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A LIFESTYLE BLOG
the devil watches me sleep
the devil watches me sleep
How do I know this? I saw him with my own two eyes! I couldn’t believe it at first. I was asleep in my bed and I was having a bad dream. I was dreaming that someone was after me and I was running. I awoke, and while still lying down I opened my eyes and looked up.
Right beside me, staring at me, was this creature glaring at me with yellow eyes. I had never seen anything like it before in my life! It was like a mixture of a dragon, a snake, and a lizard. It was horrifying!
As I froze in fear, the creature realized that I could see it. The creature began fading away, disappearing into thin air. I sat up in bed and peered straight ahead, wondering if the creature was still there. I couldn’t get the image out of my mind. I know it was real, it had to be. It was standing right beside the bed looking straight at me.
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College Papers written from 2015-2019
I majored in counseling psychology and minored in sociology. I was going to become a therapist so I could help others struggling with their emotional well-being. Considering I have been through a lot of traumatic experiences, I felt I could relate to others who have gone through a difficult time. I am a good listener and I have learned to be patient. Unfortunately, due to a head injury I have short-term memory loss. I am no longer in school although I received my bachelor's. I was aiming for a Ph.D. and someday my own practice. God had other plans for me and I'm okay with that. He knows what's best and I love Him for that. I completely trust in Him.
In Judaism, destruction of the earth is not allowed. The Jewish people are meant to sustain tranquility of the earth and act responsibly while caring for it. Even though people control the land, we are supposed to be at peace with all of God’s creation. Martin Buber was a Jewish philosopher who viewed the life of humans in two ways. When someone connects with someone in an I-it way, the relationship with that person is considered to be dishonest, because we are looking at them as an article or an item, and not a person. When we form a connection with a person and see their true value and morality then it is considered and I-thou relationship. We are treating a person like a human being. This is relatable to the ecological crisis because our planet is depleting and we are the cause. How we treat each other as well as our land is vital to our survival. People need to demonstrate compassion for one another as well as caring for the earth. I agree that our relationships are important for future existence, but we must be unified.
Young, W. A. (2013). The world's religions: worldviews and contemporary issues. Fourth edition. Boston, Pearson.
Every division of the Jewish faith excluding the orthodox permits rabbis to effect a same-sex marriage. This started with the reformation Jews in the year 2000, giving rabbis the choice on whether they want to officiate them or not. The conservative Jews also permitted rabbis to perform same-sex marriages beginning in 2006.
Some branches of Christianity are starting to indicate adequate backing. Episcopalians showed contention t any declaration of a union strictly based on man and woman. Bishops were even allowed to bless same-sex marriages in 2009. William Young explained, “The Evangelical Lutheran church in America does not have an official ritual for same-sex unions. In 2009 the church’s national assembly did allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support and hold publicly accountable lifelong, monogamous, same gender relationships” (Young, The World’s Religions. Worldviews and Contemporary Issues, p. 397)
The magical extension of Islam, called Sufism, considers homosexuality a connection to God. Organizations have joined together to show approval toward gay and lesbian Muslims. In fact, an association name Al-Fatiha exhibits their interpretation of Islam as one of acceptance claiming that Allah adores all living things regardless of who they are fond of.
The Sunni Wahhabi movement of Arabia was the earliest contemporary development to attempt to cleanse Islam by taking up the Hanbalite outlook, which was that the proper methods were established in strict devotion of the Quran and also the collection of traditions containing sayings of the prophet Muhammad. These records of daily routines are the essential origin of direction for Muslims. The creator of this movement was Ibn Al-Wahhabi who instructed Muslims to seek out idolism and destroy it, even of the saints. Anything relating to the saints including holy places was annihilated. It was determined that the way to go was adhering to Sharia with conduct of simplicity and discipline. Since the dawn of the Wahhabi movement, the Sa’ud family formed a friendship strengthening their authority over the Arabian Peninsula where the Wahhabi movement was applied to lead Islam into Saudi Arabia. Those who disregard Islamic Sharia are severely punished; such as beheading. In public the women and men are still divided although women are still able to keep their business status.
