Can Religion Make You Happy? Essay -- Happiness Essays

â€Å"If Religion Makes People Happy, Why Are So Many Dropping Out?† -- Louis Tay and David G. Meyers. Throughout history, religion has helped form the basic fabric of society. From an early age, religion provided the answers to any unexplainable natural phenomena. The question of why the world worked in a particular way was easily answered with â€Å"because [name of deity] made it that way.† Religion was everywhere; everyone had their own ideas about how the world worked and what their role was in the universe. Each likeminded group held that their religious beliefs were the root cause of their happiness and general satisfaction with life. Centuries of religious dominance eventually gave birth to a widespread idea that strong religious beliefs are essential to living a happy and fulfilling life. Even today, in a society dominated by scientific advances, religion finds a niche in catering to people’s spiritual needs. Indeed, despite the societal changes that have occurred in modern times, religion has remained largely unchanged since its early days. The belief t hat religion factors heavily into one’s life satisfaction and happiness has also remained much the same, despite today’s complex and ever-changing society. The problem lies where religion is viewed as a major way to achieve happiness, and this perspective can lead to blind acceptance of religion solely on the basis of its supposed universal benefits. Basically, a new way of looking at religion is needed: seeing it not as the end-all happiness tool, but as a small factor in a complex web of happiness and well-being. Traditionally, organized religion in the Western world encouraged a melancholy outlook on life. Today, however, religion represents an image of happi... ...tz, Hans-Georg; Lewis, Christopher Alan. â€Å"The Relationship Between Religion and Happiness Among German Students.† Pastoral Psychology. 51.4 (2003): 273-281. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Web. 19 June 2015. Madigan, Timothy J. â€Å"Godless Happiness.† Free Inquiry Summer 1998: 32+. Student Resources in Context. Web. 19 June 2015. Moeller, Philip. â€Å"Religion Makes People Happier--But Why?† Chicago Tribune. N.p., 13 Apr. 2012. Web. 15 June 2015. Myers, David G. â€Å"Who’s Happy? Who’s Not?† Christianity Today. 23 Nov. 1992: 23+. Gale Power Search. Web. 19 June 2015. Schumaker, John F. â€Å"Can Religion Make You Happy?† Free Inquiry Summer 1998: 28+. Student Resources in Context. Web. 19 June 2015. Stearns, Peter N. â€Å"The History of Happiness. (Cover Story).† Harvard Business Review 90.1/2 (2012): 104-109. Business Source Complete. Web. 6 June 2015.

Events in Czechoslovakia in 1938-1939 Essay

Ultimately, the events in Czechoslovakia in 1938-1939 played a major role in contributing to the outbreak of world war 2 as it ended the appeasement policy and led to Britain’s realization that war was the only solution. However, the nazi soviet pact is also a factor as it gave germany the confidence to invade Poland, a move that guaranteed war. After the anschluss, Czechoslovakia was next on hitler’s list of expansion. The Czech government felt threatened, and sought support from Britain and france should Hitler invade Czechoslovakia, and both Britain and france felt bound to help them. On 15 september 1938, Hitler told chamberlain that he would risk war to bring the Sudeten germans into germany. Chamberlain found his demands reasonable, and decided that areas in which more than half the population was germans should be handed over to Hitler. However on 22 sep Hitler stepped his demands and asked for the whole of Sudetenland. Originally, chamberlain rejected his demands. Eventually, in an attempt to avoid war, he, along with Mussolini and the prime minister of france decided that Sudetenland would be given to germany. This was known as the munich agreement (29 sep). Czechoslovakia was not consulted, and it had felt betrayed. Following that, Hitler then assured chamberlain that he had no further claims in Europe. However, in march 1939, Hitler took over the rest of Czechoslovakia, showing that he could not be trusted. Following that, Britain and france both abandoned the appeasement policy and announced that it would declare war on germany in event that Hitler invaded Poland. However, the nazi soviet pact was also an extremely important factor as it enabled Hitler to avoid a two frontwar, and allowed him to continue to provoke the western countries as stalin now secured his eastern border. Hence, Hitler could now channel all his resources to fighting the western front. Hitler learnt 2 important lessons from the First World War. Firstly, the importance of the involvement of Russia if a Slavic nation was attacked and next the strain of having to fight a war on two fronts. Therefore, the nazi soviet pact was signed on 23 august 1939 where communist Russia agreed to remain neutral if Poland was attacked. It also contained a secret protocol whereby germany and Russia agreed to carve up Poland between them, with germany getting the western parts and Russia getting the eastern parts along with Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. With this, Hitler felt assured and proceeded to attack Poland, which unleashed the second world war. In analysis, the events in Czechoslovakia played an extremely significant role in contributing to the outbreak of war in 1939 as compared to the signing of the nazi soviet pact. The events in Czechoslovakia had laid the foundation for the outbreak of war, and it was after the invasion of Czech that led to Britain’s realization that hitler’s aims went way further than merely just redressing the wrongs of the Treaty of Versailles. It showed that Hitler aimed to dominate central Eastern Europe and British knew that war was the only solution in stopping him. Furthermore, the invasion of Czechoslovakia was so unjust that it gave Britain the high moral ground to â€Å"defend the right† without regard to self-interest. This was the point when Britain and France announced that they would declare war on Hitler were he to invade Poland. Although the nazi soviet pact did play a small role, it merely acted as the trigger for the invasion of Poland. Hitler’s invasion of Poland was inevitable, and the pact merely sped up the process. Rather, the decision of Britain and france to abandon appeasement and to defend Poland was made after the events in Czechoslovakia is 1938-1939, thus making it more crucial.

