The last year of being a student at The University of Winchester and a new challenge came upon- Feature Editor of The Winchester News Online Features department.
The last year and our last chance to gain as much time building our profile and skills and practice online Journalism during editions of Winchester New Online before going into the profession next year.
It is time for us to train new second year reporters to work within News/Features team in pressurised working environment and gain skills helpful to prepare for the future profession.
Now when our sources have been improved, our computers and ENPS program. We will be refreshed on latest edition of Final Cut pro to improve our editing skills. We will be thought on masterclass level on sound and lighting.
All the possible problems and issues should be solved at the level of our Winol's editors, our lectures should be our critical resort to turn to if need.
Our new guest editors visiting our weekly Winol and available for advise and feedback of our work will be great persons like Graham Bell, Rob Kirk or even Maria Melano from The Install magazine and Laura Barton, my personal idol of the feature writing.
We are now aiming for more BJTC awards and also guardian awards. Since we have already received a BJTC award for innovation for WINOL and our Election coverage why should we stop there, we will be aiming fore more! In order to do that we ought to focus on what is so different about us, why are we unique and why should our audience read our work. We have to be able to recognise our targeted audience and understand well what are they interested in to capture their readership and keep it. We must show we know we can get to them. In terms of Winchester News Online readership, our targeted audience is students society and we also spread to local news for Winchester town. The population of SU is important, on the campus as well as living in Winchester.
I would like my team of feature writers, head of comment/reader response , investigations as well as magazine editor with myself as the features editor work together towards hitting our targeted audience, we will be aiming at 300 readers and hopefully try to aim even higher. Working hard all together and communicating as well as respecting our main objectives as a team is very important and having such a fantastic team, I believe there is nothing to stop us reaching our objectives.
Our features will be calm, be of good quality and we will have the feature stories lined up for each week, these are the main characteristics that make a good quality feature work, and I can not see a single reason why we should not meet these requirements and be proud of our work.
Link to our PRODUCTION SCHEDULE FOR WINOL is here it is important we are all aware of it.
Essential to remember is that everyone has to obey the Fatal Error System as long as we do we have our indemnity, reporters have to obey the editors and editors have to obey publisher's orders, that is the only way to keep our indemnity. If we don't we loose it and will be taking a full responsibility for any fatal errors we have committed.
After today's introductory session for WINOL, I will work on making a weekly plan for our Features team and try to fit it best around for best effects for our Features Magazine.
Monday 27 September 2010
Sunday 26 September 2010
Shadowing the the production team during the recording of a Breakfast show - The World Cup coverage experience
The Gallery experience from 29th June 2010
As I had few mornings of it was an irresistible opportunity to have a closer look into work in the gallery during Breakfast shows during the World Cup.
To begin with, our producer for the morning show was Simon, he explained to me that he would usually make sure of the right headlines and speak to presenters before the show and also keep them informed during the show, check the VTs and OBs waiting on his signal to be their turn to speak. He would be the one to queue hi/her for the show. He would usually suggest the next topic of the conversation during the show if needed and he would tell the director what to drop if needed. He would always have to hold hard with his decisions and be in full authority over the show.
Martin Coates was directing this morning, I allowed myself for a lots of questions and shadowing every single person in the gallery trying to learn as much as possible about their individual roles in the production of the show.
The director of this morning, Martin emphasised that it is important to communicate with all members of the production team, he said he would always make sure he spoke to presenters, make sure that the scripts are prepared and presenters are familiarised with them; he would check up whether the studio is well prepared (set, cameras, lights etc). Martin explained that it is important to have the sets of the prepared well before every show as well as keeping an eye on the rights angle and framing of the cameras from the gallery. He also said that important role of the director is also thinking ahead of the producer, the director must know what's the worst case scenario if things went wrong, "what if I need to drop something from the script, and what will I do next, think always of the plan B".
The questions for the interview would be prepared by presenters and the producer and topics of the show thoroughly discussed with the producer.
Duncan Walkinshaw was vision-mixing this morning, he would be also directing other shows. While being sat next to Duncan, I realised how fascinating his role is. He would always emphasise that being focused and always ready for the next step is important while vision mixing. He would always remind me of the rule of thirds while framing the shot and making sure of sufficient looking room on the presenters and guests. He would always say that in football everything happens like "snap snap snap" of the fingers, vision mixing for football programs is all about quick "cuts" and a lot less "wipes". While observing him I could see what a perfectionist he was, he was always listening very carefully to conversations in the studio and follow the rule of importance of catching the reaction of the person. If the interview would focus longer on the quest talking he would go for wider shots or moving shots from the JIB. If action-reaction situation involved need of seeing all the people in the studio, the wide shot of three or four was necessary.
Important were good framing, head room, looking space and quick reactions from the single camera operator to work well with good vision mixing. He told me about function of each screen he would have to be looking at while vision mixing and how important it is to be aware what is happening on every single one of them.
EVS screens were on the left hand site of the wall, middle screens were the cameras, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the JIB(cam6). He would always listen carefully which camera was the most relevant to be shown in vision according to the conversation. If the conversation was going more intimate or personal the close ups were ideal and "always look for reaction" as well as pay attention on the movement on the JIB. It is important to choose different pace of vision mixing to different moods of the show and read the body language of the presenters and guests in the studio, he said that "the eyes are often a motivation for the cut".
After the show finished I could practice on switching and cutting to the cameras and was told that it is also always important to save every set up we have prepared for ourselves for particular show.
Rami Mohammed was our EVS operator and Francesca Daisy Gray-Walkinshaw was the PA. She Helped to prepare the script and running order made sure everyone had a copy, she would also help to write links and operate the Autocue.
Another crew member operating EVS, Josh Keys also emphasised that the team work is crucial he said that "preparation and being focused and organised is the most important thing". Josh was also the one editing the packages, queuing the up on EVS.
As I had few mornings of it was an irresistible opportunity to have a closer look into work in the gallery during Breakfast shows during the World Cup.
To begin with, our producer for the morning show was Simon, he explained to me that he would usually make sure of the right headlines and speak to presenters before the show and also keep them informed during the show, check the VTs and OBs waiting on his signal to be their turn to speak. He would be the one to queue hi/her for the show. He would usually suggest the next topic of the conversation during the show if needed and he would tell the director what to drop if needed. He would always have to hold hard with his decisions and be in full authority over the show.
Martin Coates was directing this morning, I allowed myself for a lots of questions and shadowing every single person in the gallery trying to learn as much as possible about their individual roles in the production of the show.
The director of this morning, Martin emphasised that it is important to communicate with all members of the production team, he said he would always make sure he spoke to presenters, make sure that the scripts are prepared and presenters are familiarised with them; he would check up whether the studio is well prepared (set, cameras, lights etc). Martin explained that it is important to have the sets of the prepared well before every show as well as keeping an eye on the rights angle and framing of the cameras from the gallery. He also said that important role of the director is also thinking ahead of the producer, the director must know what's the worst case scenario if things went wrong, "what if I need to drop something from the script, and what will I do next, think always of the plan B".
The questions for the interview would be prepared by presenters and the producer and topics of the show thoroughly discussed with the producer.
