Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty - Essay Example Seeking to explore the moral perspectives of the death penalty through an analysis of the deterrent argument as well as the application of lethal injection, a potentially cruel and unusual punishment, the following will persuasively argue that the death penalty should be banned. Following this we will look at the death penalty using Emmanuel Kant’s Deontological and Categorical Imperative theories as well as Utilitarian theory. While the deterrence factor is brought into question, this essay will argue that lethal injection runs contrary to the prohibition against â€Å"cruel and unusual punishment† and thus should be banned in its entirety (The Death Penalty Information Centre 2009; Hood 2008). According to the Death Penalty Information Centre, there has been a global trend towards the abolishment of the death penalty. Despite this trend, there are a handful of countries in the world which continue to use the death penalty as a form of punishment. While 92 countries have now abolished the death penalty (including France, Canada and the United Kingdom), 59 countries worldwide continue to have death penalty legislation on their books. China, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Pakistan remain some of the largest supporters of the death penalty with China the overwhelming leader in total executions worldwide. What are the ethical and moral issues surrounding the death penalty? It is to this question that we now turn (Hood 2008; Robert 2000). From an ethical perspective, the death penalty raises a whole host of questions. Lethal injection, a particularly insidious form of capital punishment, is practiced throughout the United States and the world and aims to execute a convicted offender through the injection of a fatal amount of drugs. It is undeniably the most commonly practiced form of capital punishment in the United States today. For advocates of the death penalty,

Essay --

Xessorilic!ous Introduction: Accessories an essential part of all brands in the shop, it creates personal look and determine the women's character. girls adore new fashion and surf on the web site. Xessorilicious is a way of communicating with world of fashion. Executive Summary Our business about women's fashion accessories. The location of our booth is strategic; it is in business beside opposite of the cafeteria. The product that we have sold are necklaces, bracelet, anklets, and earrings . We will need capital of 3000 AED. It will come with outcome of big profit and affordable fascinated products. Business Description We started our project collecting information about suppliers who allow us to take a look of their accessories, so that we can take a decision whether it is suitable for us or not. Later on we found a woman who allow us to take a look of what she have and took an appointment with her. After searching several days, we have found exactly what we are looking for.The woman was delighted to purchase them immediately. Team Leader : Moaza Mohammad Khadem. Contact number: 050-5480459. Email address: s200222371@hct.ac.ae. Mission Statement Every woman has a way to shine, and try to find her own way to learn. In order to get elegance, there is the big obsession with perfection. Fashion accessories Is no longer seen as additions, but our jewelry proven itself. Goals and Objective We got objective for our business which is measurable and achievable. Accessories was chosen for the huge acceptable in the market by the ladies, easiness to get it and availability of all kinds and shapes and colors. (See Appendix 5 ) Summary : We have worked hard over 3 consecutive days and we have sold more than half ... ... were taught new thing they add it in their entity. Financial Projections a- Financial Statements b- Sales Forecast (Please see Appendix-3 for Layout Schematic) Loan or Investment Proposal For our business we need the money to buy the things and for the expenses (Rent for the booth , decoration , insurance ). However the amount of the expenses is AED 1,150 and the buying cost for our product AED 3,350.The Source of fund Personal savings each one of our group paid the same amount as the budget that we bought it for our business. We are 4 student each of us paid AED 1,125 the total amount is AED 4,500. Conclusion: In conclusion, after this perfect experience we have held a meeting with the group and decided to donate our bazaar profit to Friends of Cancer Patients, (FOCP) is one of the leading cancer organizations in the UAE. References:

The Dawn of Ancient Greek Heroism

