Summary of Images of Women in Early Buddhism and Christian Gnosticism Essay

Summary of Images of Women in Early Buddhism and Christian Gnosticism - Essay Example 95 problem The main problem addressed by the paper is: the paper seeks to obtain reasons why these negative attitudes towards women exist while it is known that they take an active role in their religious lives. This paragraph is important since it tries to show that women also take an active role in religious activities regardless of the perceptions held by men about them. Research question Why should these negative attitudes towards women persist when we know that women actively supported and participated in the religious life of both Buddhist and Gnostic communities? This is essential since it shows that the author has a point to advance to the readers as well as to get the answers why women are treated that way. Paragraph 3, p. 95 Both scriptures show that women are capable of seducing men to engage in sexual intercourse. This paragraph seeks to support the argument raised by the author that women are evil people. Paragraph 1, p.96 thesis -Both religions assume the wrong doing of women disrupted an otherwise perfect world. This thesis statement seeks to show that the author is of the view that women are responsible for human kind’s disgrace on earth. Paragraph 2, p.96 claims -The Buddhist myth posits to the effect that men’s disgrace came after he tasted food from the earth -this mainly contributed to the fall of humanity. This paragraph is very important since it highlights the source of sin among human kind. Paragraph 3, p. 96 evidence -The Christians on the other hand also attribute this myth of women’s evilness to the issue of Adam and Eve who tasted the forbidden fruit in Eden which led to sexual intercourse. -this paragraph is also important since it tries to show the evidence to prove that women were the causes of sin on earth Paragraph 1, p. 97 (Note- starts with this sentence: Other tractates, The Book of Thomas .... Eating the forbidden fruit led to the fall of humankind as shown by the actions of Eve. This section also seeks to advance the author’s argument with regards to perceptions held by men about women. Paragraph 2, p.97 evidence continues Both religions attribute the fallout of men to the deliberate act of consuming the earthly fruits that were not allowed by God. This led to sexual desire which could be satisfied through sexual intercourse. This paragraph again supports the thesis of the paper. Paragraph 3, p. 97 The Buddhists view the body of a woman as a symbol for desire and the Christian writings which also have same views for women. This paragraph is meant to support the view being presented by the author. Paragraph 1, p. 98 (note, it begins with this sentence ‘These intemperate attacks on the impurity of women's bodies and sexual...’ Womanisers are just like dogs. This paragraph is important since it helps to show that women play a major role in seducing men. Paragraph 2 p.98 Sexual intercourse is related to child bearing it is viewed as an impediment to full participat ion in religious lives. Men are encouraged to live solitary lives as an example shown by Buddha himself. This paragraph supports the thesis. Paragraph 3 p. 98 claims Christian doctrine also has negative attitude towards sexual intercourse and child bearing. These are related to suffering and Jesus even pointed out that people should destroy the works of femaleness. -both religions share the same view against sexual intercourse which leads to child birth. This is very important in the paper since the author tries to elaborate the

Do the facial features of a child with Down Syndrome impact on their Assignment

Do the facial features of a child with Down Syndrome impact on their inclusion in society - Assignment Example For many years, disabled people have faced stigma and discrimination. Shildrick (2009) denotes that during the ancient eras, a child born with any defect was either killed, or left in the wild. Shildrick observes that the Down syndrome phenomenon causes disability among children (2009). This problem makes children to feel inferior and this result to their exclusion from the various social affairs within the community (Shildrick, 2009). DePoy et al (2011) denotes that the Down syndrome phenomenon disfigures the face of a child. This condition has a direct influence on a child’s perception in the society (DePoy et al, 2011).This condition leads to the notion of social identity, which is a perception or attitude an individual or a group has towards another person or group. On this note, children with this condition place themselves within a specific social group that identifies with their needs and problems (DePoy et al, 2011). The social identity theory, developed by John Turner and Henri Tajfel best explains this problem (Tajfel, 1982). The social identity theory denotes that socialization is a process, and social identity is a process within socialization (Frances, 2004).According to Frances, for an individual to gain acceptance by a particular group, the same individual must portray similar characteristics with the particular group (2004). Frances further denotes that these shared characteristics provide a legitimate reason for the individual to gain acceptance within the particular group under consideration (2004). The social identity theory, as advocated by Henri Tajfel and John Turner denotes that a disabled person withdraws from the various activities within a society, because of the social environment in which they operate on. According to Giddens (2009), this withdrawal emanates from their inability to engage effectively with other social groups that operate within a community. Giddens introduces an aspect of the gaze theory in explaining the prob lems of the disabled within a community. Giddens (2009) denotes that the gaze theory measures the level of interaction between a child with disability, and a normal child. He further observes that the theory provides a solution that will address the various difficulties that disabled children suffer from, but this depends on the acceptance by the disabled person that he or she needs the help of a society (2009). The social identity theory emphasizes on limiting certain freedoms of these people, such as of movement and association (Oliver, 1990). Bluhm (2009) observes that the theory groups these people into a social group, this for purposes of identifying their needs and effectively satisfying them. This precipitates the construction of a social group, because the disabled are grouped according to their characteristics. This construed identity increases the level of discrimination and stigma in the society (Tremain, 2006). Raiser denotes that the social identity theory places people into groups, basing on their physical and social characteristics (1995). Bluhm et al (2009) introduces the notion of the gaze theory. He denotes that the theory observes the image of a person, and makes its comparison with a visual text (Bluhm et al, 2009). After analyzing the results of the comparisons, an individual is placed within a