Essay about Adam Smith Father of Economics - 5633 Words

Final Paper | Dr. Kang: History of Economic Thought | | | | Brian Witt | | | Brian Witt Dr. Kang MBE 330.01 Final Paper Adam Smith: â€Å"The Father of Economics† Adam Smith was a Scottish moral philosopher and a pioneer of political economics. One of the key figures of the Scottish Enlightenment and modern economics, Smith is an author of The Theory of Moral Sentiments and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nation, now known to be called The Wealth of Nations. Smith is commonly cited as the father of modern economics. Smith studied moral philosophy at the University of Glasgow and Oxford University. After graduating, he delivered a successful series of public lectures at Edinburgh, leading†¦show more content†¦Smith began delivering public lectures in 1748 at Edinburgh under the patronage or Lord Kames (Rae, 1895). His lecture topics included rhetoric and belles-lettres, and later the subject of â€Å"the progress of opulence.† On this latter topic he first expounded his economic philosophy of â€Å"the obvious and simple system of natural liberty.† While Smith was not adept at public speaking, his lectures met with success (Buchan, 2006). In 1750, he met the philosopher David Hume, who was his senior by more than decade. In their writings covering history, politics, philosophy, economics, and religion, Smith and Hume shared closer intellectual and personal bonds than with other important figures of the Scottish Enlightenment. In 1751, Smith earned a professorship at Glasgow University teaching logic courses. When the head of Moral Philosophy died the next year, Smith took over the position. He worked as an academic for the next 13 years, which he characterized as â€Å"by far the most useful and therefore by far the happiest and most honourable period† (Rae, 1895). Smith published The Theory of Moral Sentiments in 1759, embodying some of his Glasgow lectures. This work was concerned with how human morality depends on sympathy between agent and spectator, or the individual and other members of society. Smith defined â€Å"sympathy† as the feeling of moral sentiments. He based his explanation not on a special â€Å"moral sense,† as the third Lord Shaftesbury and Hutcheson had done, or onShow MoreRelatedAdam Smith : The Father Of Economics1599 Words   |  7 Pages The first individual to discuss is Adam Smith. One of the most notable tags associated with Smith is he is known as the â€Å"father of economics.† Adam Smith was a philosopher and thus this caused him to question all things about the world as well as other aspects of nature (Overview of Economics). As Smith studied, he examined closely the business side of the world and made some interesting predictions. He believed that people in societies, who behaved and acted in their own interest would produceRead MoreThe Father of Economics - Adam Smith3144 Words   |  13 PagesThe Father of the Economics During the 18th century, when Adam Smith lived, the most important social, moral, and technological presumptions had matured. These assumptions have helped to shape the market system as the publicly accepted and entrenched economic lifestyle, and the basis for cultural and even ethical relationships. The presumptions were market intensification and the spread of money operations, as well as the need for accounting and technical production, not the seizure of newRead MoreAdam Smith : The Father Of Modern Economics And Capitalism2619 Words   |  11 PagesApril 2014 Adam Smith was an influential 18th century philosopher who many consider to be the â€Å"father of modern economics and capitalism.