The unwitting defeat of Leonidas and the thousands of Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae has confounded the minds of many historians and has compelled them to deduce any possible logical explanation.Sparta was a superpower at the time of ancient Greece. The Greek historian Xenophon, stated that it â€Å"had the greatest power of any Greek community but also one of the smallest populations† (Powell, 2001, p. 218).The Spartan society was known for its patriotism, and courage in war.1 The way of education of the society was unique for Sparta, where it emphasized the development of the physique thru compulsory military training for both boys and girls at a very early age.2 This intensely strict mandate has produced the psychology of dying rather than defeat at war.3 The outstanding accomplishment that was born out of this way of living was a supreme military. Sparta seemed unconquerable with a population who would choose death over loss at battle and a military feared by other polis. The strength of heart of the Spartans, however, was put to the test during the famous Battle of Thermopylae.King Leonidas lead an army of 4000 to defend the straits of Thermopylae from the attacking Persians. They fought courageously, giving big losses to the army of Persian emperor Xerxes but suffered defeat when a Greek traitor told Xerxes of an alternative trail to attack the Spartans. Upon knowing this treachery, Leonidas sent away most of his army and faced the Persians with the remaining 300. Leonidas and his army fought with all courage and died as heroes.4That point of Greek history was arguably â€Å"Spartan’s finest hour† (Caltredge, 2002) and became an outstanding source of inspiration to poets and literary figures who tried to immortalize that event. Francois Rene de Chateaubriand (Bernard 2003) described the event, thus:I cannot describe the confused feelings which overpowered me. The hill at whose foot I stood was, then, the hill of the citadel of Sparta†¦. I dismounted, and ran all the way up the hill of the citadel. As I reached the top, the sun was rising behind the Menelaian hills. What a beautiful spectacle! But how melancholy! †¦ I stood motionless, in a kind stupor. A mixture of admiration and grief checked my steps and my thoughts; the silence round me was profound. Wishing, at least, to make echo speak in a spot where the human voice is no longer heard, I shouted with all my might, â€Å"Leonidas!† No ruin repeated this great name, and Sparta herself seemed to have forgotten it. (p. 1)Herodotus attributed that courageous decision of Leonidas and his army to die to the fulfillment of the oracle at Delphi, where Sparta would decide to sacrifice its king or to suffer the obliteration of the whole city.5 However, it would be unreasonable to always accept the truth of the oracle since it is only a conjecture, an alternative explanation to the fiasco caused by man’s wrong decision-making so he may n ot be blamed.6 In order not to attribute events to the supernatural, one must therefore, peruse the history book again, look for the most possible and grave explanation, and find the reasons that would satisfy logic.One can look at two things: the form of government and the way of life. These are mutually inclusive ideas however these are looked upon as factors that would affect the standards of morality of society. The Greek historian Theopompus sees democracy, the political system of Sparta, as a way leading â€Å"to luxury and dissolute living, and luxury is thoroughly corrupting† (Flower, 1994, p.79), assuming this is true for Sparta, democracy would not explain the heroism of Leonidas and his army.The Spartan way of life however, revolves around the education of its young to become the warriors that could protect its city. Therefore, the education of the Spartan society would explain the rationale behind this tragic decision.   Every man in Sparta underwent rigorous ph ysical training, and in this process, patriotism was being built. The decision to die for society was being taught along the process. When one sees death better to taste than defeat, it would become easy to die and accept the reality of dying. For this society, it is scornful to be a coward and glorious to die at the battlefield.Caltredge (2002) cited in his article:Spartan wives and mothers were not shrieking violets. They openly berated and chastised any hint of cowardice in their sons. They wept tears of pain if their son or husband came back safe but defeated from battle, tears of joy if he died in a winning cause.The Spartan way of educating their citizens that the way to glory is thru death at battle has driven Leonidas and his men to carry on fighting until death, because only then can they show that indeed, it is glorious to die for a good cause rather than be defeated.Notes1 See Pomeroy (1999, p.132).2 See Starr (1965, p. 258) for a detailed description of the education of men; Caltredge (2002) for the description of the education of women.3 See Caltredge (2002).4 See Platts (1865, p. 258).5 See Hodkinson (1994).6 See the footnote on Dyer (1894, p.52).ReferencesBernard, A. (2003 Spring). Common Place Book: Ruins.American Scholar, 72(2), 1.Cartledge, P. (2002 August). To Die For? Paul Cartledge Sees Ancient Spartan Society and Its Fierce Code of Honour as Something Still Relevant Today. History Today, 52(20), 1.Dyer, L. (1894). Studies of the Gods in Greece at Certain Sanctuaries Recently Excavated: Being Eight Lectures Given in 1980 at the Lowell Institute. New York: Macmillan and Co.Flower, M. (1994). Theopompus of Chios.New York: Oxford University Press.Hodkinson, S. (1994). The Shadow of Sparta.New York: Routledge.Pomeroy, S. (1999). Ancient Greece: A Political, Social andCultural History. New York: Oxford University Press.Platts, J. (1826). A New Universal Biography.London: Sherwood, Jones, and Co.Starr, C. (1965). A History of the Ancient World.N ew York: Oxford University Press.

