History Western Civilization: Lesson 110 Essay – (1) ” What was the Great Schism? What factors brought it on?” (2) “What are the sacraments?” (3) ” What is an indulgence?”

It was a religious division in the Christian community between the Catholics in the west and Orthodox in the east. The Catholics accepted the authority of the pope and the Orthodox did not. The year the formal split occurred was in 1054, but there were multiple disputes growing before the grand split. One primary reason for the split was that Rome claimed to have the most authority and jurisdictive powers in the Christian community on earth because Peter had died in Rome. Rome claimed Peter had passed the “keys” to the “kingdom” to people in Rome giving them authority. The Church in Constantinople claimed it was more influential, rich, populated, and powerful so it should have authority at least equal to Rome. Some more problems were the language barrier, practices, and customs.

The sacraments are sensible signs of God’s invisible grace. The sacraments were either visible, audible, or physical. God’s grace was His life and love flowing into the soul. A good example of a sacrament is baptism. When we are baptized we can’t see, hear, or physically feel God’s grace moving into us, but we can see the water.

An indulgence was a gift from the church to someone who had done a good act. If you sinned and did a good deed the church could partially or fully remove your temporal punishment on earth. This was an indulgence.

English 2 Western Literature: Lesson 110 Essay – “Compare Paul’s concept of God’s sovereignty in Romans 9:1-23 with Justin’s concept of God’s sovereignty in Chapter XLIII: RESPONSIBILITY ASSERTED.”

Paul thought that God’s sovereignty meant He controls all of our destinies. Justin thought that God knew our futures, but He could not make our decisions for us. Justin disagreed with Paul because if God controlled our fates and decisions then we could not be responsible for our actions.

Justin thought that mankind was sovereign in our decision making. This means we have the ability to make our own decisions. Justin thought that if we could not make our own decisions then no decision could be good or bad. Justin said God had control over things that we could not control. Justin also thought that we could make our own decisions that are influenced by either God or Satan. Justin said that if we could not make our own decisions then nothing would be in our control. This meant that we could not be responsible for our actions. This also meant that our lives would already be planned our and we would be living more like animals. Justin said that this meant people would not be rewarded or punished for their actions since they weren’t choosing what to do. Justin also pointed out that God would not create people just to force them to do bad things. It is obvious to see that God gave us choice in Genesis. God wanted Adam and Eve to stay loyal to Him so if God could force us to make decisions He would have declined Satan so they could stay in the garden with Him. Justin also pointed out in Genesis that God made man special. He made man different other forms of life because men can make their own choices. Justin said that this is how God wanted man to be. Justin said that if God made people’s futures then no person could be good or bad. People would not be relatively good or bad to each other or even in God’s eyes if He controlled people’s futures. Justin argued that for someone to have total control over your future then that person would have to make choices for you. Justin said that if God controlled our futures and decisions then we could not be worthy or unworthy because we didn’t choose. If we could not be judged by our decisions then we would all go to either heaven or hell. Justin argued that Jesus said we would have to choose to accept Him to go to heaven. Justin said that since Jesus only told the truth we should be able to choose. If we had no choice then we could be nothing more or less than what God made us to be. Justin did say that God was all knowing and that God would punish or reward men for their actions in the future. Justin also argued that God controlled things around us to try and shape our decisions, but God could not make our decisions for us. Justin argued that God sent Jesus to persuade us to live a good life.

Paul argued that God controlled our futures and decisions. Paul tried to argue that God sent Jesus because God would have to save some people through Jesus. Justin argued that God could not force people to accept Jesus only persuade them. Since God saw in the future that some people would accept, that is why He sent Jesus. I agree with Justin because his arguments make more sense and have better biblical support.

Biology: Lesson 110 Essay – “What is a chordate? How are vertebrates different from chordates?”

A chordate is an animal that is in between a vertebrate and invertebrate. The only thing that is different between a chordate and vertebrate is that the chordate lacks a backbone that a vertebrate has. A chordate is like an invertebrate except it has structures that resemble a back bone.