Duncan Walkinshaw was vision-mixing this morning, he would be also directing other shows. While being sat next to Duncan, I realised how fascinating his role is. He would always emphasise that being focused and always ready for the next step is important while vision mixing. He would always remind me of the rule of thirds while framing the shot and making sure of sufficient looking room on the presenters and guests. He would always say that in football everything happens like "snap snap snap" of the fingers, vision mixing for football programs is all about quick "cuts" and a lot less "wipes". While observing him I could see what a perfectionist he was, he was always listening very carefully to conversations in the studio and follow the rule of importance of catching the reaction of the person. If the interview would focus longer on the quest talking he would go for wider shots or moving shots from the JIB. If action-reaction situation involved need of seeing all the people in the studio, the wide shot of three or four was necessary.
Important were good framing, head room, looking space and quick reactions from the single camera operator to work well with good vision mixing. He told me about function of each screen he would have to be looking at while vision mixing and how important it is to be aware what is happening on every single one of them.
EVS screens were on the left hand site of the wall, middle screens were the cameras, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the JIB(cam6). He would always listen carefully which camera was the most relevant to be shown in vision according to the conversation. If the conversation was going more intimate or personal the close ups were ideal and "always look for reaction" as well as pay attention on the movement on the JIB. It is important to choose different pace of vision mixing to different moods of the show and read the body language of the presenters and guests in the studio, he said that "the eyes are often a motivation for the cut".
After the show finished I could practice on switching and cutting to the cameras and was told that it is also always important to save every set up we have prepared for ourselves for particular show.
Rami Mohammed was our EVS operator and Francesca Daisy Gray-Walkinshaw was the PA. She Helped to prepare the script and running order made sure everyone had a copy, she would also help to write links and operate the Autocue.
Another crew member operating EVS, Josh Keys also emphasised that the team work is crucial he said that "preparation and being focused and organised is the most important thing". Josh was also the one editing the packages, queuing the up on EVS.
Invention of God- questioning the need for metaphysical power
Lets take that God does not exist, and was only created to give moral values more importance and respect for the given rules of The ten commandments for example. Also quite possibly, taking humans nature, idea of guilt, being observed and punished for breaking the rules is quite an intelligent basic idea to be used in order to keep the idea respectable and well remembered, to have the rules kept. Rules bring idea of safety and protection as well as higher purpose than keeping basic instincts satisfied. Creating a holly importance to ideas like love, respect, loyalty, peace, trust, faith and hope have brought these ideas significant importance and higher purpose of life.
Quite simply, they keep world's peace and harmony making humanity a way forward to keep the human kind living with each other in peace and mutual respect.
So yes, it is helpful that religion has been invented and given a name but that is also what makes it also questionable to be a metaphysical it seems to be simply a humans invention. What also makes the concept of God's existence questionable is what history shows...
Wars for many countries' independence and land, world wars, Holocaust, Vietnam War, 9/11 bombing, terrorism... and so many more other human tragedies that were pure evil, now, if God as he or she is described would these tragedies have happened? Some would say that we are all part of God's plan and will be all punished or rewarded in afterlife, and if one suffers, innocently, the place in heaven will be prepared for him or her. All that, comforting enough for some, is enough to justify cruelty and hate amongst people. For some it is enough to have a hope for happiness in life after life for eternity when we are no more than metaphysical soul, yes, foe some this gives a reason for a belief in higher purpose of life being happiness after death... What a life that is someone would ask, well catholics believe that suffering can be a blessing, and suffering and sacrifice is an enormous part of humans life. Polish people have even this saying, after being through two wars, invaded, murdered and robbed country in Europe, one of the famous polish writers calls Poland, "The Christ of the nations" as its people are bound to suffer considerable amount before the nation will rise and become happy and blessed.
Among catholics, it is believed that who believes in God, father of Jesus Christ, is given strength and comfort of being looked after taking risks and going through difficulties of life taking them as parts of God's plan, forgiving and never wanting a revenge for bad things that happen in life... And those who don't believe in his existence are band to be doomed and have a weakness and lower aim of life.
Now, let's take that God as a higher power overlooking the good rules and morals in humans' life, had never been invented, would men be equally determined and strong in believing in doing good and higher purpose in life than satisfying basic human instincts. Would they manage to protect moral values and mutual respect among men knowing that the only award for it is good relationship with people and if we steal something from someone there will be no feeling of guilt or punishment for breaking moral values; and that the punishment would be going to prison and then getting out and then why not doing it again.
Would believing in ourselves and our own equally good values and keeping them as important and making life meaningful be the same as believing in higher power that would give strength to keep the importance of the values. The values that would equal the Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, "a list of religious and moral imperatives that, according to the Hebrew Bible, were spoken by God to the people of Israel from the mountain referred to as Mount Sinai or Horeb, and later authored by God and given to or written by Moses in the form of two stone tablets. They are recognized as a moral foundation in Judaism and Christianity, and their substance also figures in Islam."(Ref.2)
The phrase "Ten Commandments" is generally used to refer to similar passages in Exodus and Deuteronomy The passages in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, traditionally divided into fourteen or fifteen verses, are each identified in the biblical text as containing ten elements. These passages declare the Lord, who brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, to be their God; prohibit worship of other gods before the Lord, and the making or worshiping idols; threaten punishment for those who reject the Lord and promise love for those who love him; forbid misuse of the Lord's name; mandate observance of the Sabbath and honoring one's parents; and finally prohibit murder, adultery, theft, false testimony, and coveting of one's neighbor's goods. Various religions and denominations translate and interpret the Commandments in different ways." (Ref.2)
If we didn't say that these ten commandments were given from God but created by a wise and thoughtful person who believed that people would interpret the commandments for a benefit of human kind.
1. "prohibit worship of other gods before the Lord" -could be translated into believing that these ideas are rightful,
"the making or worshiping idols" - inventing of other values like for example, opposite ones, evil ones would be a bad thing,
"threaten punishment for those who reject the Lord and promise love for those who love him" - punish ones who break the values, these who steel, kill etc
(* all above count into the first commandment in catholic interpretation of the Bible)
2. "forbid misuse of the Lord's name" - would be quite metaphysical to add more mysticism to the idea
3. "mandate observance of the Sabbath" - cherish and respect saint days which would teach us respect for tradition and culture
4. "honoring one's parents" - quite a direct interpretation, showing respect for parents and love in family
5. "prohibit murder"
6. "prohibit adultery"
7." prohibit theft"
8. "prohibit false testimony"
9. * (not mentioned in here but it is included in the Catholic version of the ten commandments) - "prohibit desire for neighbor's wife"
10. and "prohibit coveting of one's neighbor's goods" - [5-10] - prohibit doing, saying or meaning any harm or hurtful intention to other person or yourself"
If we took this commandments as given by a wise philosopher would that be enough for human kind to obey these rules? Perhaps at the time when they were invented there was no other way to keep them respected but to say they are from God and if not obeyed, the punish will come?
What ever reason they were named to come from God if interpreted in this basic way I showed above they should only serve good and making life better creating overall respect for life and others. There is no doubt they are one of the greatest inventions of all. The question is was there really a need to name them to come from God? Would our humns' power, self believe and mutual respect be enough to make this values survive till these days or was it so well thought of one day thousands years ago with one man with name of Moses who decided that humans' strength is faulty and their nature is hesitantly questionable that it was safer for the human kind and more likely for them to survive with God looking over them and guarding these values.
References:
1. The Bible
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_ten_commandments
3. Paulo Coelho, I sat by the Piedra river and I cried (inspiration for the research and thoughts)
Quite simply, they keep world's peace and harmony making humanity a way forward to keep the human kind living with each other in peace and mutual respect.
So yes, it is helpful that religion has been invented and given a name but that is also what makes it also questionable to be a metaphysical it seems to be simply a humans invention. What also makes the concept of God's existence questionable is what history shows...
