Asceticism - The Joy of Fasting, Flagellation and Self-mutilation
In order to achieve a spiritual understanding, people have subjected themselves to extreme self denial through fasting, flagellation and self-mutilation (The Columbia Encyclopedia). This practice of self mortification is known as asceticism. Asceticism has been known to exist since the commencement of recorded religion. This zealous religious practice is associated with many religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity (The Columbia Encyclopedia). Derived from the Greek work askesis, asceticism adheres to its definition of exercise, training, and discipline- “Ascetical practices are human strategies for spiritual living. They have elements of effort and method, deprivation, and voluntary suffering” (Larkin, O. Carm).
Practicing ascetics strive for the enhancement of spiritual life as their ultimate goal. Asceticism has been implicated by many of its followers in order to “produce visions…mourn the dead…sharpen spiritual awareness…or reach accord with a god” (The Columbia Encyclopedia). The self-denying procedure is also a way in which to subdue sin within one’s life and restrain one’s evil inclinations.
Asceticism takes many forms. It can be applied broadly as an aspect of all cultures, as social asceticism. The social regulations that control society stress individual control. Without this self-control, society would fail to survive. This method of asceticism is loosely based upon the guidelines of discipline. The more severe forms of asceticism involve those who seek a profound spiritual journey. The drastic measures taken in order to fulfill the idea of self denial ofte...
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...re.com/depts/medmuseum/galleryexhibits/artthatheals/12imagesandasceticism.html
Mercier, Jacques. Art That Heals: the Image as Medicine in Ethiopia. New York: Prestel Books and the Museum for African Art, 1997.
This website is entitled “Images and Asceticism.” In Maugham’s The Moon and Sixpence, Charles Strickland was a character that had an ascetic ideal in his artistic environment. These images display scenes of asceticism and the sufferings that were endured in the practice.
http://www.philamuseum.org/exhibitions/installations/spiritual.shtml
This website also displays a painting of asceticism as was practiced in India.
http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/a/asceticism.html
This website provides a detailed background and history of asceticism. It highlights interesting stories that account for the origination of the religious practice.
James T. Patterson, The Troubled Legacy of Brown v. Board of Education, 2004, p. 8.
Patterson, James T. Brown v. Board of Education a civil Rights Milestone and it’s Troubled Legacy. Oxford University Press. New York 2001.
The case of brown v. board of education was one of the biggest turning points for African Americans to becoming accepted into white society at the time. Brown vs. Board of education to this day remains one of, if not the most important cases that African Americans have brought to the surface for the better of the United States. Brown v. Board of Education was not simply about children and education (Silent Covenants pg 11); it was about being equal in a society that claims African Americans were treated equal, when in fact they were definitely not. This case was the starting point for many Americans to realize that separate but equal did not work. The separate but equal label did not make sense either, the circumstances were clearly not separate but equal. Brown v. Board of Education brought this out, this case was the reason that blacks and whites no longer have separate restrooms and water fountains, this was the case that truly destroyed the saying separate but equal, Brown vs. Board of education truly made everyone equal.
Kluger, Richard. Simple Justice: The History of Brown V. Board of Education and Black Americas Struggle for Equality.
Brown v. Board of Education was a significant case that began many debates and movements across the United States of America. The basis of the argument was that “separate but equal” schools for white and African-American children were unconstitutional. This case was first filed as a class action suit, which took it to court at a state level, but after the jurisdiction was seen as unfair, was then brought to the Supreme Court. This case was supposed to be the beginning of the end of national segregation of colored people. (USHistoryatlas.com, 2015) Brown v. Board of Education proved that even though most people thought that racism was a problem that had been solved, the root of segregation was much deeper
Smith, Alonzo N. “Project Essay” Separate is not equal: Brown v. Board of Education. URL: http://americanhistory.si.edu/brown/resources/pdfs/projectessay.pdf
African Americans are still facing segregation today that was thought to have ended many years ago. Brown v. Board of Education declared the decision of having separate schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. As Brown v. Board of Education launches its case, we see how it sets the infrastructure to end racial segregation in all public spaces. Today, Brown v. Board of Education has made changes to our educational system and democracy, but hasn’t succeeded to end racial segregation due to the cases still being seen today. Brown v. Board of Education to this day remains one of the most important cases that African Americans have brought to the surface for the good of the United States. Brown v. Board of Education didn’t just focus on children and education, it also focused on how important equality is even when society claimed that African Americans were treated equal, when they weren’t. This was the case that opened the eyes of many American’s to notice that the separate but equal strategy was in fact unlawful.
Angeles, Los. (2009). African arts. Volume 28. Published by African Studies Center, University of California.
Brown v. Board of the Education in 1954 was a landmark decision in the education arena. The decision maintained that schools that separated students by the color of their skin could no longer be maintained. The court saw this as necessary, since in their mind schools for black students would always be inferior. This inferiority would not be caused by lack of resources, although that usually was a contributing factor to the poor quality of the school, physically and performance-wise. As the Supreme Court saw it, s...
Patterson, James. “Brown v Board of Education: A Civil Rights Milestone and Its Troubled Legacy (Pivotal Moments in American History).” Oxford University Press., 2001.
Asceticism is derived from the Greek word “askesis”, meaning practice, bodily exercise, and athletic training (Cambell). Early Christians adopted this concept to foretell of the spiritual things in order to acquire habits of virtue. Virtue is the behavior showing high moral standards. There also is natural asceticism in meaning it is for self-improvement and aims directly to natural virtues such as temperance, patience, and chastity. The following will explain what asceticism is, why asceticism is practiced, and the nature of asceticism practices in Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
...ed clinical trials: part 1-the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for male sexual dysfunction. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 9(12), 3089-3107. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02970.x
Loffredo, Joseph A. Jr. (2000, March). Spiritualist Basics. The Spiritualist Religion Page, 1-16. Retrieved November 1, 2004, from www.geocites.com.
...uch a key impact, it is important that when an issue does arise to take action. All of the sexual dysfunctions can be treated by going through sex therapy. This is where they can talk out their issues that could be causing the sexual dysfunctions and also it can give them ideas and tips to use to enhance the sexual relationship. (Nevid & Ruthus, 2005).
THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR THE PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION. (2009). Journal of Psychology and Theology, 37(1), 72. Retrieved April 21, 2009, from ProQuest Religion database. (Document ID: 1675034711).