St. John Chrysostom s Homily - 917 Words

Sermons on Christmas morning focus on the birth of a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth laid in a manger in ancient Bethlehem, such sermons proclaim the wonders of the Nativity. However, such sermons do more than just communicate the joy of our Savior’s birth, for this celebration, as exemplified in St. John Chrysostom’s homily, is an ideal setting to address the question of â€Å"who is Christ†. There are many themes and topics in Chrysostom’s Christmas morning sermon and through his speaking of Jesus Christ’s birth, the Incarnation, he addresses heresies, enumerates Christian doctrine, and announces various elements of Christology. Chrysostom opens his sermons rejoicing over the salvific moment of Christmas and makes known how Christmas is a merciful gift and expression of true humility by God (110). Such an importance of the grace of this moment is also found in the writings of St. Leo the Great and St. Augustine as they both affirm this is an act o f generosity not failure or necessity by God. This is important to redemption and to Christology because it shows how Christ was not obligated to save humanity but did so out of love of Creation. With this gift makes it salvation possible, for without the Word’s free participation our unpayable debt could not be satisfied as St. Augustine explains. While His incarnational gift allowed Christ to the Savior and Mediator by costing the Son of God to suffer and die on the Cross, this gift did not cause Him to be â€Å"departed from theShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Wayne C. Booths The Company We Keep : An Ethics Of Fiction1051 Words   |  5 Pagesthinkers have already speculated that laughter is a symptom of Satan’s influence. After all, as St John Chrysostom points out in one of his homilies, the Son of God never laughed (88). Indeed, most biblical references to laughter are rather negative. In the Old Testament, for instance, the Ecclesiastes says that â€Å"laughter is mad† (2:2) and that â€Å"[s]orrow is better than laughter† (7:3). Similarly, St Paul in his letter to the Ephesians cautions his readers that â€Å"silly talk† should be avoided (5:4)Read More Abortion Essay - The Church Was Pro-Choice1132 Words   |  5 Pagesprovided the soul to the fetus are both false. Further, the allegation that the Catholic Church which has consistently opposed contraception would be indifferent to induced abortion must be considered suspect on its face.    By way of background: St. Paul in his epistle to the Galatians uses the Greek word pharmakeia in condemning the effects of self-indulgence which can include abortion and other uses of drugs with magical or evil intent. The first recorded explicit Catholic opposition toRead MoreRites Of The Catholic Church Essay2169 Words   |  9 PagesMass with their cultures. The Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches defines ‘rite’ as follows: Rite is the liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary heritage, distinguished according to people s culture and historical circumstances, that finds expression in each autonomous church s way of living the faith. Rites were utilized to separate how sacramental tradition were celebrated. There are seven Rites in the Catholic Church. All of the rites of the church branched out from the sameRead MoreThe Omnipotence And Omniscience Of God Essay1897 Words   |  8 Pagesa voluntary act of love for humanity, and a complete submission to the Will of the Father. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Matthew 24:36. St. John Chrysostom speaks about this passage in his seventy- seventh homily, and according to him he says: And how, if all things were made by Him, and without Him was not even one thing made, was He ignorant of the day? For He who made the world it is quite plain that He made the times

Anatomy Carcinoma Of Lung / Skull Metastasis - 1226 Words