Wars for many countries' independence and land, world wars, Holocaust, Vietnam War, 9/11 bombing, terrorism... and so many more other human tragedies that were pure evil, now, if God as he or she is described would these tragedies have happened? Some would say that we are all part of God's plan and will be all punished or rewarded in afterlife, and if one suffers, innocently, the place in heaven will be prepared for him or her. All that, comforting enough for some, is enough to justify cruelty and hate amongst people. For some it is enough to have a hope for happiness in life after life for eternity when we are no more than metaphysical soul, yes, foe some this gives a reason for a belief in higher purpose of life being happiness after death... What a life that is someone would ask, well catholics believe that suffering can be a blessing, and suffering and sacrifice is an enormous part of humans life. Polish people have even this saying, after being through two wars, invaded, murdered and robbed country in Europe, one of the famous polish writers calls Poland, "The Christ of the nations" as its people are bound to suffer considerable amount before the nation will rise and become happy and blessed.
Among catholics, it is believed that who believes in God, father of Jesus Christ, is given strength and comfort of being looked after taking risks and going through difficulties of life taking them as parts of God's plan, forgiving and never wanting a revenge for bad things that happen in life... And those who don't believe in his existence are band to be doomed and have a weakness and lower aim of life.
Now, let's take that God as a higher power overlooking the good rules and morals in humans' life, had never been invented, would men be equally determined and strong in believing in doing good and higher purpose in life than satisfying basic human instincts. Would they manage to protect moral values and mutual respect among men knowing that the only award for it is good relationship with people and if we steal something from someone there will be no feeling of guilt or punishment for breaking moral values; and that the punishment would be going to prison and then getting out and then why not doing it again.
Would believing in ourselves and our own equally good values and keeping them as important and making life meaningful be the same as believing in higher power that would give strength to keep the importance of the values. The values that would equal the Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, "a list of religious and moral imperatives that, according to the Hebrew Bible, were spoken by God to the people of Israel from the mountain referred to as Mount Sinai or Horeb, and later authored by God and given to or written by Moses in the form of two stone tablets. They are recognized as a moral foundation in Judaism and Christianity, and their substance also figures in Islam."(Ref.2)
The phrase "Ten Commandments" is generally used to refer to similar passages in Exodus and Deuteronomy The passages in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, traditionally divided into fourteen or fifteen verses, are each identified in the biblical text as containing ten elements. These passages declare the Lord, who brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, to be their God; prohibit worship of other gods before the Lord, and the making or worshiping idols; threaten punishment for those who reject the Lord and promise love for those who love him; forbid misuse of the Lord's name; mandate observance of the Sabbath and honoring one's parents; and finally prohibit murder, adultery, theft, false testimony, and coveting of one's neighbor's goods. Various religions and denominations translate and interpret the Commandments in different ways." (Ref.2)
If we didn't say that these ten commandments were given from God but created by a wise and thoughtful person who believed that people would interpret the commandments for a benefit of human kind.
1. "prohibit worship of other gods before the Lord" -could be translated into believing that these ideas are rightful,
"the making or worshiping idols" - inventing of other values like for example, opposite ones, evil ones would be a bad thing,
"threaten punishment for those who reject the Lord and promise love for those who love him" - punish ones who break the values, these who steel, kill etc
(* all above count into the first commandment in catholic interpretation of the Bible)
2. "forbid misuse of the Lord's name" - would be quite metaphysical to add more mysticism to the idea
3. "mandate observance of the Sabbath" - cherish and respect saint days which would teach us respect for tradition and culture
4. "honoring one's parents" - quite a direct interpretation, showing respect for parents and love in family
5. "prohibit murder"
6. "prohibit adultery"
7." prohibit theft"
8. "prohibit false testimony"
9. * (not mentioned in here but it is included in the Catholic version of the ten commandments) - "prohibit desire for neighbor's wife"
10. and "prohibit coveting of one's neighbor's goods" - [5-10] - prohibit doing, saying or meaning any harm or hurtful intention to other person or yourself"
If we took this commandments as given by a wise philosopher would that be enough for human kind to obey these rules? Perhaps at the time when they were invented there was no other way to keep them respected but to say they are from God and if not obeyed, the punish will come?
What ever reason they were named to come from God if interpreted in this basic way I showed above they should only serve good and making life better creating overall respect for life and others. There is no doubt they are one of the greatest inventions of all. The question is was there really a need to name them to come from God? Would our humns' power, self believe and mutual respect be enough to make this values survive till these days or was it so well thought of one day thousands years ago with one man with name of Moses who decided that humans' strength is faulty and their nature is hesitantly questionable that it was safer for the human kind and more likely for them to survive with God looking over them and guarding these values.
References:
1. The Bible
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_ten_commandments
3. Paulo Coelho, I sat by the Piedra river and I cried (inspiration for the research and thoughts)
Can God be a woman, inspired by Paulo Coelho's book
Continuation of a spiritual research and thought inspired by Paulo Coelho's book,
Second part of an article: Paulo Coelho, I sat by the Piedra river and I cried.
Let's take for example Catholic story of the Bible about bringing up Jesus from Nazareth talks about St Maria to have no other children, especially no sisters. Now, in times of Jesus in Jewish family's the culture was of having many children and yet, there is no record, at least shown to the public of any other children in Josef and Maria's family than Jesus. Then there was no record of more than 20 years of Jesus Christ's life, no record of the time when he was a healthy growing man till the age of his thirties... or no record of his siblings. Making Jesus the only child of St Maria while she loved and was very close to her husband with no source of preventing pregnancy is rather unlikely. It is more likely that Jesus was living among a family in Nazareth with his brothers and sisters and even having his own woman. He was a grown man, died in the age of 32 and there was no record of him and women even though he was a healthy young man... is that likely? Answer it yourself. Why was the fact of having women in his life hidden or having any siblings, sisters perhaps, hidden? Is that because that would make a possibility of little goddesses being born after him or even before him? Is it to hide the fact that he might have had a child himself? And that child could have been a little baby girl what would make her a next God, pardon me, a Goddess?
Now, If he had a son, do you think that it would be written? Well, it was more likely that the story of a male baby of Jesus Christ, the next God to be born to rule the world was kept and carried on as a story of Gods. If it was a girl it would be hidden taking into consideration the type of society the story was happening at. Men dominated society, kings ruling the country, Parliament filled with male represent ants only, women having no political voice and a law role in the hierarchy of the society... in these times the country Jesus came from was " Palestine(...)a conventional name used, among others, to describe a geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands." (Ref.11) It's "geographic term, can refer to "ancient Palestine," an area that today includes Israel and the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, as well as part of Jordan, and some of both Lebanon and Syria. In classical or contemporary terms, it is also the common name for the area west of the Jordan River." (Ref.11)
Looking back to times of Old Testament period (Hebrew Bible), c.830s BCE, "Kingdom of Judah Kingdom of Israel Philistine city-states Phoenician states Kingdom of Ammon Kingdom of Edom Kingdom of Aram-Damascus Aramean tribes Arubu tribes Nabatu tribes Assyrian Empire Kingdom of Moab."(Ref.12) All of which are male rulers of the area. Let's have a look little bit further before Jesus was born. Ancient Israel, "according to Biblical tradition, the United Kingdom of Israel was established by the Israelite tribes with Saul as its first king in 1020 BCE. In 1000 BCE, Jerusalem was made the capital of King David's kingdom and it is believed that the First Temple was constructed in this period by King Solomon. By 930 BCE, the united kingdom split to form the northern Kingdom of Israel, and the southern Kingdom of Judah. " (Ref.12)
"(...) While in the past, the Bible story was seen historical truth, "a growing number of archaeological scholars, particularly those of the minimalist school, are now insisting that Kings David and Solomon are 'no more real than King Arthur,' citing the lack of archaeological evidence attesting to the existence of the United Kingdom of Israel, and the unreliability of biblical texts, due to their being composed in a much later period." (ref.12) The socio-political system in 10th century BCE, was characterized by "local patrons fighting other local patrons, lasting until around the mid-9th century BCE when some local chieftains were able to create large political structures that exceeded the boundaries of those present in the Late Bronze Age Levant. Archaeological findings from this era include, among others, the Mesha Stele, from c. 850 BCE, which recounts the conquering of Moab, located East of the Dead Sea, by king Omri, and the successful revolt of Moabian king Mesha against Omri's son, presumably King Ahab (and French scholar André Lemaire reported that line 31 of the Stele bears the phrase "the house of David"(...) and the Kurkh Monolith, dated c. 835 BCE, describing King Shalmaneser III of Assyria's Battle of Qarqar, where he fought alongside the contingents of several kings, among them King Ahab and King Gindibu." (Ref.12)
Kings, kings, kings... men.