† Born in 1723 in Scotland, he was one of the greatest classical liberal thinkers of all time. He is best known for his works The Wealth of Nations and The Theory of Moral Sentiments. His ideas were developed during the mid-1700s, during the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution was one of the largest social, political, and economic shifts in humanRead MoreThe Invisible Hand By Adam Smith923 Words   |  4 Pagesperson. Obvious that is Adam Smith. Even though, after ten years or thousand years the economists will recall Adam Smith. Moreover, if you visit United Kingdom you can recognize Adam Smith face in the 50 and 20 pounds. ‘Man is an animal that makes bargains†- Adam Smith (Brainy Quote, (n.d)). That is underling the people’s instinct when they make a deal. â€Å"A person, who received his education through h ard work, is like an expensive Car’- Adam Smith (Brainy Quote, (n.d)). Adam Smith encouraged people toRead MoreClassical and Neoclassical Economists: Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes1289 Words   |  6 PagesIn order to understand how economics really work in today’s age we must think about how those economic ideas, revolutionary theories of many economists, that helped to shape the economic structure as we know it now, through many individuals and school of economic though that has existed through the ages. These schools are â€Å"the mercantilists, the physiocrats, the classical economists, Marxian economics, the neoclassical economists and the monetarist economics. For this essay I will only refer toRead Moreâ€Å"It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our1000 Words   |  4 Pagesof Nations, which Adam Smith wrote, addresses well about why and what reason people work for. The butcher, the brewer, or the baker does not cut, stir, or bake because they want to please the customer or to feed the poor, but to earn money and for their own happiness. Adam Smith, who fully understood the concepts of capitalism and free market system, became one of the most well respected economists throughout the world. Smith became famous because of his philosophy of economics. Because of his thoughtsRead MoreAdam Smith706 Words   |  3 PagesAdam Smith was a Scottish political economist and moral philosopher, who studied moral philosophy at Oxford University and University of Glasgow. Smith is considered by many to be the founding father of economics and the first free-market capitalist. In fact, in many ways his philosophies and theories have helped shape our country and our economy into what it is today. Smith introduced us to the invisible hand theory which referred to the free markets. The invisible hand theory stated that ultimatelyRead MoreAdam Smith was born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland on an un known date. While the exact birth date of600 Words   |  3 PagesAdam Smith was born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland on an unknown date. While the exact birth date of Smith is unknown, records show that he was baptized on June 5, 1723. He was the son of the comptroller of customs in his small village; however, his father sadly died approximately six months prior to Adam being born. He was then raised by a widowed mother. Around the age of 15, Adam Smith attended Glasgow University where he studied moral philosophy. About two years later, in 1940, Smith enrolled inRead MoreEconomics Essay1090 Words   |  5 PagesEconomics is an ever-changing field of study. Within that area of interest, there are many people who have influenced the world with their individual economic point of view. Some of those people have made a fundamental impact upon not only the United States of America, but also upon the world. Adam Smith, David Ricardo, John Maynard Keynes, Friedrich Von Hayek, Milton Friedm an, and Fengbo Zhang are six men who have accomplished just that. Their opinions, actions, and words have forever changed theRead MoreThe Biography Of Adam Smith1505 Words   |  7 PagesThe Biography of Adam Smith Adam Smith was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland in the year 1923, and died in the year 1790 at the age of 67 (Stewart, 1861). His exact date of birth is unknown but was baptized on 5th June 1723. His father was a prosecutor, advocate, and solicitor but passed on two months after his birth, leaving his mother to bring him up. His mother, Margaret Douglas, played a great role in his upbringing, especially in education. He joined the Burgh school where he learned history, writing