seizure or entranced state: Lie with her? lie on her? – We say lie on her when they belie her. – Lie with her! Zounds, that’s fulsome. – Handkerchief – confessions – handkerchief! – To confess, and be hanged for his labor – first to be hanged, and then to confess! I tremble at it. [. . .] (4.1) Cassio enters right after the general has fallen into the epileptic trance. Iago explains to him: IAGO. My lord is fall’n into an epilepsy. This is his second fit; he had one yesterday. CASSIO. Rub him about the temples. IAGO. No, forbear. The lethargy must have his quie... ...l find Iago peeping out from many of its pages. Still more, Iago’s name will be found appearing occasionally in bold print in books on abnormal psychology. (89-90)    WORKS CITED    Bevington, David, ed. William Shakespeare: Four Tragedies. New York: Bantam Books, 1980.    Campbell, Lily B. Shakespeare’s Tragic Heroes. New York: Barnes and Noble, Inc., 1970.    Coles, Blanche. Shakespeare’s Four Giants. Rindge, New Hampshire: Richard Smith Publisher, 1957.    Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http://www.eiu.edu/~multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos.    Wayne, Valerie. â€Å"Historical Differences: Misogyny and Othello.† The Matter of Difference: Materialist Feminist Criticism of Shakespeare. Ed Valerie Wayne. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1991.

Deadly Feasts

Erica Dunyon Directed Readings Deadly Feasts by Richard Rhodes I have to admit, on the opening scene I was really skeptical about reading this book. I really have always hated the idea of cannibalism, so when I was reading and imagining this, in my mind one word came to my attention, â€Å"Disgusting! † Progression into the book, however, received my attention, and I continued forward. I enjoyed reading this book. It was very informative, easy to understand, and easy to read. I learned about various prion diseases and their effect on each species they infect.Deadly Feasts is about spongiform encephalopathies including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Scrapies, Rida, Kuru, and mad cow disease. This book explains the relationships each spongiform disease has in common with each other, as well as their signs and symptoms. Mad cow disease and scrapies are quite similar to each other, and was endemic in Britain when this book was published. Another rare disease occurring in humans known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease has then been related to mad cow disease. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is one in which eats human brains. Kuru is thought to be another spongiform disease.Kuru was thought to be a result of sorcery. Initially when this disease was discovered, the belief was leaning toward this disease taking on a genetically transmissible role. After much research, it is known that it is a transmissible disease spread by the consumption of infected flesh. The extremely unusual thing about kuru, along with other spongiform encephalopathies, is that it lacks the presence of inflammation. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are also known as prion diseases. The infectious microbe in TSEs is a specific protein called prion protein.These prion proteins and proteins of the brain are extremely similar. This may be the reason these proteins are not detected by the immune system which is why they do not cause inflammation. These diseases are unique because they are impo ssible to kill. They have been exposed to virtually everything including, extreme temperatures and radiation, and still have the ability to infect and cause disease. Gajdusek believed that transmission of these spongiform encephalopathies was in the form of protein in diseased dead animals, including sheep and cattle that were fed to other cattle.Rhodes refers to a concept known as industrial cannibalism. This means that the supplements were made from dead cows. Despite the fact that cattle were coming down with a disease that decreases the cow population, supplements were still made with the remaining’s of diseased cattle and fed to other cattle. Transmission of this disease can occur months or even up to decades because the disease can incubate for the allotted time. Britain was responsible for the initiation of research in this epidemic group of diseases. Britain did not inform the public in regards to this disease.They also bought diseased animals for half of the market v alue. The British government banned individuals from feeding animal waste to other animals, in 1989 to limit the spread of these diseases. In addition to limitting the transmission of these diseases, as a safety measure, the FDA prevented industries from feeding cattle protein from dead sheep, cattle, and other susceptible diseased animals. Europe still has increasing cases of the disease, which it infects many various herds and species of animals, supporting that the epidemic disease is able to spread across the species barrier The British government, by making the wrong public health choices, has conducted a frightening natural experiment, allowing a lethal disease agent to spread through the human food supply, exposing the entire British population. † (Rhodes 97) America is trying to prevent the spread of spongiform disease transmission from Britain to the U. S. by manufacturing our own beef and meat products. Unfortunately, it would not be known if the disease has affected our population until it is a point when it might be too late. TSE’s are essentially unidentifiable until they progress to the point of brain damage. † (Rhodes 97) Spongiform diseases are still a known problem in the world, and the protection we give ourselves, or lack of protection is an issue brought up by Rhodes. Rhodes refers that spongiform diseases might be Britain's †new Black Death. † He states that the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are public health problems and not only clinical. Transmission is controlled by actions of both social and institutional aspects.The term the â€Å"new Black Death† refers to the ease of the transmission of the disease. If the plan for eradication is not carefully planned and executed, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies can be a serious epidemically known disease that can cause many deaths. In conclusion, I recommend Deadly Feasts to all individuals, not necessarily limited to only those interest ed in microbiology. This book gives insight on a former, and always possible, group of diseases that can become epidemic at any time. I believe knowledge is power, so knowing about these diseases only contributes to public safety.