Case Study-Anatomy-Carcinoma of lung w/ skull metastasis Abstract Squamous cell carcinoma represents 30% of all lung carcinomas. A carcinomas is cancer that appears in the epithelial tissue. Epithelial tissue is mostly found in the lining of your organs, like the esophagus. Squamous cell carcinoma, or SqCc for short, is known to produce malignant tumours in the brain parenchyma. There has been a case of SqCc that has impacted the parietal bone. An 80 year old Australian man was admitted with a rare form of metastatic carcinoma of the lung. After a physical examination, it was conclude that there was an extensive amount of bone destruction. The authors were unable to find a past case with this same problem. It is an unusual disease with very limited resources and background knowledge. Introduction Squamous cell carcinoma is an uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells stemming from the epithelial tissue of the lungs. It is a slow-grown lung cancer that is caused by smoking, a majority of the time. There are less than 200,000 cases in the United States alone per year; about 85%-90% of lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancer, but squamous cell carcinoma makes up for 30% of it. Although there can be other causes of squamous cell carcinoma, it is mostly associated with cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking can lead to lung cancer which can soon get out of control. As the cancer cells develop, they become tumors and soon spread to other areas of the body. Typically, smallShow MoreRelatedDental Question Bank33485 Words   |  134 Pagesfollowing have a tendency to recur if not treated A. B. C. D. E. Giant cell granuloma Lipoma Fibrous epulis Haematoma Pulp polyps 44. Basal cell carcinoma is characterised by A. B. C. D. E. F. Rapid growth and metastasis Local cutaneous invasion Inability to invade bone Poor prognosis Radiation resistance Can not metastasise to the bone 45. Carcinoma of the tongue has a predilection for which of the following sites** A. B. C. D. E. Lateral border anteriorly Anterior dorsal surface Posterior dorsal

Introduction to Agrarian Reform - 1446 Words

TABLE OF CONTENT I. INTRODUCTION TO AGRARIAN REFORM OF THE PHIL. AND BRIEF HISTORY OF AGRARIAN REFORM II. IMPLEMENTING LAWS III. DEFINITION OF LAND REFORM AGRARIAN REFORM IV. COVERAGE OF THE LAND REFORM PROGRAM V. RETENTION LIMITS EXCEPTION ON THE RULES ON RETENTION LIMITS VI. EVALUATION I. INTRODUCTION TO AGRARIAN REFORM OF THE PHIL. AND BRIEF HISTORY OF AGRARIAN REFORM Land reform pertains to integrated set of measures designed to eliminate obstacles to economic and social development arising from defects in the agrarian structure. One of the existing agrarian reform laws in the country is Republic Act No. 6675, otherwise known as the â€Å"The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law†. Agrarian reform†¦show more content†¦During Pres. Corazon Aquino’s administration, the constitution commission of 1986 approved Section 21 under Article II (Declaration Principle and State Policy)which states â€Å"The states shall promote comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform†. Subsequently, Pres. Aquino created the Cabinet Action Committee to draft the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). II. IMPLEMENTING LAWS A. QUEZON ADMINISTRATION Rice Share Tenancy Act- The Act provided for a 50-50 sharing arrangement between landowners and tenants and established a 10% maximum interest ceiling for loans extended to tenants. B. MAGSAYSAY ADMINISTRATION Republic Act 1166- National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA). Republic Act 1199- Agricultural Tenancy Act. This law provide tenants with security of tenure and allowed them to shift from share tenancy to leasehold where they pay landowners a fixed rental instead of a variable share. Republic Act 1400 of 1955- Land Reform Act. This Law provides for expropriation of contiguous land over 300 hectares in areas, if owned by individual and 600 hectares if owned by corporation. C. MACAPAGAL ADMNISTRATION Republic Act 3844- Agricultural Land Reform Code. This code aimed to established owner-cultivatorship and economic family-size as the basis of PhilippineShow MoreRelatedEconomic Aspects of Agrarian Reform12715 Words   |  51 PagesEconomic aspects of agrarian reform? †¢ 3 years ago †¢ Report Abuse [pic]sensekon... Best Answer  - Chosen by Voters The following are the economic aspects of Agrarian reforms:\   1. Introduction of markets for agricultural land to enable removal of fragmented farm holdings, encouraging consolidation of farm lands, introduction of commercial farming than than subsistence agriculture, 2. Free movement of agricultural goods within the country and to the extent possible across borders to enableRead MoreThe Consolidation of Fidel Castro’s Power Between 1959 And1961 Was More of a Result of Domestic Issues Rather Than United States Economic Policies.1502 Words   |  7 Pageseducation and the need to create a new political consciousness among