The secular movement wanted to pursue the Western example of isolating spiritual beliefs from governmental matters. Mustafa Kamal became leading authority in Turkey doing away with any Muslim rulers, abolishing Islam law, removed holy tribunals, and restricted many Islamic customs. Kamal assumed the name Ataturk, which means the Father of Turkey, and got rid of the associations who practiced the mystical belief of Sufism. This attempt was fashioned to conform Turkey into Western influence rather than towards the Muslim system. Due to elected conservative parties, the secular movement has changed; progressive movements are now up and coming in Turkey. This has taken place due to the expansion of instruction of Islam.
The progressive movement strived to grasp a neutral ground. They disputed fundamental principles of Islam being brought back and the assurance of lawfulness to humanity while disregarding certain traditions such as the division of men and women. Separation was not considered a necessary instruction. Jamal al-Din Afghani was a head figure of the progressive movement who worked towards joining Muslims together internationally. The progressive movement felt that Islam demonstrates these moral beliefs so it wasn’t necessary to look to Western influence. The progressive movement also stresses the point that logic cannot disprove divination and seeks to gain more modernization from science, technology, and education to develop the Muslim population. Progressives feel every living being needs to be in compliance with the Islam way. They differ from conservatives on what are the proper guidelines for humankind to follow. Now, progressives hope to live in peace with others while showing compassion, fairness, and equality.
I respect the conservative movement for standing by their beliefs and continuing with tradition. I think customs build a foundation to build a strong structure that will extend up and out. It’s like a family tree, sort of. You start off with a few people who find hope and wellness in something and then they pass it down to their young. Those morals are shared as they continue to grow. Then you have a solid monument which remains for a lifetime. You can also depend on that structure to hold you up for support. If the leader of a country takes care of his people there is a chance for success. When future developments are made you make adjustments but that doesn’t mean stop believing in your creator. You should live for the one who made you, in my opinion, not for the world. What you’ve been blessed with can be easily taken away. It’s important to not bite the hand that feeds you. As far as which movement will succeed, I cannot say. We have entered a time full of pride, rage, and greed. Right now it seems like there are a lot of extreme actions taking place. But in the end I think those who stay devoted will win.
Young, William A. (2013). The World’s Religions. Worldviews and Contemporary Issues. Fourth Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jerse. Pearson.
Concerning the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis, it appears to be a fight for land that both peoples feel they have a claim to. It has been said the Jewish people have been living in Israel for over three thousand years. There is documented evidence as well as historical, archaeological sites supporting that the existence of Jews living there for a very long time> it has been noted that Palestinians believe that there is no history linking the Jews to Israel. As Charles Krauthammer states, “Israel is the very embodiment of Jewish continuity: It is the only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3,000 years ago (Charles Krauthammer). The Zionist point of view was centered on finding a place for the Jewish people to call home to enact protection from maltreatment. Israel was conceived by Zionists to be their home after years of affliction. They also wanted to exist together with other local inhabitants that were not Jewish. The chief negotiator of the Zionist Movement wanted unification and treating the Arabs as equal to the Jews. As years passed the economy and living conditions showed great improvement. More Arabs moved into the area due to the advantages.
Charles Krauthammer declared:
When Israel was founded in 1948, its Declaration of Independence specifically called on its Arab inhabitants to “participate in the up-building of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship”, and on the neighboring Arab countries to “establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help…for the advancement of the entire Middle East” (Charles Krauthammer).
It was later recognized that both peoples had rights to the land. The issue that stands even today is that the Jewish people, namely the Zionist Jews, would like to live together peacefully with the Arabs but they have refused by exhibiting violence. The Arabs want the land for themselves. Not taking any sides, because I don’t live there and I didn’t begin there; but I believe in peace and unity. So I would support bringing the two peoples together to live.
Krauthammer, Charles. (2010-2014). 10 facts about the arab-iraeli conflict. Arabisraeliconflict.
Young, William A. (2013). the World’s Religions. Worldviews and Contemporary Issues. Fourth Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Pearson.
Regarding Traditional / Conservative Christians and Progressive / Liberal Christians and the end of earth, I can take pieces from both. The idea of the Progressive / Liberal Christians is that Heaven will be recreated her on earth. This is in the Book of Revelation, as well as eternal torment; or burning in the lake of fire for eternity which is supported by Traditional / Conservative Christians. The Book of Revelation tells of the second coming of Christ and the end of the earth. It is the time when the antichrist will appear on earth in disguise as a holy man. He will perform parlor tricks to gain everyone’s trust and the demand to be worshiped or send everyone to their death. He will rise in power but then be revealed. Once again we will have the choice to be good or evil. If we do good deeds for the glory then we will not be rewarded. It is God who is glorious.