Learning German Verb Conjugations

One useful verb for any wanderer to learn is to travel. In German, the word fahren  means to travel or to go. Learning to properly conjugate this word will help you tell your new friends all about your journey. If youre lost and looking for directions, youll be thankful you know how to say were traveling  to   Berlin when asking for help. In some cases fahren is also used to mean drive or have driven, this will usually be apparent from the context of the sentence. Stem-Changing Verbs German, like many other languages, has what is known as stem-changing verbs. This means that the stem or ending of the word is what changes based on who the action is referring to. These endings will remain consistent throughout the language for regular stem-changing verbs. Unlike in English, where I take and we take uses the same form of the verb in German the stems of the verb would change. This can make learning the language easier because you only need to remember the roots of most verbs. Unfortunately, nehmen is also an irregular  verb. This means there are times when it does not follow the normal rules of stem-changing verbs. Learn How Fahren is Conjugated in All Tenses The following charts will show you how the  German verb  fahrenis conjugated in all its tenses and moods. Fahren Present Tense -  Prà ¤sens Singular Deutsch English ich fahre I travel/am traveling du fhrst you travel/are traveling er sie fhrt es he she travelsit Plural wir fahren we travel/are traveling ihr fahrt you (guys) travel/are traveling sie fahren they travel/are traveling Sie fahren you travel/are traveling Examples: Fahren Sie heute nach Hamburg?Are you going/traveling to Hamburg today?Er fà ¤hrt mit dem Zug.Hes taking the train. Possible meanings of  fahren:  to travel, go, drive, ride, sail, take, move, transport Fahren Simple Past Tense -Imperfekt Singular Deutsch English ich fuhr I traveled du fuhrst you (fam.) traveled er fuhrsie fuhres fuhr he traveledshe traveledit traveled Plural wir fuhren we traveled ihr fuhrt you (guys) traveled sie fuhren they traveled Sie fuhren you traveled Fahren Compound Past Tense (Pres. Perfect)  Perfekt Deutsch English Singular ich bin gefahren I traveled/have traveled du bist gefahren you (fam.) traveledhave traveled er ist gefahrensie ist gefahrenes ist gefahren he traveled/has traveledshe traveled/has traveledit traveled/has traveled Plural wir sind gefahren we traveled/have traveled ihr seid gefahren you (guys) traveledhave traveled sie sind gefahren they traveled/have traveled Sie sind gefahren you traveled/have traveled See more verbs in our  20 Most-Used German Verbs. Fahren  Past Perfect Tense  Plusquamperfekt Deutsch English Singular ich war gefahren I had traveled du warst gefahren you (fam.) had traveled er war gefahrensie war gefahrenes war gefahren he had traveledshe had traveledit had traveled Plural wir waren gefahren we had traveled ihr wart gefahren you (guys) had traveled sie waren gefahren they had traveled Sie waren gefahren you had traveled See more verbs in our  20 Most-Used German Verbs.