the people. (Leonard). Additionally, Castro’s introduction of land reforms led to an increased support among the Cuban masses whereby making him immensely popular. During the first nine months of 1959 an estimated 1,500 decrees, laws and edicts were enacted. The most change though came with the passing of the Agrarian Reform Act in May 1959 which stated all real estate holdings were restricted in size (1000 acres except for sugar, riceRead MoreAzerbaijan Research Paper1318 Words   |  6 PagesKristie E. Bader Sociology of Developing Countries – SOC 300 May 29, 2011 Professor Chavella Pittman Strayer University Table of Contents Introduction Page 3 Economic Reforms: Pages 4 - 7 Business Pension Taxes Land Conclusion Page 8 Citations Page 9 Introduction Azerbaijan is a small country in Southwest Asia about the equivalent size of Maine. Georgia, Armenia, Russia and Iran border Azerbaijan and are in a vital part geographically thatRead MoreModern Agricultural Biotechnology And Its Potential Usefulness And Effectiveness961 Words   |  4 Pagesalleviation - while critics outline potential negative impacts of this technological package, highlighting the polarization of agrarian social structures, concerns over food security, and detrimental environmental effects. Gerardo Otero’s edited volume Food for the Few situates this debate in the context of the developing world, and specifically examines the introduction of agricultural biotechnology to Latin America. The book’s focus is on the social dimensions of biotechnology, and more specificallyRead MoreBiography of Mao Zedong 1284 Words   |  5 PagesINTRODUCTION Born on December 26, 1893, Mao Zedong was the founding leader of the Peoples Republic of China and ruled as the Chairman of the Communist Party of China from 1949 up until he died on September the 9th, 1976. He is largely accredited with crafting the post-revolution policies known as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution (Joseph, 1986) which have left many critics arguing that the political and economic devastation those policies left are what define his legacy. Mao ZedongRead MoreA Status on the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program in the Philippines2569 Words   |  11 PagesAteneo School of Government Master in Public Management Public Governance and the Bureaucracy The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program: Addressing poverty from the Ground up Introduction Even before the Spanish colonization of the Philippines in the 1500s, lands in the Philippines have always been controlled by a few of families. The Datus and Sultans ruled over massive areas of lands, as power social status was dictated by the size of the land one owned and the number of slaves who worked onRead MoreCarper vs Carp2839 Words   |  12 PagesAngelique G. Macatangay, Maricar CE 3102 Submitted To: Mr. Zoilo Instructor October 11, 2011 TABLE OF CONTENT Introduction Issues / Problems Objective of the Study Content: A. Definition B. Comparison a. CARPER better than CARP b. CARPER worse than CARP C. Researchers’ Insight Conclusion Recommendations Bibliography â€Æ' INTRODUCTION The Philippine lands are usually used for agrarian purposes. Being a tropical country, it is expected that the weather and nutritious soil are designed as if to growRead MoreThus, Great Britain, the first of the world countries endured industrial revolution, to the middle900 Words   |  4 Pagesin France quicker, than industrial. However the upper bourgeoisie which was in power didnt hurry with the solution of the agrarian question, with a complete elimination of feudal duties and even braked it. All this shows that the French bourgeoisie during the first period of revolution wasnt able to carry out a complete elimination of a feudal system and to resolve an agrarian issue.The fear for bourgeois property forced an upper bourgeoisie is reconciled with feudal property. The economic policyRead MoreThe Civil War And The Reconstruction Period Essay1496 Words   |  6 Pages Introduction: American Industrialization emerged from the ruins of the Civil War and the †¦ of the Reconstruction Period. Spurred by the new manufacturing technologies brought over from Great Britain, and the rest of Europe, factories and mills began emerging across the American landscape, slowly transforming the United States from an agrarian society to one increasingly industrialized and urbanized. From 1860-1900, the nation of rural towns, local crafts, family farms, and regional businessRead MoreRural Development Case Study3219 Words   |  13 PagesCase Study Of A Rural Development: The Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP) III [pic] By LEONILA TANYAG-CONRADO 2012 Table of Contents Case Study Abstract Introduction Definition of Terms Objectives Project Beneficiaries Analysis of the project Development Framework Expected Outcomes Recommendation for Sustainability Sources CASE

