Hsi Lai Temple

Niena was abandoned on the doorstep of the Svastra temple before her first birthday. She barely remembered her parents; they were dark, shadowy ghosts, flickers of partial recognition in the back of her consciousness. After all, in Apitus, the capital had a luxurious temple, full of women who all prayed to the old gods, the gods of air, land, and sea, the slumbering, powerful beings that could destroy just as they could create. At the time, Niena sensed a comforting essence about the place, a…

In ANE literature, tablets are both a medium for writing, and a symbol of writing itself, but writing gains authority through message or author. Adoption and sale tablets, Suzerainty treaties, and written prayers laid beside idols exemplify authority by a message. In them, the authority emanated from the confines of the writing dictating relationships between parties. Orpheus tablets typify the second condition by the issue of pseudepigraphical authorship (as discussed under the subheading,…

Pearl Jam is an alternative rock/grunge band. The band members are Eddie Vedder/lead vocalist, Mike McCready/lead guitar, Stone Gossard/guitar, Jeff Ament/bass, Matt Cameron/drums, Boom Gaspar/piano. Pearl Jam is one of the most famous bands in rock history. Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament were part of the band Green River, who toured in the mid-80’s. They disbanded in 1987 due to friction between fellow bandmates. In 1987 Gossard and Ament later joined the band Malfunkshun with the…

participate in the celebration of a rabbi’s installation as the first woman to lead New England’s largest Reform Jewish Synagogue (Temple Israel of Boston). As points-of-reference: this particular rabbi was also the person who oversaw my conversation to Judaism and was particular influential during some of my tumultuous life events. Additionally, I have remained close to both the Temple as an institution and its congregation. (For example, I will be traveling up there again later on in the year…

Medina, which was home to many Jews. The day he arrived, the Quran established practices that were opened to Jews (4). One of the main practices that were created was a Judaic practice that of which during prayer they would face in the direction of the Temple Mount. However, this did not last long because the Jewish did not like their change. Another connection with Jerusalem and Muslims was when Damascus ruled and a Mecca leader began a revolt against the Umayyads in 680. The Umayyads decided…

members, faked healings and miracles, ordered ex-members who had left to be killed, and he had an increasing addiction to tranquilizers (Moore). Around the mid-1970s there was backlash against Jones recent behavior. Former members of the People's temple who called themselves "Concerned Relatives" organized a media campaign to expose Jones' brainwashing, financial corruption, torture, and child abuse inside of Jonestown (Chidester). Members of the government and others were sent to investigate…

When most people hear the word “autism” they don’t usually think of a top of the line biologist, scientist, writer, and educator. Temple Grandin is the most righteous living possessor of the “right stuff” because of all of her breakthroughs despite the barriers she has had to overcome throughout her life. Grandin was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2. However, despite her difficulties during adolescence, she went on to reach incredible academic merits. She earned a degree in psychology,…

covenant relationship (Hos. 10:12). Righteousness therefore becomes the authority by which God’s covenant relationship continues. Second Temple Authors used this topos in two distinct methods that…

Two different lives’ stories have been produced as movies. Temple Grandin was a true story about an autistic person’s life and how she became a successful person. Autism did not bring her life down, but it was an opportunity that allowed her to become a successful scientist. The movie had been produced to show how an autistic person acted and thought or exhibited how her life was different from other autistic people and was difficult being an autistic person. Still, she motivated herself and…

Charles Barkley’s hands wrapped around my shoulders. My head barely went to his armpit. The 6’6”, 250 pounder, NBA legend towered over me. We were located in the hotel lobby in Birmingham, Alabama, I was there to compete in the National Speech and Debate Tournament, he was there for fun. “That’s a good skill to have,” he said. “ To be able to communicate effectively and debate.” Is it? I have come to the conclusion, as I have contemplated this one simple question the past year , that the single…