Does Capital Punishment Deter Crime Essay - 939 Words

Does Capital Punishment Deter Crime? Ahmed Salman Argosy University July, 10, 2015 Introduction Capital punishment or death penalty is punishing by death. Crimes that can attract capital punishment are called capital crimes or offenses. In most countries, capital crimes include murder, robbery with violence, and treason (Doyle 2007). At the moment, there are thirty six countries in the world that practice the death penalty. More than 100 countries have abolished the dead penalty while 6 have prohibited the punishment for normal crimes but still practice it for offenses like war crimes. It is important to establish evidence for the death penalty as a form of deterrent punishment because policies must always be supported by evidence (Doyle 2007). Purpose of Study The Purpose of this research is to survey and determine the evidence of capital punishment as a deterrent. The research will emphasize on all the aspects of the death penalty as administered recently and in the past. The study will also provide evidence for or against death penalty as a deterrent. Overarching Research Question The research will solely focus on the deterrence factor of capital punishment and not an assessment of whether the death penalty is just or not. Raymond T. Bye details the root of the deterrence factor in capital punishment. Bye says life is the most sacred thing to an individual, and if one is threatened with death, he or she cannot ignore. Not everybody is willing toShow MoreRelatedPunishing Criminals by Death Will Deter Future Crimes...or Not?1216 Words   |  5 Pagespunishing criminals by death will deter future crimes. The paragraph further explains how human behavior is related to acts of crime. The essay gives an example of Canada. How crime was not deterred by the imposition of death penalty as a tool used by the system of justice. The essay states some of the research that has been conducted with the intention of proving that capital punishment can deter crimes. This paper points out the effects and imposition of capital punishments on criminal activities. TheRead MoreEssay about The Debate Over Capital Punishment1141 Words   |  5 Pagesdebate over capital punishment has been raging on for countless number of years. Capital punishment has been used for thousands of years due to the physiological fear it inflicts on the people who witness and learn about the death penalty. The use of this punishment has helped to reduce crime and alter the minds of future criminals to deter them against committing heinous crimes such as murder, treason, espionage, terrorism and in some cases aggravated kidnapping. Advocates say it deters crime while abolitionistsRead More The Death Penalty is a Necessary Deterrent to Crime Essay1712 Words   |  7 PagesThe Death Penalty is a Necessary Deterrent to Crime    Murder and rape are serious crimes, although they arent the only crimes that could be considered serious. Others that might be considered are stealing, which has numerous categories under it such as grand theft auto, etc†¦ The following story is the true account of a young female named Donna. This story tells of Donnas rape and then her murder by a man named McCorquodale and his friend Leroy. The author is telling this story in order to createRead MoreCapital Punishment Debate Essay756 Words   |  4 PagesCapital Punishment Debate The death penalty is a tough debate and an overwhelming argument in this country. We as Americans put Timothy McVeigh to death by lethal injection just three months ago. Arguments can be made for and against the death penalty, but this is not the problem. Capital Punishment is supposed to be a deterrent to crime, but is the death penalty really a deterrent? Capital Punishment is not a deterrent for crime, and the effects ofRead MoreEssay on Capital Punishment Should Be Abolished1108 Words   |  5 PagesCapital Punishment Should be Abolished Evidence suggests that the death penalty does not deter people from committing crimes. It is a cruel and cold blooded form of punishment and there have been instances where innocent people were sentenced to death and later found to be innocent. The most common methods of execution are hanging and shooting. Countries like the U.S. use electrocution, gas chambers and lethal injections to dispose of the convicted. Some countries, like the U.S., have triedRead MoreLife Imprisonment1378 Words   |  6 Pages| LIFE IMPRISONMENT IS A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT | Can life imprisonment be a good alternative to death penalty? The issue remains unresolved. Even the US Supreme Court that had abolished ‘Death Penalty’ reversed its decision when new and less cruel methods of execution were introduced.  Why does a society punish its members for certain acts that are offensive and unacceptable to its laws and codes? This can be a starting point of exploring our dilemma about death penalty vs. lifeRead MoreIs Capital Punishment Immoral? Essay1525 Words   |  7 PagesIs Capital Punishment Immoral? In a Kantian world with moral laws, capital punishment does not seem to be a theoretical solution for punishing murders. But when someone does commit murder those individuals render their rights, and henceforth would acknowledge their action with consequences, such as capital punishment. Jeffrey H. Reiman presents various arguments against the use of capital punishment with no adequate evidence of effectiveness, but I disagree. Capital punishment is a reasonableRead MoreEssay about The Death Penalty Should Be Abolished1479 Words   |  6 Pagesdeath penalty, also known as capital punishment is a legal procedure in