In the Book of Revelation it speaks of signs that foretell the end coming near with natural disasters and plagues. It is about the war between God and the devil. It’s all going to boil down to who has undying faith. A person’s faith will be their strength for the adversity that is to come. Whoever stays true to God and doesn’t falter will go to Heaven. Once the angels have destroyed the earth and all the bad with it the New Jerusalem; or Holy City will be recreated here on earth. God will live together with those whose names are written in the book of life. The Lord’s Prayer is accurate about thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, because the new Holy City will be made right here after all of the wickedness has been destroyed. Those who are not saved will burn for all eternity. I agree with Jack Wellman about what the Bible says will happen at Jesus’s second coming.
Everyone that has died and those still living at Christ’s return, face Him at this great white throne and will be judged “according to what they had done” in their life. If they were saved then their deeds, including all their sins, will be wiped clean because God will see you as having Jesus’s own righteousness. But if a person has never repented and trusted in Jesus, then their name will not be found in the “Book of Life” which means that they will be “thrown into the lake of fire”. Choose today where you will spend eternity. Life is short but eternity is a very, very, long, long time (Wellman, Patheos).
I understand that people believe in their own creator or means of creation, and that everyone has their own meaning of hope and purpose. People are raised a certain way to believe certain things about the world and the people in it. When I was younger I was all about intuition and gut feelings. As I got older I became analytical and logical. I like to study the facts. However through very short teachings in my youth and hard life experiences as an adult I have come to believe that the Bible speaks the truth in my opinion and the Lord is my Savior. So I will stand by my beliefs.
Here are some verse relating to the end:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. (Book of John)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Book of Romans)
And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. (Book of Matthew)
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of Godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (The second Book of Timothy)
Then I saw “a new Heaven and a new earth” for the first Heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. (Book of Revelation)
Bible Gateway
All over the world a lot of Muslims are propounding that extremists are hijacking Islam. Osama bin Lade put a bad taste in everyone’s mouth by smearing the Islamic religion. The Wahhabi version of Islam mostly claims to live simply with discipline. Praise your God in all that you do, and live for Him and not the world. This is how bin Laden was raised and he vowed to protect those principles at any cost. Bin Laden felt that the United States violated sacred Muslim territory which he took as a threat to Islam. His actions were inhumane and unforgivable.
To the best of my knowledge, I have always understood Islam to bring about peace and to share compassion. There are different branches of every religion where believers will add to the religion to make it their own, and then they pass their preferences along. Like with the events of 9/11,bin Laden tried to justify his actions claiming it was the right thing to do by his beliefs and giving Islam a bad name. I don’t think it had anything to do with Islam, in my opinion. I think it was more related to power, greed, and hate. There are a lot of people who suffer from these improprieties and take it out on others.
Abdulsalam explains one of the objectives as:
To safeguard human welfare and oppose corruption and evil. Thus, everything that safeguards faith, life, reason, wealth and lineage are part of this human welfare that religion protects. On the other hand, anything that endangers these five universal needs is a form of corruption that religion opposes and prohibits (Abdulsalam, Islam Religion).
That says to me that Islam means peace. However, the actions of extremists are not one of peace; it is one of corruption and evil, which Islam is supposed to be against. It’s like the saying there is always one bad apple in every bunch. There is always going to be someone who will twist values to their standards and find ways to justify their actions. It ruins it for a lot of people when you present yourself one way and then somebody who is supposed to be representing the same thing does something horrendous and leaves everyone confused doubting what they are all about. I’ve seen Christians twist words from the Bible putting a bad taste in people’s mouth. It is sickening to watch because it turns a lot of people away from God, and I don’t feel that is a good thing. Everyone has the right to believe in what they want but at the same time someone shouldn’t shame what someone else believes in. Only love can ensure our survival, not power.
Abdulsalam, M. (2014, March 18). What is Islam. Beliefs of Islam. Islam Religion.
Young, William A. (2013). The World’s Religions. Worldviews and Contemporary Issues. Fourth Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Pearson.