Between 722 and 720 BCE, the northern Kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrian Empire and the Israelite tribes – thereafter known as the Lost Tribes – were exiled. The most important finding from the southern Kingdom of Judah is the Siloam Inscription, dated c. 700 BCE, which celebrates the successful encounter of diggers, digging from both sides of the Jerusalem wall to create the Hezekiah water tunnel and water pool, mentioned in the Bible, in 2Kings. In 586 BCE, Judah was conquered by the Babylonians and Jerusalem and the First Temple destroyed. Most of the surviving Jews, and much of the other local population, were deported to Babylonia." (ref.12) Then, Persian rule, no women mentioned; Hellenistic rule when "the Persian Empire fell to Greek forces of the Macedonian general Alexander the Great. After his death, with the absence of heirs, his conquests were divided amongst his generals, while the region of the Jews ("Judah" or Judea as it became known) was first part of the Ptolemaic dynasty." (Ref.12) "The Jewish population in Judea was allowed limited autonomy in religion and administration." (Ref.12) Then Hesmonean dynasty and Roman rule coming down to 62 BCE, 5th century CE: Byzantine provinces of Palestine I and Palestine II. Emperor Constantine is conversion to Christianity around 330 CE made Christianity the official religion of Palestine. After his mother Empress Helena identified the spot she believed to be where Christ was crucified, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built in Jerusalem.[96] The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Ascension in Jerusalem were also built during Constantine's reign.(...) Galilee was brutally suppressed. Imperial patronage for Christian cults and immigration was strong(...). In 536 CE, Justinian I (...) believed that the elevation of the governor was appropriate because he was responsible for "the province in which our Lord Jesus Christ... appeared on earth". This was also the principal factor explaining why Palestine prospered under the Christian Empire. The cities of Palestine, such as Caesarea Maritima, Jerusalem, Scythopolis, Neapolis, and Gaza reached their peak population in the late Roman period and produced notable Christian scholars in the disciplines of rhetoric, historiography, Eusebian ecclesiastical history, classicizing history and hagiography."(Ref.12) The record also shows an Islamic period between 630-1918 CE. The Islamic prophet Muhammad established a new unified political polity in the Arabian peninsula at the beginning of the 7th century. The subsequent (...) rapid expansion of Arab power well beyond the Arabian peninsula in the form of a vast Muslim Arab Empire. In the 630s this empire conquered Palestine and it remained under the control of Islamic Empires for most of the next 1300 years." (Ref12) Arab rule and Muslim predominant took over the Arabian peninsula till these days.
Having a religion that grew among this history, roots of Islam, Christianity and Catholicism have women's importance put significantly into the shadow of men throughout the history. Reading through the sources describing the history of the country were Jesus was born, it supports very well my theory of need of men's ego to have power over women and discriminating their significance, hence leaving no chance to allow Woman to be more important than a man, God to be cherished as a male not a Goddess.
Religion become a perfect tool to keep role and importance, treating women unequally throughout centuries. Men tried to built their prestige and importance while they could never equal women's power to give a new life.
God is thought to have given a beginning of life and it is no one else to have the same power than women, have men had a complex because of that and felt less important than women too? Was that the reason why men's ego to have the highest power pushed them to manipulating minds of next generations through scholars and historical texts to that creation of religions would favour male part of the world? That seems possible and quite a logical explanation to the way psychology of mens' ego works.
Paulo Coelho writes in his book a story of St Teresa, born many centuries after Jesus. She was a beautiful woman who was put to a monastery by her father so that she could gain wide education. At some point of her life, it is believed that she was able to speak with Jesus. When she noticed that her monastery began to be no more than a house of pleasures she decided to set her own monastery following the rules set by Jesus only. She not only had to fight to stay strong and loyal to the rules she set to herself but also with the rules of the century she lived in, the Church and the state.
There was many people having the same or similar destiny of live, missions who they believed were given them from God. Their aim of life was to live their dreams led by God. But so that could happen there always had to be someone to sacrifice something. Church was burning the witches, Romans gave Christians to be eaten by lions and later on Christian crusades were filled with man's slaughter and desire to conquer other nations and cultures.
One day a woman called Maria Jesus from Grenada, lasted three days without food or water by Teresa's monastery door to speak to St Teresa. When Maria was a young nun, was able to see Jesus mother, St Maria, who told her to build another monastery following old rules, just like St Teresa did. The same day young nun Maria and St Teresa met and Maria decided to go to Rome with bare feet. It took her two years. She slept without the shelter, suffered cold and heat and lived of people's charity. It was seen as a miracle that she managed to get to Rome, and pope Pius IV allowed her for a visit. Through her sacrifices, she fulfilled her destiny following God's will.
St Bernadette living in 19 century wasn't aware about Vatican's decision about her spiritual revelations, "she reported 18 apparitions of "a small young lady." Despite initial scepticism from the Catholic Church, these claims were eventually declared to be worthy of belief after a canonical investigation, and the apparition is known as Our Lady of Lourdes. After her death, Bernadette's body has remained in corrupt, and the shrine at Lourdes went on to become a major site for pilgrimage, attracting millions of Christians of all denominations each year. On 8 December 1933, she was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church(...). She has been considered a Christian mystic (Christian mysticism)." (Ref.14) Among her reported" visions of Jesus and Mary the impact of her visions can be viewed as being proportionally of a high level of significance. Her request to the local priest to build a chapel at the site of her visions eventually gave rise to a number of chapels and churches at Lourdes. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is now one of the major Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world." (Ref.14)
The world has probably heard more of Alexander the Great Conquering the world than St Bernadette, who if she wasn't at first taken with so much scepticism she could have changed and done a lot more things if only listen to and believed that she should have a power at the time. Instead of just building churches she should have been taken as a woman of great power being able to pass a vision, if not for her modesty and women's lack of confidence in having a power she could have done a lot more and be better remembered and respected.
All these women have followed, as they believed, God's will, they were all never taken seriously at the beginning of their spiritual pathways but at the end their strength and dedication payed of with their biggest award of being able to serve people, follow their dream and destiny, be happy and make others happy, spread love and good among the people not conquer them or have power over them. They were truth to their beliefs and truth to people they reached the core of their religion and happiness without self confidence and law self esteem dictated and enforced by the society that was men orientated. Would they be seen as more significant during their life if they were men?