Norse Culture Free Essays

string(84) " the Well of Wisdom, where he gained an immense amount of knowledge \(Page, 1995\)\." Norse Culture: A Closer Look| | | Julianne N. Cantu| Intercultural CommunicationsDr. ThibodeauxMarch 7, 2013| From the beginning of civilization, culture has played a crucial role at shaping every society. We will write a custom essay sample on Norse Culture or any similar topic only for you Order Now Culture allows for all that is special about a group of people to be taken into account and be recognized. Norse culture has long been a popular subject in modern societies. Some of the most important characteristics that make Norse culture so unique are their people, their language, their literature, their religion, and their funeral practices. Like most societies, the Norse had a surprisingly lax social hierarchy. The Norse hierarchy was set to where there was a possibility for upward mobility. Individuals in Norse society were not doomed to live out their days in a particular social status, but were free to move from class to class. There were three set social classes in Norse society. Most Norsemen belonged to the middle class known as karls. Karls were the landowners, the farmers; the smiths (blacksmiths, locksmiths, etc. ), etc (Haywood, 2000). The highest level in the social hierarchy was known as the jarls, or the nobility. These people lived in extravagant houses and halls and lived refined lives. The jarls used their money, wealth, followers, ships, and estates distinguish them from the rest of society. The lowest class of the social hierarchy was known as the pr? ll. This class included slaves and people who were known as bondsmen. If a person, from any class, could not pay their debts, they would become a bondsman and work for another man until his debts were repaid (Guy, 1998). The Scandinavians, during the Viking Age, spoke Old Norse. This language was sometimes referred to as â€Å"Danish Tongue (Page, 1987). † Icelandic, Danish, and Norwegian languages are all descended of Old Norse. There were many different dialects spoken during this time. Many scholars are able to find the differences between East Norse and West Norse. Despite these differences, the people during the Viking Age were able to communicate with each other without difficulty because the languages were so similar (Page, 1987). Many Viking cultures were also known to have used runes. A rune is letter or character from the runic alphabet. â€Å"Most of the runic characters consist of straight lines and the alphabet was clearly designed for etching onto wood, stone, or metal with a sharp instrument such as a knife (Page, 1995). † A different version of runes referred to as the â€Å"Younger Futhark† was established by the beginning of the Viking Age. Contrary to popular belief, Vikings did not actually wear helmets with horns on them. This depiction of Vikings warriors is a terrible misrepresentation of their culture. What a Viking wore was determined by their place in their society. If a person was a slave, they were often poorly dressed in things that amounted to rags. Free men wore things like leather boots and clothes made out of finer materials, like wool and different furs. Men often wore either pants or tunics, while the women would wear dress like garments that would fasten at the shoulder (Roesdahl, 2001). Only the wealthiest of the Viking society ever wore jewelry, like necklaces, pendants, brooches, and rings because it signified their elevated status to others (Jesch, 1991). Viking literature is uncommon to come by because Norse culture was typically shared through the spoken word rather than the written word. Much of the folklore about Norse culture was written later and compiled into a Edda. Edda is derives from the Old Norse term for poetry (Page, 1995). There are two different types of edda, the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems. This edda contains the most information concerning Norse mythology. The poems contained in the edda tell stories of brave hero and heroines