Comparing Christianity and Buddhism :: Papers Compare Contrast Religion Essays

Comparing Christianity and Buddhism This paper is a comparison between two very different religions. Specifically Christianity and Buddhism. Coming from opposite sides of the globe these two religions could not be any farther apart in any aspect. I will discuss who Christ is for Christians and who Buddha is for Buddhists. I will also get into the aspects of charity, love, and compassion in both religions and I will be looking at the individual self and how christians see resurrection where the buddhists feel about the afterlife. One thing to keep in mind is that the two religions are very different but they seem to have a very similar underlying pattern. Both believe that there was a savior of their people, Buddha and Christ, and both believe that there is something good that happens to us when our time is done here on earth. This is a very generalized summarization but in order to go in to depth I need to explain the two religions more to fully convey this theory. The Christian religion, like all other religions has its strengths and weaknesses in our modern society. Perhaps the strengths out weight the weaknesses as this is one of the largest religions in the world. Hundreds of people follow the Catholic/Christian religion yet still a greater number follow yet other religions. Perhaps this is because they see the weaknesses or perhaps it is simply because their parents have taught them that it is a sin to follow this religion. The Christian religions do however present much more of an appealing atmosphere than such other religions which are as large as the Christian. The Christian religion is one of few religions where punishments for sins are not severe. In the Christian religion, even if you have lived a life of sin, so long as you repent in the end, you will be saved and given eternal life. This is not so in other religions. Such religions as Hinduism for instance do not believe this. For everything you do wrong you will be punished. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, if not in this life, then the next. Hindu's also believe that punishing the body is part of the path to salvation. Christianity is nothing like this. Many Christians live in high class society. Christianity is one of the most appealing in that any sins may easily be corrected and that Christians may live comfortable, if not wealthy lives without guilt.

IB Psych SRQ: Explain How One Hormone Influences Human Behavior

A hormone is a biochemical produced by the glands of the endocrine system which is transported by the bloodstream to specific cells and organs around the body in order to initiate specific biological responses. The human body can produce a large number of hormones, many of which have a large influence on our emotions and behavior. Common examples are adrenaline, oxytocin, oestrogen, and testosterone, which I will be using to demonstrate the vast influence which hormones have over our everyday lives.Testosterone is the hormone responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics in males (development of facial hair, deepening of voice, increased muscle mass, etc.) and is secreted from the testes and ovaries, although only in small amounts by the latter. It is essential for reproduction in males and has been strongly linked to aggressive behaviors.One study which adequately demonstrates this link is Berthold’s 1840’s study on the effects of testosterone on animal behavior. In this quasi-experiment six roosters were castrated. One group was left without testicles, one had them surgically reattached, and one had another rooster’s transplanted. Both of the groups which had been given testicle transplants behaved normally (fighting, crowing, strong sex drive) despite the fact that the testicles did not re-establish the connections they had originally had, while the control group showed decreased levels of aggression and lack of desire to mate. Berthold concluded that the testes must be responsible for secreted some chemical which is linked to these behaviors.Because this study used roosters we can argue that the results should not be generalized to fit humans, however, more recent research has reinforced this link and I chose this study because it was one of the earliest and sparked further enquiry into the area. This study demonstrated a clear cause-and-effect link between the testes and traditional male behaviors because removal the testicles directly lead to less dominant behaviors in the control group.

Free Essay Sample on Status Symbols in Society

Essay Sample about Symbols of Society Discuss some of the status symbols of today’s society Looking at the way human behavioral patterns spanning the eras, cultures and geographical barriers, creating a lasting impression on fellow society members is through symbols of one’s status. â€Å"Symbols take on important meanings in organizations; meanings that are defined by cultural and social conventions and interactions†. (Rafaeli, 1999) In societies, status symbols are a visual reflection of the excess wealth that an eminent and influential member of society might wish to showcase. â€Å"Trophy wife† is a luxurious reflection of a man’s sophisticated tastes, power and masculinity. Expensive jewelry is considered to be a sign of belonging to the upper-class society. The same goes for appearance. For instance, a well-dressed customer, who walks into a store, gets more attention from a salesperson, than a non-costly dressed one. Electronic gazettes like cell phones, tablets or laptops are the most preferred form of display, since they are must-have goods today. Owning a large number of transport options, like private jets, yachts or expensive fuel-guzzling cars, is in vogue. Nowadays is very difficult to define the meaning of status symbol due to the blurred distinctions between social classes of people. The goodwill and level of status of a human being can be reflected on the basis of the clothes and accessories worn by him. Instead, one’s social status is seen not in the frequency of indulged luxury, but in the quality of it. Where to spend a family holidays is more vital than when or how often. Is it a cruise to the South of France or a car trip to the neighboring county every month? Cooking food themselves or hiring a qualified chef? The custom now is to invest in products or services that are sophisticated. According to Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, (2008): â€Å"Impending changes in status cause changes in the brain’s reward centre that are just as strong as monetary reward.† References Meyer-Lindenberg, (2008), Central Institute of mental Health, Mannheim, Germany http://www.dana.org/news/brainwork/detail.aspx?id=12142 Rafaeli, 1999, Symbols in Organizational Culture