which a state executes a person for crimes he/she has committed. This punishment has been implemented by many states, and is normally used for atrocious crimes, especially murder. It is also used on crimes against the state such as treason, crimes against humanity, espionage, and violent crimes while other states use it as part of military justice. There are mixed reactions on capital punishment depending on one’s faith, andRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Justified1143 Words   |  5 PagesObjective paper on the death penalty Capital punishment is legally authorized killing as punishment for a crime. The death penalty questions the morality of killing a person as justification for their crime. It also brings to question whether the death penalty actually serves as a deterrent for crime, and that some of the people executed are found innocent afterwards. The debates over the constitutionality of the death penalty and whether capital punishment should be used for retribution are alsoRead MoreAchieving Nothing Except Revenge: Research Shows That Capital Punishment Is Unsuitable for Civilized Nations1404 Words   |  6 Pages Since then, the debate over capital punishment has been never-ending, capturing the attention of citizens of all types. Americans have argued relentlessly over many issues that the death penalty brings to politics, economics, and moral values. In the article titled â€Å"Does Death Penalty Save Lives? A New Debate,† Adam Liptak explores both sides of the debate, highlighting the benefits that the death penalty provides to society. He states that the death penalty deters murders and accepts that innocent

The Power Shift In Traditional Gender Roles Is Immediately

The power shift in traditional gender roles is immediately evident through the female-driven narrative of ‘La Novia Oscura’. The verbal portrait of Sayonara is constructed upon a female framework; the reporter is overwhelmed by the fervour with which the prostitutes recount their experiences, â€Å"Estas mujeres†¦tenà ­an un enorme ‘deseo de contar’†(pg.14). Although Sayonara’s absence denies her agency over her own account, the matriarchal sub-community of Tora, along with the reporter, unite as a female collective to transform the legendary prostitute from a silent absence to an active voice, a privilege traditionally reserved for the male. Further transgression of traditional patriarchal authority is manifest in the novel’s conscious†¦show more content†¦Despite her limited geographical movement, the mestiza prostitute’s â€Å"Gloria extendà ­a doquiera que corrà ­an los tubos petroleros†(pg.117). Sayonara’s effortless fame grants her the ability to figuratively cross international borders and this in turn, prevents her confinement to the traditional domestic sphere in which the female is pigeonholed into the position of ama de casa. Francine Masiello argues that in order not to be subjected to a prescribed feminine role, feminine heroines repudiate any fixed point of origin. This corresponds to Sayonara who, upon first meeting, seems to appear from thin air, â€Å"Dice que no supo cuando ella se encaramà ³ a la zorra† (pg.) This displacement extends to her ambiguous departure in which she disappears into oblivion, â€Å"hacia un future incierto†(pg.392). The lack of geographical anchors shrouds â€Å"la mujer de los adioses† (pg.77) in mystery and bestows upon her a transcendental quality which grants her immunity from settling into a prescribed feminine role. Likewise, the profession of prostitution unabashedly casts off the puppet strings which constrict women to the private sphere. Despite common, prescribed belief, it is found that the majority of mujeres de la vida enter into the post by vocation as opposed, to economic necessity as the ideals of domesticity rapidly lose credibility in a country which, as Restrepo declares â€Å"està ¡ en el camino†. For instance, inShow MoreRelatedThe Influence Of Gender Identity On Graphic Design1255 Words   |  6 PagesThe influence of gender identity on graphic design The perception of gender and its role of establishing personal identities have dramatically changed in recent years. If design is to continue to play a dynamic and constructive role in society, it stands to reason that it has to reflect these changes to be more fluid and nuanced in its interpretation of gender and how design understands gender. The link between design and gender identity is profound because they are essentially bound to cultureRead MoreFantomina: the Manipulator of Situations1503 Words   |  7 Pagesin France. Haywood’s Fantomina represents an important moment in the evolution of gender constructions in the eighteenth century.This research essay is from short story Fantomina.Eliza Haywood Fantomina perceives that gender categories can easily be changed by showing that nothing is ever fixed.You have the power to manipulate any situation you are faced with. There are many instances where the reversal of gender categories is highlited. On page 1458,Haywood says ‘She was young,a stranger to theRead MoreMarxism And Feminism In Sweat By Zora Neal Hurston949 Words   |  4 Pagesthem. Hurston is known for her contributions to African-American literature. She creates a unique storyline in her readings that almost allows the reader to feel a connection with Marxist and Feminine as well as gender roles Picture this: a man coming home from a long day of work and immediately notices the smell of a freshly cooked meal. He takes off his boots and tosses them by the door and strolls into the dining room where he finds a nice hot plate of food on the table with a folded napkin and silverwareRead MoreA Shift