and depict tales of different Norse legends. The Prose Edda also contains many mythological stories. The Prose Edda, unlike the Poetic Edda, is separated into three different books;the Gylfaginning, the Skaldskaparmal, and the ? gir (Haywood, 2000). On the whole, not much is known about different pagan religious practices in the Viking Age. There is little evidence to vindicate the different pagan rituals conducted by the Vikings. Different Viking sagas were written almost 200 years ago, after the conversion to Christianity. Although there is no definitive record of pagan rituals, much is known about the many different deities worshipped by the Vikings. The most popular and powerful god to the Norse people was Thor, god of thunder and lightning. Thor was the mighty champions of the Norse gods and the people because he was the only one strong enough on his own to slay the giants, the arch nemeses of the gods. Without Thor, the other gods would have to resort to playing clever games in order to slay the giants. Thor’s weapon of choice was his mighty hammer, Mjolnir (Dubois, 1997). Mjolnir is depicted as one of the most fearsome weapons in Norse culture, and is rumored to be capable of leveling mountains. It was written that, â€Å"[Mjolnir] would be able to strike as firmly as he wanted, whatever his aim, and the hammer would never fail, and if he threw it at something, it would never miss and never fly so far from his hand that it would not find its way back, and when he wanted, it would be so small that it could be carried inside his tunic (Orchard, 1999). † Odin was also one of the most popular gods in Norse culture. Odin was the father of all of the gods and men. He is a god of â€Å"magick, wisdom, with, and learning (Dubois, 1999). Odin has been said to possess the power of reanimating the dead in order to speak to them to gain any wisdom they may possess. Odin’s weapon of choice is his spear, Gungnir, which, supposedly, never misses its target. Odin is always depicted as only having one eye because he traded the other for a drink from the Well of Wisdom, where he gained an immense amount of knowledge (Page, 1995). You read "Norse Culture" in category "Papers" Lo ki was the â€Å"trickster† of the Norse gods. It was written that he was, â€Å"handsome and fair of face, but has an evil disposition and is very changeable of mood. He excelled all men in the art of cunning, and he always cheats. He was continually involving the Aesir in great difficulties and he often helped them out by guile (Orchard, 1997). † Loki was the son of two giants and step-brother to Odin. Loki had the power of shape shifting and could even change his gender on command. As a woman, Loki gave birth to many of the terrible creatures, like Odin’s eight-legged horse, Sleipnir. When Thor was not around to help destroy the giants, Loki was often sought out by the gods in order to deploy clever tactics to take the giants down. The common misconception concerning Vikings and religion is that many believed they hated Christianity because they were pagan, and that was not the case. The Vikings believed in many different deities. They often targeted and plundered Christian monasteries, however, because they knew they were wealthy and were, often times, poorly defended. The Vikings had many different customs and beliefs when it came to death. They had specific rituals when it came to funerals, but had many different beliefs when it came to things like the soul and where the dead went when they were no longer part of this world. The Vikings had two different beliefs when it came to the soul. First, the Vikings believed that the very last breath a person took before they died was their soul escaping and moving on to become one with nature. The second was that there was a different type of soul; a â€Å"dream soul† that was able to leave the body when a person was in a state of unconsciousness like sleep. This part of the soul is forever trapped inside the body unless the body is destroyed either by decay or a sacrificial burning. Only when the body was broken down would the â€Å"dream soul† be able to make its way to the realm of the dead (Page, 1995). Vikings believed that, when a person dies, they need to be buried or burned with their belongings that will help them to succeed in their next life. People who had certain jobs, like a blacksmith, were often buried with all of their tools so that they would be able to utilize them after they had moved on to their next