Science and religion conflict in certain ways which can cause disapproval of one or the other. That leads to both of these subjects concentrating upon different ideas or concerned with different ways of knowing. They are both an integral part of the other which means they are both necessary to make the other complete. That probably sounds like a contradiction in itself but I feel the two go together. I think we were created by God along with the universe and everything contained in it. I feel that science is a part of that creation that breeds intelligence and evolution with it. But ultimately I think that God made everything that way. I don’t think that any organism or living thing created developed on its own or learned by itself to adapt and reproduce. I understand that some believe in survival of the fittest. I still think God is our Creator and things are how they are because that’s how He created it. I also think He gave us free will so we wouldn’t be like robots. Our free will gives us the choice to do good things or to do bad things. We are all trying to understand the world and the people, as well as other living organisms, in it.
In the God delusion, Richard Dawkins suggests how shameful it is that people would believe in something without having solid evidence that it exists. He goes on to state that he believes in science because of the evidence it produces. It is true though that not all scientific evidence is proven. It’s always a work in progress. He also says that atheism is growing largely in number and might soon become normal that everyone has chosen this path. In the first interview with John Mackay he mentions that everyone sees the world through a set of glasses concocted by Charles Lyell meaning that what is taking place in the world today did so back then. He says we only have one system of dating and that everything can protrude over the next so the world needs to be aged for development to occur. He stated that to examine the future we’re always in the past. In other words, history is repeating itself. I liked how in the second interview Mackay says, “God provides for all of us; atheists included”, (John Mackay). I agree with this statement. It is what I believe. However I do respect that everyone believes in something different and I’m fine with that as long as we are all able to come together and live peacefully. If someone is following a path that harms other living organisms I do not support harming a living being and feel measures should be taken to diminish those beliefs that harm is good. The video containing explanations on science and religion basically proposed that all information on these subjects should be provided for everyone, and that people should be allowed to decide for themselves. I agree with this theory and think it would be a great idea for everyone to be better educated on both; including more religions. If we are trying to find communal harmony and the way to get there is for everyone to make their own decision then we should all find our own way to our own happiness; once again as long as we are not harming others. Regarding the question does scientific knowledge contradict religious belief, Francisco J. Ayala says, “Science deals with matter, where organisms come from, and explaining natural processes. Religion deals with purpose, meaning of life, and the relationship between humans and our Creator. If both are understood correctly there can be no contradiction” (Ayala). He also commented that most scientists claim that since the existence of God cannot be proven that He must not exist. It makes me think of ghosts and aliens. There are some who believe in those supernatural entities so why would it be so odd to believe in a higher being such as God? With the video the science of emergence, Dr. Phillip Clayton discusses the merging complexity of organisms and how these interactions impact their counterparts. He was trying to say that this could mean an instinctive alliance between science and religion instead of constant strife. John Cobb felt we should go back to Darwin and explore alternate theories. He questioned whether purpose plays a role in evolution. I agree with Cobb to the fact of the involvement of supernatural intervention. I like how Cobb said, “The present is always shaped by the past but the present is also shaped by God” (John Cobb).
Millennium Project Videos. (2009, December 11). Richard Dawkins interviews creationist John Mackay (Part 2 of 2). YouTube.
Templeton Prize. (2010, March 25). Does scientific knowledge contradict religious belief? Francisco J. Ayala, Templeton Prize 2010. YouTube.
Transforming Theology. (2009, February 22). Back to Darwin (3): John Cobb on Evolution and ID. YouTube.
Religion can impact children’s development in middle childhood, as well as, adolescent years. During childhood, children will rely on their caregivers for everything they might need. As they get older and become more independent they learn about things going on around them. Also as they get older situations become more challenging and sometimes they might become stressful. The stress could be originating at home as well. Children at this time might not just depend on comfort at home but relief outside of home too. For instance, a child may turn to a teacher for a matter that is taking place.
It is crucial for a child to have support during times of stress. Considering that school age children are now experiencing a lot of the outside world and are open to new prospects it has become more critical to assist children with putting their minds at ease. Children apply religion as a form of support in coping with challenging situations and can desist issues with conduct, along with bolstering well-being and influencing sociable behavior (Ebstyne King, Furrow, 2008). It has been noted that areas full of physical and mental pressures; especially with a lot of discrimination, regular church attendance has been known to help black children with coping measures (Smith, 2004). When a child can trust in their beliefs it will help them to make sense of what is happening therefore guarding their minds (Crawford, Wright, Masten, 2006). Prayer has also been said to promote resiliency and change perception of the individual being prayed for (Lambert, Fincham, Stillman, Graham, Beach, 2010).