Yes, they would.
Could God be a woman, of course it Could. If God is a woman, will it be tried to be refused and hidden to keep men's prestige and power in the world?
Dispute carried out in this article suggests the answer to that question.
Paulo Coelho's book inspired this article, throughout other ideas in his books everyone can find the way of life or inspiration for spiritual research.
Always question things, find your way and be open for new ideas. Be a journalist investigating your own life as well as historical and contemporary influences that made your life the way it is. Find your way and find yourself, find wisdom and share it with others.
References:
1. 'I sat by the river Piedra and I cried' by Paulo Coelho (inspiration for this article and research)
2. Official website of Paulo Coelho: http://www.paulocoelho.com.br/engl/bio.shtml
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atman_(Hinduism)
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism#Concept_of_God
5. http://www.sanatansociety.org/hindu_gods_and_goddesses.htm
6. http://www.saigan.com/heritage/gods/gods.htm
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India
8. Asian Tribune, http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/1763
9. BBC News Online, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/5058840.stm
10. Visbo onlne magazine, http://visboo.com/child-marriages-in-india.html
11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine
12. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine#Hebrew_Bible.2FOld_Testament_period
13. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation
14. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernadette_Soubirous
Second part of an article: Paulo Coelho, I sat by the Piedra river and I cried.
Let's take for example Catholic story of the Bible about bringing up Jesus from Nazareth talks about St Maria to have no other children, especially no sisters. Now, in times of Jesus in Jewish family's the culture was of having many children and yet, there is no record, at least shown to the public of any other children in Josef and Maria's family than Jesus. Then there was no record of more than 20 years of Jesus Christ's life, no record of the time when he was a healthy growing man till the age of his thirties... or no record of his siblings. Making Jesus the only child of St Maria while she loved and was very close to her husband with no source of preventing pregnancy is rather unlikely. It is more likely that Jesus was living among a family in Nazareth with his brothers and sisters and even having his own woman. He was a grown man, died in the age of 32 and there was no record of him and women even though he was a healthy young man... is that likely? Answer it yourself. Why was the fact of having women in his life hidden or having any siblings, sisters perhaps, hidden? Is that because that would make a possibility of little goddesses being born after him or even before him? Is it to hide the fact that he might have had a child himself? And that child could have been a little baby girl what would make her a next God, pardon me, a Goddess?
Now, If he had a son, do you think that it would be written? Well, it was more likely that the story of a male baby of Jesus Christ, the next God to be born to rule the world was kept and carried on as a story of Gods. If it was a girl it would be hidden taking into consideration the type of society the story was happening at. Men dominated society, kings ruling the country, Parliament filled with male represent ants only, women having no political voice and a law role in the hierarchy of the society... in these times the country Jesus came from was " Palestine(...)a conventional name used, among others, to describe a geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands." (Ref.11) It's "geographic term, can refer to "ancient Palestine," an area that today includes Israel and the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, as well as part of Jordan, and some of both Lebanon and Syria. In classical or contemporary terms, it is also the common name for the area west of the Jordan River." (Ref.11)
Looking back to times of Old Testament period (Hebrew Bible), c.830s BCE, "Kingdom of Judah Kingdom of Israel Philistine city-states Phoenician states Kingdom of Ammon Kingdom of Edom Kingdom of Aram-Damascus Aramean tribes Arubu tribes Nabatu tribes Assyrian Empire Kingdom of Moab."(Ref.12) All of which are male rulers of the area. Let's have a look little bit further before Jesus was born. Ancient Israel, "according to Biblical tradition, the United Kingdom of Israel was established by the Israelite tribes with Saul as its first king in 1020 BCE. In 1000 BCE, Jerusalem was made the capital of King David's kingdom and it is believed that the First Temple was constructed in this period by King Solomon. By 930 BCE, the united kingdom split to form the northern Kingdom of Israel, and the southern Kingdom of Judah. " (Ref.12)
"(...) While in the past, the Bible story was seen historical truth, "a growing number of archaeological scholars, particularly those of the minimalist school, are now insisting that Kings David and Solomon are 'no more real than King Arthur,' citing the lack of archaeological evidence attesting to the existence of the United Kingdom of Israel, and the unreliability of biblical texts, due to their being composed in a much later period." (ref.12) The socio-political system in 10th century BCE, was characterized by "local patrons fighting other local patrons, lasting until around the mid-9th century BCE when some local chieftains were able to create large political structures that exceeded the boundaries of those present in the Late Bronze Age Levant. Archaeological findings from this era include, among others, the Mesha Stele, from c. 850 BCE, which recounts the conquering of Moab, located East of the Dead Sea, by king Omri, and the successful revolt of Moabian king Mesha against Omri's son, presumably King Ahab (and French scholar André Lemaire reported that line 31 of the Stele bears the phrase "the house of David"(...) and the Kurkh Monolith, dated c. 835 BCE, describing King Shalmaneser III of Assyria's Battle of Qarqar, where he fought alongside the contingents of several kings, among them King Ahab and King Gindibu." (Ref.12)
Kings, kings, kings... men.
Between 722 and 720 BCE, the northern Kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrian Empire and the Israelite tribes – thereafter known as the Lost Tribes – were exiled. The most important finding from the southern Kingdom of Judah is the Siloam Inscription, dated c. 700 BCE, which celebrates the successful encounter of diggers, digging from both sides of the Jerusalem wall to create the Hezekiah water tunnel and water pool, mentioned in the Bible, in 2Kings. In 586 BCE, Judah was conquered by the Babylonians and Jerusalem and the First Temple destroyed. Most of the surviving Jews, and much of the other local population, were deported to Babylonia." (ref.12) Then, Persian rule, no women mentioned; Hellenistic rule when "the Persian Empire fell to Greek forces of the Macedonian general Alexander the Great. After his death, with the absence of heirs, his conquests were divided amongst his generals, while the region of the Jews ("Judah" or Judea as it became known) was first part of the Ptolemaic dynasty." (Ref.12) "The Jewish population in Judea was allowed limited autonomy in religion and administration." (Ref.12) Then Hesmonean dynasty and Roman rule coming down to 62 BCE, 5th century CE: Byzantine provinces of Palestine I and Palestine II. Emperor Constantine is conversion to Christianity around 330 CE made Christianity the official religion of Palestine. After his mother Empress Helena identified the spot she believed to be where Christ was crucified, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built in Jerusalem.[96] The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Ascension in Jerusalem were also built during Constantine's reign.(...) Galilee was brutally suppressed. Imperial patronage for Christian cults and immigration was strong(...). In 536 CE, Justinian I (...) believed that the elevation of the governor was appropriate because he was responsible for "the province in which our Lord Jesus Christ... appeared on earth". This was also the principal factor explaining why Palestine prospered under the Christian Empire. The cities of Palestine, such as Caesarea Maritima, Jerusalem, Scythopolis, Neapolis, and Gaza reached their peak population in the late Roman period and produced notable Christian scholars in the disciplines of rhetoric, historiography, Eusebian ecclesiastical history, classicizing history and hagiography."(Ref.12) The record also shows an Islamic period between 630-1918 CE. The Islamic prophet Muhammad established a new unified political polity in the Arabian peninsula at the beginning of the 7th century. The subsequent (...) rapid expansion of Arab power well beyond the Arabian peninsula in the form of a vast Muslim Arab Empire. In the 630s this empire conquered Palestine and it remained under the control of Islamic Empires for most of the next 1300 years." (Ref12) Arab rule and Muslim predominant took over the Arabian peninsula till these days.