life. Women were often burned/buried with their jewelry and other tools for â€Å"female household activities (Orchard, 1997). † It was common among Vikings to burn the corpses, as well as their belongings, on a funeral pyre. These pyres were built to large scales because the Vikings believed that the smoke from the fire needed to be as massive as possible in order to assist the soul in reaching the afterlife. After the deceased had been gone for seven days, the Vikings would partake in funeral ale which served as a ritual drinking. The funeral ale was a way in which the families of the deceased could get together to celebrate the person’s life. It wasn’t until after the ale was drunk that issues like inheritances and transitioning of familial power were able to take place (Dubois, 1999). After a person has died, the Vikings believed that their souls partook in an adventure in order to reach the afterlife. The afterlife had many different variations in the culture, like the inside of a mountain, on the other side of the sea, in the heavens, or in the underworld (Dubois, 1999). Helgafjell, or â€Å"Holy Mountain†, is one manifestation of the Norse afterlife. If a person made their way to the holy mountain, they would live out their lives in a manner that was very similar to the one they had in the physical world. Hel, however, is the complete opposite of Helgafjell. Hel, which is ruled by a blue and black giantess named Hel, is the destination for all of those who did not die in battle, but of old age and sickness. In Hel, the gates that adorn the entrance are heavy, as to give the idea once you enter, you will never again exit. Valhalla is another destination for those who have died. About half of those that die in battle find their way to Valhalla. The halves that were allowed to enter were to remain fit for battle so that they could participate in Ragnork. Valhalla was said to be located in the heavens in Odin’s kingdom. Valkyries, men and women who choose which soldiers die and which live, dwell in the heavens with Odin and those warriors deemed worthy to live again (Page, 1995). The other soldiers who are not chosen to live again reside in Folkvanger with the goddess Freya. The Norse raised many different kinds of domestic animals, like cattle, sheep, pigs, geese, chickens, goats, and ducks. They used their cattle, sheep, and goats in order to make dairy products like milk and cheese. They also harvested eggs from their chickens, ducks, and geese. Fish and deer were also hunted and added to the myriad of food sources the Norse could choose from. The Norse also were accomplished farmers and were able to grow a plethora of different items, like oats, barley, flax, cabbage, leeks, horseradish, watercress, carrots, celery, peas, and a number of different herbs (Guy, 1995). The Norse were also known to keep bees and to harvest nuts. When it came to cooking their food, the Norse like their meat roasted or boiled and were particularly fond of their stews. The Vikings cured their meat, either by smoking it, bringing it, or drying it. The Vikings usually prepared flat bread for meals (like a pancake), but did produce raised bread when there was some sort of special occasion to cook for. Their drink of choice was mead. Mead is an alcoholic beverage made from honey, but they also made different kinds of beers and ales. The Viking did not grow grapes, so they were unable to partake in wine (Roesdahl, 2001). In short, it is clear that there are many different aspects of Viking culture that makes them truly unique. It is also clear that there have been many misrepresentations of Viking culture and, because of that, many people can have skewed perceptions when it comes to their outlook concerning Vikings. References Dubois, Thomas A. Nordic Religions in the Viking Age. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999. Print. Guy, John. Viking Life. Kent: Ticktock, 1998. Print. Haywood, John. Encyclopaedia of the Viking Age. London: Thames Hudson, 2000. Print. Jesch, Judith. Women in the Viking Age. Haworth: Woodbridge, 1991. Print. Orchard, Andy. Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. London: Cassell, 1997. Print. Page, RI. Reading the Past: Runes. London: British Museum Press, 1987. Print. Page, RKi. Chronicles of the Vikings: Records, Memorials and Myths. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 1995. Print. Roesdahl, Else. The Vikings. New York: Penguin, 2001. Print. How to cite Norse Culture, Papers