Chordates have a notochord in between the digestive tract and nerve cord. It is a long flexible rod that muscles can push against while the chordate swims. Chordates have a hollow dorsal nerve chord on their back. In embryos the nerve cord will develop into the brain and spinal cord. It starts as a rolled up tube. Chordates also have slits on their heads behind their mouths. In aquatic animals these slits can develop into gills and for land animals they can develop into ears. Chordates also have a muscular tail at some point during their life cycle (even as embryos). These tails can help propel the animal.

History Western Civilization: Lesson 105 Essay – (1) “What were the problems besetting the Church in the tenth and eleventh centuries? What was ‘moderate reform’?” (2) “Describe the events that took place during the conflict between Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV. What was at stake?” (3) “What was Christendom?”

Lay control was one problem facing the Church. Lay control was when the lord and sometimes knights would dictate monasteries and churches that were nearby or on their land. The lords would try to name abbots, priests, and bishops of the local churches and monasteries. This was bad because the lords would not have anything to do with the Church’s hierarchy. Rich aristocrats would jockey for the office of Pope, which was not good. An example of “moderate reform” was the papacy of Pope Leo IX. He obtained his position as Pope fair and square, he wanted others to do the same so he advocated against simony. Simony was when a person purchased a church office. He also advocated against clerical marriage. He tried to convince people to elect ethical church leaders. The reform was moderate because he still let lay men elect church officials he just told them to pick good ones. Radicals wanted church officials to elect other church officials, not lay men choosing church leaders.

The conflict between Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV was over who elects church officials. Gregory said anyone who wasn’t a church leader or cardinal should not be able to elect church leaders. Henry thought he should be able to choose since he was king. The office of Pope and other high church offices were at stake because Henry wanted to choose who was in charge and Gregory said other church officials should choose. Eventually Gregory was exiled, but he persuaded people which caused his side of the argument to take the winning seat. Also it is important to see that had the Church and State merged the single group would have been less fair to people and likely become corrupt. Without one party to limit the other the winning power would have control over all religious and political issues.

Christendom was the international society that was formed by the Christian community as a whole. This is why many church leaders would move across many countries to help spread the word or help other Christians in another country. Sanctions would also apply throughout the entire Christian community not just one particular church or monastery.

English 2 Western Literature: Lesson 105 Essay – “Compare the ethical behavior of Zeus with the ethical teaching of Jesus?”

There was a huge difference between the behavior of Zeus and Jesus’ teachings. Zeus did what ever he wanted to do without ethical restrictions. Jesus came partially because He needed to show humans the ethical way to live.

Some good examples of how unethical Zeus was were when he would go to earth and rape women because he wanted to. He would then lie to his wife that way he didn’t take lip. Jesus taught us to respect others and respect their opinions. Raping someone is not a form of showing respect. Jesus also advocated against using force on other people.

Another example of a difference between Jesus and Zeus was that Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus was very kind and healed many, some of them were underserving. Jesus showed us that we are all undeserving of His healing and forgiveness. Jesus still died for all of us and healed many people anyways. We do not see this type of behavior coming from Zeus. In most of the stories we see that Zeus was trying to please himself. I think that Zeus was primarily portrayed as a hedonist. He only cared about himself and pleasing himself. In the Greek stories Zeus never went out of his way to help other gods or humans. In most cases it seemed that Zeus would frequently act cruel and sharp towards others if it meant he would get what he wanted. Zeus would not go out of his way to be a butt hole, but in all the accounts I have read about him I never heard of him going out of his way to help others. On the other hand Jesus died for all of us and we were all undeserving of His sacrifice. Zeus thought he was superior to everyone else so he never considered going out of his way to help people weaker than him.

Another large difference we see is that Jesus was meant to set a good example on how we should treat others in life while Zeus was a terrible person to act like. You know that Zeus was a bad god when it was likely that more than half of the population made more ethical decisions than Zeus did. Most people would think that a god should be perfect like Jesus rather than a  powerful hedonist like Zeus.

Basically we see that Zeus had not ethical limitations on himself and that Jesus taught us to be humble and serve others. We see that Zeus was less ethical than most men and Jesus was perfect and free of sin. Zeus was selfish and a hedonist and Jesus taught us to serve others and control our desires that could lead to bad consequences.

English 2 Western Literature: Lesson 101 Essay – “How were adoption and inheritance related in Paul’s thought?”