Having a religion that grew among this history, roots of Islam, Christianity and Catholicism have women's importance put significantly into the shadow of men throughout the history. Reading through the sources describing the history of the country were Jesus was born, it supports very well my theory of need of men's ego to have power over women and discriminating their significance, hence leaving no chance to allow Woman to be more important than a man, God to be cherished as a male not a Goddess.
Religion become a perfect tool to keep role and importance, treating women unequally throughout centuries. Men tried to built their prestige and importance while they could never equal women's power to give a new life.
God is thought to have given a beginning of life and it is no one else to have the same power than women, have men had a complex because of that and felt less important than women too? Was that the reason why men's ego to have the highest power pushed them to manipulating minds of next generations through scholars and historical texts to that creation of religions would favour male part of the world? That seems possible and quite a logical explanation to the way psychology of mens' ego works.
Paulo Coelho writes in his book a story of St Teresa, born many centuries after Jesus. She was a beautiful woman who was put to a monastery by her father so that she could gain wide education. At some point of her life, it is believed that she was able to speak with Jesus. When she noticed that her monastery began to be no more than a house of pleasures she decided to set her own monastery following the rules set by Jesus only. She not only had to fight to stay strong and loyal to the rules she set to herself but also with the rules of the century she lived in, the Church and the state.
There was many people having the same or similar destiny of live, missions who they believed were given them from God. Their aim of life was to live their dreams led by God. But so that could happen there always had to be someone to sacrifice something. Church was burning the witches, Romans gave Christians to be eaten by lions and later on Christian crusades were filled with man's slaughter and desire to conquer other nations and cultures.
One day a woman called Maria Jesus from Grenada, lasted three days without food or water by Teresa's monastery door to speak to St Teresa. When Maria was a young nun, was able to see Jesus mother, St Maria, who told her to build another monastery following old rules, just like St Teresa did. The same day young nun Maria and St Teresa met and Maria decided to go to Rome with bare feet. It took her two years. She slept without the shelter, suffered cold and heat and lived of people's charity. It was seen as a miracle that she managed to get to Rome, and pope Pius IV allowed her for a visit. Through her sacrifices, she fulfilled her destiny following God's will.
St Bernadette living in 19 century wasn't aware about Vatican's decision about her spiritual revelations, "she reported 18 apparitions of "a small young lady." Despite initial scepticism from the Catholic Church, these claims were eventually declared to be worthy of belief after a canonical investigation, and the apparition is known as Our Lady of Lourdes. After her death, Bernadette's body has remained in corrupt, and the shrine at Lourdes went on to become a major site for pilgrimage, attracting millions of Christians of all denominations each year. On 8 December 1933, she was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church(...). She has been considered a Christian mystic (Christian mysticism)." (Ref.14) Among her reported" visions of Jesus and Mary the impact of her visions can be viewed as being proportionally of a high level of significance. Her request to the local priest to build a chapel at the site of her visions eventually gave rise to a number of chapels and churches at Lourdes. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is now one of the major Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world." (Ref.14)
The world has probably heard more of Alexander the Great Conquering the world than St Bernadette, who if she wasn't at first taken with so much scepticism she could have changed and done a lot more things if only listen to and believed that she should have a power at the time. Instead of just building churches she should have been taken as a woman of great power being able to pass a vision, if not for her modesty and women's lack of confidence in having a power she could have done a lot more and be better remembered and respected.
All these women have followed, as they believed, God's will, they were all never taken seriously at the beginning of their spiritual pathways but at the end their strength and dedication payed of with their biggest award of being able to serve people, follow their dream and destiny, be happy and make others happy, spread love and good among the people not conquer them or have power over them. They were truth to their beliefs and truth to people they reached the core of their religion and happiness without self confidence and law self esteem dictated and enforced by the society that was men orientated. Would they be seen as more significant during their life if they were men?
Yes, they would.
Could God be a woman, of course it Could. If God is a woman, will it be tried to be refused and hidden to keep men's prestige and power in the world?
Dispute carried out in this article suggests the answer to that question.
Paulo Coelho's book inspired this article, throughout other ideas in his books everyone can find the way of life or inspiration for spiritual research.
Always question things, find your way and be open for new ideas. Be a journalist investigating your own life as well as historical and contemporary influences that made your life the way it is. Find your way and find yourself, find wisdom and share it with others.
References:
1. 'I sat by the river Piedra and I cried' by Paulo Coelho (inspiration for this article and research)
2. Official website of Paulo Coelho: http://www.paulocoelho.com.br/engl/bio.shtml
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atman_(Hinduism)
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism#Concept_of_God
5. http://www.sanatansociety.org/hindu_gods_and_goddesses.htm
6. http://www.saigan.com/heritage/gods/gods.htm
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India
8. Asian Tribune, http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/1763
9. BBC News Online, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/5058840.stm
10. Visbo onlne magazine, http://visboo.com/child-marriages-in-india.html
11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine
12. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine#Hebrew_Bible.2FOld_Testament_period
13. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation
14. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernadette_Soubirous
Paulo Coelho, 'I sat by the Piedra river and I cried'
'Woman is one of God's faces', and water has always been a symbol of life, water is also a symbol of "the Goddess". The great Mother Goddess, Zzis, in Jewish known as Shechonach, Sofia, Mrs of the slaves who is present in all religions of the world.
If you found shocking what you read above, or at least intriguing or even inspiring for some, this is the book that uncovers another face of God. Paulo Coelho is one of the greatest writers of all. Born in 1947 in Brazil began his writing career from writing texts for songs and worked as a journalist. In age of 38 he fulfilled his dream of becoming a world wide respected writer. His first novel Alchemic made him one of the most popular contemporary writers, his books have been translated into 66 different languages across 150 countries. Paulo is a columnist is most readable magazines across the world, he is ' not only one of the most widely read, but also one of the most influential authors writing today.' (Ref.2) He is an adviser for UNESCO, works for ONZ and since 2002 he has become a member a Brazilian Academy of Literature.
If all that doesn't inspire you to look into his creativity, simply read through this article to find out how a trainee journalist from the University of Winchester reads through the following books of Paulo Coelho trying to explore spiritual pathways of life. Paulo found his fascination with the spiritual quest back from his hippie days, when he travelled the world learning about secret societies, oriental religions, etc. Reading his books can be a beginning to every one's 'spiritual quest' as the truth is always where where the faith is.
In his book, I sat by the river Piedra and I cried, Coelho writes that before Christianity overtaken the world Celts ruled it and in Celts culture Goddess was the highest power. People cherished women, loved them and admired as impersonation of God.
Every time a man with honest heart follows faith, will find God, and even be capable of making miracles. No matter what religion, as there is no right or wrong one. Since core of every religion is perfecting yourself and finding a piece with yourself and others, and being good to others and through that connecting to God, finding God.
Knowledge is not enough we have to search through deeper and go into spheres that are further under the layers of metaphysical to find ourselves.
Choice of faith, well, which ever one we decide to go into deeper and discover its traditions and practices, it does not matter. Which ever religion we choose, Christianity, Islam, Hindu or Buddhism and any other, God will be there, despite having many names and impersonations. Essence of faith is one and as long as we are good and do good and believe we can reach as far as we want. The core of all religions is love, happiness, finding piece in yourself and share it with others as well as finding a balance of good and evil in yourself. Through all that reaching metaphysics of life and finding yourself in it. So be good and do good, in fact, there is no one else who understands love, sacrifice and giving a new life more than women.