in the Balance of Power Between the Generations and the Sexes Throughout Hobsons Choice1239 Words   |  5 PagesA Shift in the Balance of Power Between the Generations and the Sexes Throughout Hobsons Choice The stereotypical view of that period was that men had more power compared to women. Whether it was a father or a husband they had a more powerful status. The women were seen as the weaker sex and second class citizens this is portrayed by Jim, a womans foolishness begins where a mans leaves off. Women had a very homely image also. Children of this period were to be Read More Hughes Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate1170 Words   |  5 PagesHughes Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate In the Hughes’ text, Women in World History: Volume 1, the chapter on Middle Eastern women focuses on how Islam affected their lives. Almost immediately, the authors wisely observe that â€Å"Muslim women’s rights have varied significantly with time, by region, and by class† (152). They continue with the warning that â€Å"there is far too much diversity to be adequately described in a few pages.† However, I argue that thereRead MoreThe Impact Of Money On An African Subsistence Economy1549 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"The Impact of Money on an African Subsistence Economy†, he argues that the introduction of a general purpose currency fundamentally changed the nature of Tiv culture because it altered their previously multi-centric economy and changed their traditional methodology of trading and valuation of categories of goods. Bohannon’s ethnography of the Tiv culture and their economic history opens with a simple analysis of contemporary definitions of money and an explanation of the concept of â€Å"general purposeRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Little Red Cap By Angela Carter1200 Words   |  5 PagesFairytales subvert, challenge or reaffirm archetypal values through didactic lenses. The presence of universal themes allows for an examination of contextual shifts and by being malleable in nature, can be made relevant to different audiences. The Brothers Grimm s Little Red Cap, Angela Carter’s The Company of Wolves and Tommy Wirkola s film, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters all promote their hegemonic ideologies and as cultural artefacts’ extrapolate the contextual values of their timeRead MoreModernity in The Metamorphosis and The Judgement by Franz Kafka989 Words   |  4 Pagesof generational tensions as sons sought to over-throw paternal authority and find their own way withi n the modern world. A reoccurring motif within both texts is that of the role reversal of filial relationships in which the son is portrayed as the provider and the father as the dependant. This experiment with traditional family structure can be seen within The Metamorphosis as Mr. Samsa is described as almost commensurate with his wife and daughter due to being unable to support them and whollyRead MoreEssay about Gender Roles in Macbeth1453 Words   |  6 PagesGender Roles in Macbeth  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although written long ago, Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth still has themes relevant for contemporary society.   Murderous ambition, political intrigue, crafty social alliances, the disintegration of marriage – these could be headlines from any daily news program.   It comes as no surprise, then, that we also find a significant number of moments in the play where gender seems to be an issue. More specifically, we might say that Shakespeares dramatic investigationRead MoreModern Birth Control And Gender Roles Essay2209 Words   |  9 Pages Before the introduction of modern birth control, gender roles emphasized the responsibility of women to conceive and raise children. Although this began to change in the in the mid-twentieth century, with the introduction of the first hormonal birth control pill, Enovid, taking place in 1960, it was not readily accessible during that time period (Buttar and Seward, 2009, p. 1-3). This did not change during the time period im mediately following the introduction either; five years after the introduction

Arguments from religious experience are never convincing free essay sample

When people say that they have experienced God or the divine in some way; they are not saying that it ‘seemed like’ God but was something else. The issue for many philosophers is: are religious experiences veridical? By this is meant can we actually demonstrate that the religious experiences of people are what they seem to be, i. e. experiences of God, rather than delusions, products of the mind or of some other source such as LSD? Can a person saying they have had a religious experience really be convincing? To know whether religious arguments are convincing or not, Richard Swinburne has suggested two principles that may be used to assess claims about religious experiences. First, he suggested what he calls that ‘principle of credulity’. Swinburne argued that, other things being equal, we have good reason to believe what a person tells us is correct. In general, if a person tells us that they can see a cat crossing the road, we believe them, even if we have not seen the event. We will write a custom essay sample on Arguments from religious experience are never convincing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Even if only one person sees the event, they still count. Swinburne says â€Å"the principle of credulity states that we ought to believe that things are as seen to be, unless or until we have evidence that they are mistaken† by this Swinburne means that unless