Paul thought Jesus and God had selected people to be “adopted” before the world had been created. These people would “inherit” in the kingdom of heaven through God and Jesus’ grace.

Paul made the connection between “adoption” and “inheritance” by examining God’s grace. Paul thought some of us would be adopted because God had sent his only perfect son to die for us. Paul thought that our inheritance could be in Jesus’ coming kingdom because Jesus constantly stated said His kingdom was not of this earth. Paul made the connection that those who had faith in Jesus’ purpose would be adopted by him for what He did. He thought they would inherit eternal life with a clean slate in Jesus’ and God’s kingdom.

Paul thought God had “adopted” some of us before time so that we could live with Him and Jesus in holiness and be without blame. Paul thought that through Jesus’ sacrifice and grace as well as our faith and acceptance of Jesus’ love would lead to the “inheritance” in heaven. god chose us to be adopted and we have to show love and faith towards God and Jesus to get to the inheritance. Living happily forever with God, Jesus, and the Spirit was the inheritance.

Paul said adoption lead to inheritance. This meant that God’s and Jesus’ grace and sacrifices made the inheritance possible. If Jesus had not died no the cross then we would not be able to access the inheritance. The final stage of the adoption leading into the inheritance would be when God gathers all things that believe in Him, Jesus, and the Spirit together. The inheritance would begin as God’s plan of us living with Him, the Spirit, and Jesus come into effect.

Paul made it clear that the means of obtaining the inheritance were by trusting and believing that God sent Jesus to die for our salvation. Paul said that once we believe, we are sealed with the holy Spirit. Paul said the holy Spirit and our faith was our earnest of the inheritance. This meant the Spirit and faith were our down payment to the inheritance. Then the inheritance would be made whole when we are forgiven for our sins, made holy, and given eternal life to love our Christian family.

In conclusion God’s plan made the adoption possible so that the faithful could choose to inherit in the kingdom of heaven. God’s grace and plan gave us Jesus and salvation so that we could be adopted, then if we chose to be adopted we would enter His kingdom and have eternal life.

History Western Civilization: Lesson 100 Essay – (1) “Describe feudalism and manorialism.” (2) “What changes did William the Conqueror introduce in England?”

Manorialism was the relationship between the lord and the serf. During the Viking raids many people would want security so they would seek protection from local rich people in exchange for their labor. The serf would normally bind himself to some of the lord’s land and work on it. Since he would be working on the lord’s lands he would be protected from Vikings. Feudalism was when the lord would hire knights (vassals) to protect his land. The lord would normally give the vassal some of his land so that the vassal could afford to buy a horse, buy weapons, and train himself with these weapons. The vassal would also make an oath to protect the lord and his lands in case of an attack.

When William defeated Harold, the other guy trying to claim England as his, William took lots of land from the Anglo-Saxons and distributed the land to Normand nobles. William kept large portions of land for himself. William centralized the power of the monarchical structure even more, giving himself more power. William had a book that kept track of peoples property that way he could tax them heavily. William also said the Pope needed his approval before appointing people and making decrees in England.

Biology: Lesson 100 Essay – “How do the laws of chemistry and physics affect a plant’s ability to obtain and transport nutrients? Use facts and examples from the lessons readings or other sources.”

From a physics standpoint we see that water is adhesive and cohesive. This helps water and nutrients stick to the xylem and phloem as they move up these membranes. Since water is cohesive it helps the water stick to itself so that it wont split and fall as it moves up through the xylem and phloem. The pressure of the plasma membrane against the cell wall also helps push the nutrients up. The concentration of solutes and water molecules affect the speed and direction the water or nutrients in when traveling through the xylem and phloem. Physics is very important when explaining how water moves through plants.

Chemistry is also important when explaining how water moves through the xylem and phloem of a plant. Chemistry helps explain adhesion and cohesion with polarity. Water is polar because the valence electrons on H2O will hover around the oxygen more than the hydrogen. This gives the hydrogen a small positive charge and the oxygen a small negative charge. This polarity shows how water will stick to itself and other substances. Imagine the positive side of one water molecule sticking to the negative side of another water molecule. That is cohesion and polarity. In this case of water inside the xylem will stick to the xylem because the xylem will have a slight charge.