If there is a question to whether God could be a woman or not, the answer is, absolutely yes!
If we look at the history of the human kind, women have not been cherished enough, further more, they very often have been put in a shadow of men, in one way or another, after all all the main religions of the world clearly point out a male impersonation for their God. Burning of the "witches" by Christians. Catholicism introduces the God to be of no sex, but, at the same time, paradoxically, puts a male as a head of the church ( Catholic pope), only men can be priests (unlike Protestants) and translates directly God's name (Jahve) as a male name and his only child as son of God, Jesus of Nazareth. Islam has God as a male and their profit is Jesus are again, males. Hinduism, considered one of the oldest religious and philosophical systems in the world " is a diverse system of thought with beliefs spanning monotheism, polytheism, panentheism, pantheism, monism, atheism, agnosticism, gnosticism (...), well, these are just few among other "isms" I found in description of this religion. In few words, its concept of God is pretty complex and depends upon each particular tradition and philosophy. (Ref.4)
Most Hindus believe that the "spirit or soul — the true "self" of every person, called the ātman — is eternal. (Ref.4) "The Ātman is a philosophical term used within Hinduism, especially in the Vedanta school to identify the soul whether in global sense (world's soul) or in individual sense (of a person own soul). It is one's true self (hence generally translated into English as 'Self') beyond identification with the phenomenal reality of worldly existence." (Ref.3) It is a religion that genuinely has numerous Gods and Goddesses but the story does not end here. Being a predominant religion of India (80% of the people in India are Hindus, Ref.6), and playing a central role in the lives of most Indians.(Ref.6)
" There are very few texts specifically dealing with the role of women; an important exception is the strIdharmapaddhati of Tryambakayajvan, an official at Thanjavur around c.1730. The text compiles strictures on womanly behaviour dating back to the Apastamba sutra (c. 4th c. BCE).The opening verse goes:
'mukhyo dharmaH smr^tiShu vihito bhartr^shushruShANam hi' :
the primary duty of women is enjoined to be service to one's husband where the term shushruShA (lit. "desire to hear") covers a range of meanings from the devotee's homage to god, or the obsequious service of a slave." (Ref. 7)
Further on, the same source on Wikipedia describes what seems to be a very interesting change in history. "In Ancient India, scholars believe that in ancient India, the women enjoyed equal status with men in all fields of life. However, some others hold contrasting views. Works by ancient Indian grammarians such as Patanjali and Katyayana suggest that women were educated in the early Vedic period[ Rigvedic verses suggest that the women married at a mature age and were probably free to select their husband. Scriptures such as Rig Veda and Upanishads mention several women sages and seers, notably Gargi and Maitreyi. Some kingdoms in the ancient India had traditions such as nagarvadhu ("bride of the city"). Women competed to win the coveted title of the nagarvadhu. Amrapali is the most famous example of a nagarvadhu. According to studies, women enjoyed equal status and rights during the early Vedic period. However, later (approximately 500 B.C.), the status of women began to decline with the Smritis (esp. Manusmriti) and with the Islamic invasion of Babur and the Mughal empire and later Christianity curtailing women's freedom and rights. Although reformatory movements such as Jainism allowed women to be admitted to the religious order, by and large, the women in India faced confinement and restrictions. The practice of child marriages is believed to have started from around sixth century. (Ref.7) Arranged marriages are still existent in countries like India, Pakistan or Bangladesh till these days, some sources like Asian Tribune, describe that 'Child marriages persist in rural India', which was a headline from an online news article. (Ref.8) In this article, the author states clearly that his stories "illustrate the crime of child marriage. Although illegal, the practice of child marriage is widespread and accepted by the majority of Indian society, especially in the many rural areas of the country" and that was an article from 2006. Further more, another news article with the headline "India child marriages flout law" (Ref.9), from BBC newsnight website from 8th June 2006 talks about " Hundreds of mass weddings, with children as young as four, take place across India every May despite the practice being outlawed." (Ref.9) That was four years ago, in an article from 2010 from Visbo online magazine I read that "many girls in India get married when they are still kids. Children marriages are banned in this country, but they still happen. Government survey in 2006 reported that 45 % of Indian girls were married being younger than 18 years old. Local police raids child marriage ceremonies when it gets a chance because young girls who are forced to marry boys or old men are often at risk of violence and sexual abuse." (Ref. 10)
Taken all the sources I found were stating the truth, practicing of arrange marriages from the country of Hindu religion is against women's equal rights. After this analysis I dare to conclude that even though Hindu has numerous Gods and Goddesses, its society that religion is an important part of their lives women are not treated equally to men.
In conclusion, all the main religions of the world Christianity, Catholicism, Hindu and Islam some directly or indirectly through traditions or habits of the society or even whole nations were in favour for men rather than women, despite the fact that God or great philosophy had ever been, or should ever be in favour of men or women, equality, fairness, honesty, mutual respect and love should be how human beings should be treated with.
There is a very simple and straight conclusion out of my analysis, if there had been any inaccuracies involved about unequal rights or treating of women it would purely be males ego and need to rule and have power over women, making it a very negative reason to satisfy a males ego.
In these circumstances it is obvious that men would refuse the thought of a God to be a female. Having a thought of a God as a female and women being the ones capable of starting a new life, the ones that carry a new life in them for nine months, sacrificing their well being and sometimes life to start a new one... well all that fits perfectly to a image of the creator. Someone that knows a miracle of giving a new life best is a woman, without women there would be no life, without any female beings there would be no new life. And that is a power that men could never have so the fact that the God could actually be a Goddess in main religions of the world would be very well hidden by men as in that case it would give women even more power and prestige than to men.
References:
1. 'I sat by the river Piedra and I cried' by Paulo Coelho (inspiration for this article and research)
2. Official website of Paulo Coelho: http://www.paulocoelho.com.br/engl/bio.shtml
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atman_(Hinduism)
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism#Concept_of_God
5. http://www.sanatansociety.org/hindu_gods_and_goddesses.htm
6. http://www.saigan.com/heritage/gods/gods.htm
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India
8. Asian Tribune, http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/1763
9. BBC News Online, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/5058840.stm
10. Visbo onlne magazine, http://visboo.com/child-marriages-in-india.html
11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine
12. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine#Hebrew_Bible.2FOld_Testament_period
13. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation
14. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernadette_Soubirous
If you found shocking what you read above, or at least intriguing or even inspiring for some, this is the book that uncovers another face of God. Paulo Coelho is one of the greatest writers of all. Born in 1947 in Brazil began his writing career from writing texts for songs and worked as a journalist. In age of 38 he fulfilled his dream of becoming a world wide respected writer. His first novel Alchemic made him one of the most popular contemporary writers, his books have been translated into 66 different languages across 150 countries. Paulo is a columnist is most readable magazines across the world, he is ' not only one of the most widely read, but also one of the most influential authors writing today.' (Ref.2) He is an adviser for UNESCO, works for ONZ and since 2002 he has become a member a Brazilian Academy of Literature.
If all that doesn't inspire you to look into his creativity, simply read through this article to find out how a trainee journalist from the University of Winchester reads through the following books of Paulo Coelho trying to explore spiritual pathways of life. Paulo found his fascination with the spiritual quest back from his hippie days, when he travelled the world learning about secret societies, oriental religions, etc. Reading his books can be a beginning to every one's 'spiritual quest' as the truth is always where where the faith is.