you can prove that the person often lies or has been or drinking or on drugs, then there is no reason not to believe that they had a religious experience. Swinburne also suggests the principle of testimony; he argues that it is reasonable to believe what someone tells you. For example, if your best friend tells you about a religious experience he or she had, do you have reason to disbelieve them? It may be that you want to investigate what they said, but that is not a reason to automatically reject what they claim to have experienced. Therefore, Swinburne believes that arguments for religious experience are convincing, until they can be proven otherwise. However, there are many sociological challenges to claims of religious experiences; Marx was influenced by a philosophical movement known as the young Hegelians, who suggested that religion was a form of ‘alienation’ from ones true self. By this they meant that religion was about mythological beliefs and an unreal god that distracted people from their own reality in the physical world, he described religion as the ‘opium of the masses’. In particular, Marx saw religion as a form of oppression and control of people in society, which prevented people from being truly human and making their own decisions. Marx believes that religious experience would be the product of the culture in which the person lived. Marx therefore believes that the origins of the experience would be traceable to the teachings and beliefs of the church. So, Marx is saying that arguments from religious experience are never convincing. Although, many would agree with Marx’s point, others would also disagree. Marx did not accept the fact that for many people religion is more than a comfort. Religious people would argue that their faith is a relationship with God; and God is a real, existing being and not a product of society. Therefore, the arguments for religious experience can be convincing as if God exists and he is not a product of society, then of course people can experience him in different ways, who is to say someone is lying about their experience with god? Anthony Flew claims that the character of religious experience â€Å"seem to depend on the interests, background and expectation of those who have them rather than on anything separate and autonomous†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Flew is showing that religious experiences cannot be convincing because there is no direct proof and all experiences seem to depend on the same thing. Davies, however, rejects this challenge on the grounds that it applies largely to visions. Also, she claims that the person in one tradition will tend to use the language and ideas of the tradition to explain their experiences. However there is an important assumption being made here that one can strip away the description and arrive at a common core of meaning or a ‘raw, pre-conceptual experience’ in which is highly debatable. Teresa of Avila suggests that if the experience fits in with the Christian teaching rather that going against it, and the experience leaves the person feeling at peace with the world and God, rather than distressed, then they were religious experiences and if explained in this way, then they should be seen as convincing because this is what a religious experience consists of. The distinction she makes here is useful, as if a schizophrenic tries to kill someone because a voice tells him or her to, another person could reason that this is not the voice of God, because killing goes against the Christian teaching that it is wrong to kill. However, other people have pointed out that the fact that the voice fits in with church teaching in no way proves that the person heard the voice of God rather than a voice in their own mind. Another argument against religious experience suggests that the have a physiological cause. For example, did St. Paul on the road to Damascus have epilepsy? This could possibly explain his experience of bright light. Equally it is known that damage to the brain can cause hallucinations and delusions, as can brain tumors. The weakness of this challenge is that there is no evidence that every person who has had a religious experience was suffering from an illness that can cause these side effects. Although, this argument is very successful, there are many things that could be the cause of a religious experience, and how do we know that it is just hallucinations, or an illness? There is no evidence to prove religious experiences are convincing. Freud also believed that religious experiences were not convincing and suggested that religious experiences were the result of human psychology. Freud argued that religion is an ‘illusion’, by which he meant it expressed peoples desires and what they wanted to believe. In particular, religion meets people’s needs. If this is true, religious experience is an illusion derived from peoples needs, making religious experience very much like wishful thinking. Taking this view, religious experience would never be considered convincing as it is something that does is not revealed to a person through God, but that is the person who makes the experience into that of a religious one. Overall it is credible to consider religious experiences convincing as Swinburne and Alston note that if a person is usually trustworthy and reliable, then why should we question their experience. However one must be cautious due to physiological and psychological explanations of where religious experiences may be derived from, if these can be proved true in every case of religious experience then it is fair to assume that religious experiences are never convincing.