In the journal Developmental Psychology, Christi Bamford and Kristin Hansen Lagattuta discuss the associations that children have among prayer and feelings (Bamford, Lagattuta, 2010). For this research, Bamford and Lagattuta examined 40 young adults and 60 children to compare logic (Bamford, Lagattuta, 2010). Ethnicity was an even mixture among the young adults but mostly Caucasian children (Bamford, Lagattuta, 2010). The study consisted of face-to-face interviews where all participants were asked to explain their views on God, as well as, what prayer is (Bamford, Lagattuta, 2010). It was concluded that children beginning in middle childhood up to young adulthood ranked “accomplishing the sense of being safe” as the most important aspect of prayer, and other studies have reported that some children age 8 and older state that they pray as a way to feel better when feeling stressed, nervous, worried, or afraid (Mooney, Graziano, & Katz, 1985; Rew, Wong, & Sternglanz, 2004). Religion can boost mental processes in children by increasing good feelings and improving health.
Bamford, C. & Lagattuta, K. H. (2010). A new look at children’s understanding of mind and emotion: The case of prayer. Developmental Psychology, 46 (1), 78-92.
Crawford, E., Wright, M. O., & Masten, A. S. (2006). Resilience and Spirituality in Youth. In E. C. Roehikepartain, P. E. King, L. Wagener, & P. L. Benson (Eds.), The handbook of spiritual development in childhood and adolescence. (pp. 355-370). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
Ebstyne King, P. & Furrow, J. L. (2008). Religion as a resource for positive youth development: Religion, social, capital, and moral outcomes. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, S (1), 34-49.
Lambert, N. M., Fincham, F. D., Stillman, T. F., Graham, S. M., & Beach, S. R. H. (2010). Motivating change in relationships: Can prayer increase forgiveness? Psychological Science, 21(1), 126-132.
Mooney, K. C., Graziano, A. M., & Katz, J. N. (1985). A factor analytic investigation of children’s nighttime fear and coping responses. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 146, 205-215.
Rew, L., Wong, Y. J., & Sternglanz, R. W. (20040. The relationship between prayer, health behaviors, and protective resources in school-age children. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 27(4), 245-255.
Smith, T. B. (2004). Practicing Multiculturalism: Affirming Diversity in Counseling and Psychology. Boston, Massachusetts. Allyn & Bacon.
If my family member is in an accident and now in a coma, and the doctor wants to stop feeding through a tube, I ask my friend who is a Reform Jew how they feel about the situation. They tell me that the taking of a life for whatever reason is prohibited. In certain situations, however, a right to die can be acknowledged and must be valued. Considering my family member is in a vegetative state that makes me wonder whether that would be considered a right to die if they’re not really living, because they cannot move or function.
I then ask my Progressive Protestant friend who tells me that killing someone will never be vindicated or allowed. However there are some who feel in a particular case that medical care can be halted if it’s not really doing any good. That sounds more like the situation I’m in because my family member cannot move or function like a regular person.
I ask my Roman Catholic friend who tells me that all living beings have a right to live and that disrupting or interfering with that life is immoral and impermissible. But their declaration includes that if someone’s passing is inevitable euthanasia is okay. It is stated according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of overzealous treatment. Her one does not will to cause death; one’s inability to impede it is merely accepted. (Young)
This sounds like my situation as well because, feeding my family member through a tube is not natural. They are being pumped with medicine, and food, and air. They are not really living on their own in any form.
Still unsure I ask my Sunni Muslim friend what they think about the situation. They tell me that Allah has a plan already written for every living being before they come into life. Plus suffering is a means of atonement for sin and necessary to get into paradise. There can be no intervention in Allah’s plan for life he has created and predetermined.
Coming to a conclusion, it would be really hard to make a final decision. I would be very indecisive. If it wasn’t family and I heard of someone suffering I would think it would be best to end their suffering. Since it is a family member I don’t want them to be absent from my life. However, if they’re not really present anymore, then in a sense they are already gone and holding onto their shell of a body is kind of keeping them in limbo, really. If my family member is incoherent, unable to eat or breathe on their own, and there is no means of any communication whatsoever, as painful as it may be to let them go, I would have to stop feeding them and feel that is God’s plan for them to go be with Him. If it wasn’t they would be functioning on their own, I think.
Young, William A. (2013). The World’s Religions. Worldviews and Contemporary Issues. Fourth Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Pearson.
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