In his book, I sat by the river Piedra and I cried, Coelho writes that before Christianity overtaken the world Celts ruled it and in Celts culture Goddess was the highest power. People cherished women, loved them and admired as impersonation of God.
Every time a man with honest heart follows faith, will find God, and even be capable of making miracles. No matter what religion, as there is no right or wrong one. Since core of every religion is perfecting yourself and finding a piece with yourself and others, and being good to others and through that connecting to God, finding God.
Knowledge is not enough we have to search through deeper and go into spheres that are further under the layers of metaphysical to find ourselves.
Choice of faith, well, which ever one we decide to go into deeper and discover its traditions and practices, it does not matter. Which ever religion we choose, Christianity, Islam, Hindu or Buddhism and any other, God will be there, despite having many names and impersonations. Essence of faith is one and as long as we are good and do good and believe we can reach as far as we want. The core of all religions is love, happiness, finding piece in yourself and share it with others as well as finding a balance of good and evil in yourself. Through all that reaching metaphysics of life and finding yourself in it. So be good and do good, in fact, there is no one else who understands love, sacrifice and giving a new life more than women.
If there is a question to whether God could be a woman or not, the answer is, absolutely yes!
If we look at the history of the human kind, women have not been cherished enough, further more, they very often have been put in a shadow of men, in one way or another, after all all the main religions of the world clearly point out a male impersonation for their God. Burning of the "witches" by Christians. Catholicism introduces the God to be of no sex, but, at the same time, paradoxically, puts a male as a head of the church ( Catholic pope), only men can be priests (unlike Protestants) and translates directly God's name (Jahve) as a male name and his only child as son of God, Jesus of Nazareth. Islam has God as a male and their profit is Jesus are again, males. Hinduism, considered one of the oldest religious and philosophical systems in the world " is a diverse system of thought with beliefs spanning monotheism, polytheism, panentheism, pantheism, monism, atheism, agnosticism, gnosticism (...), well, these are just few among other "isms" I found in description of this religion. In few words, its concept of God is pretty complex and depends upon each particular tradition and philosophy. (Ref.4)
Most Hindus believe that the "spirit or soul — the true "self" of every person, called the ātman — is eternal. (Ref.4) "The Ātman is a philosophical term used within Hinduism, especially in the Vedanta school to identify the soul whether in global sense (world's soul) or in individual sense (of a person own soul). It is one's true self (hence generally translated into English as 'Self') beyond identification with the phenomenal reality of worldly existence." (Ref.3) It is a religion that genuinely has numerous Gods and Goddesses but the story does not end here. Being a predominant religion of India (80% of the people in India are Hindus, Ref.6), and playing a central role in the lives of most Indians.(Ref.6)
" There are very few texts specifically dealing with the role of women; an important exception is the strIdharmapaddhati of Tryambakayajvan, an official at Thanjavur around c.1730. The text compiles strictures on womanly behaviour dating back to the Apastamba sutra (c. 4th c. BCE).The opening verse goes:
'mukhyo dharmaH smr^tiShu vihito bhartr^shushruShANam hi' :
the primary duty of women is enjoined to be service to one's husband where the term shushruShA (lit. "desire to hear") covers a range of meanings from the devotee's homage to god, or the obsequious service of a slave." (Ref. 7)
Further on, the same source on Wikipedia describes what seems to be a very interesting change in history. "In Ancient India, scholars believe that in ancient India, the women enjoyed equal status with men in all fields of life. However, some others hold contrasting views. Works by ancient Indian grammarians such as Patanjali and Katyayana suggest that women were educated in the early Vedic period[ Rigvedic verses suggest that the women married at a mature age and were probably free to select their husband. Scriptures such as Rig Veda and Upanishads mention several women sages and seers, notably Gargi and Maitreyi. Some kingdoms in the ancient India had traditions such as nagarvadhu ("bride of the city"). Women competed to win the coveted title of the nagarvadhu. Amrapali is the most famous example of a nagarvadhu. According to studies, women enjoyed equal status and rights during the early Vedic period. However, later (approximately 500 B.C.), the status of women began to decline with the Smritis (esp. Manusmriti) and with the Islamic invasion of Babur and the Mughal empire and later Christianity curtailing women's freedom and rights. Although reformatory movements such as Jainism allowed women to be admitted to the religious order, by and large, the women in India faced confinement and restrictions. The practice of child marriages is believed to have started from around sixth century. (Ref.7) Arranged marriages are still existent in countries like India, Pakistan or Bangladesh till these days, some sources like Asian Tribune, describe that 'Child marriages persist in rural India', which was a headline from an online news article. (Ref.8) In this article, the author states clearly that his stories "illustrate the crime of child marriage. Although illegal, the practice of child marriage is widespread and accepted by the majority of Indian society, especially in the many rural areas of the country" and that was an article from 2006. Further more, another news article with the headline "India child marriages flout law" (Ref.9), from BBC newsnight website from 8th June 2006 talks about " Hundreds of mass weddings, with children as young as four, take place across India every May despite the practice being outlawed." (Ref.9) That was four years ago, in an article from 2010 from Visbo online magazine I read that "many girls in India get married when they are still kids. Children marriages are banned in this country, but they still happen. Government survey in 2006 reported that 45 % of Indian girls were married being younger than 18 years old. Local police raids child marriage ceremonies when it gets a chance because young girls who are forced to marry boys or old men are often at risk of violence and sexual abuse." (Ref. 10)
Taken all the sources I found were stating the truth, practicing of arrange marriages from the country of Hindu religion is against women's equal rights. After this analysis I dare to conclude that even though Hindu has numerous Gods and Goddesses, its society that religion is an important part of their lives women are not treated equally to men.
In conclusion, all the main religions of the world Christianity, Catholicism, Hindu and Islam some directly or indirectly through traditions or habits of the society or even whole nations were in favour for men rather than women, despite the fact that God or great philosophy had ever been, or should ever be in favour of men or women, equality, fairness, honesty, mutual respect and love should be how human beings should be treated with.
There is a very simple and straight conclusion out of my analysis, if there had been any inaccuracies involved about unequal rights or treating of women it would purely be males ego and need to rule and have power over women, making it a very negative reason to satisfy a males ego.
In these circumstances it is obvious that men would refuse the thought of a God to be a female. Having a thought of a God as a female and women being the ones capable of starting a new life, the ones that carry a new life in them for nine months, sacrificing their well being and sometimes life to start a new one... well all that fits perfectly to a image of the creator. Someone that knows a miracle of giving a new life best is a woman, without women there would be no life, without any female beings there would be no new life. And that is a power that men could never have so the fact that the God could actually be a Goddess in main religions of the world would be very well hidden by men as in that case it would give women even more power and prestige than to men.
References:
1. 'I sat by the river Piedra and I cried' by Paulo Coelho (inspiration for this article and research)
2. Official website of Paulo Coelho: http://www.paulocoelho.com.br/engl/bio.shtml
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atman_(Hinduism)
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism#Concept_of_God
5. http://www.sanatansociety.org/hindu_gods_and_goddesses.htm
6. http://www.saigan.com/heritage/gods/gods.htm
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India
8. Asian Tribune, http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/1763
9. BBC News Online, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/5058840.stm
10. Visbo onlne magazine, http://visboo.com/child-marriages-in-india.html
11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine
12. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine#Hebrew_Bible.2FOld_Testament_period
13. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation
14. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernadette_Soubirous
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