ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
What Are Deacons? Was There A Special Office In The Early Church? Deacons are perhaps the most misunderstood officers in the Christian Church today. They came up as the people to rescue the mainstream ministers from the logistical and administrative strains of church operations. This office has had mixed fortunes throughout the life of the church. In some instances, it grew, while in others it simply disappeared from the leadership hierarchy of the church. This study aims at rediscovering the role and purpose of deacons in light of the institution and operations of this office in the early church. In particular, the paper seeks to answer the following questions: What are deacons? Was there a special office for them in the early church, and what are the major issues surrounding their existence in the Christian Church? The Deacons In Acts Without variance, scholars identify the book of Acts 6 as the first appearance of Christian deacons. Many scholars note that the bible does not use the word “deacon” in that passage. 1 Elsewhere in the same book, there are incidents of major significance to the early church that involved deacons. These incidents include the stoning of Stephen and the Baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch by Philip. They indicate that the deacons were not people who had a fixed responsibility but the church requested them to help alleviate specific issues affecting the church. They were ministers first, and officials second. There is need to examine each of these circumstances in some more detail to provide a proper background for this discussion. The need for deacons came about because of growth. The Christian community in Jerusalem grew in numbers because of the growing numbers of new believers. The church shared resources, starting with the neediest members. Grecian Jews (Hellenists) felt that their widows were not getting equal attention during the distribution of food. There are many reasons given for the differences ranging from conservative and liberal views of temple worship, to the influence of the Maccabean revolt, betraying greater tensions in the early church beyond those portrayed in the book of Acts. 2 The Greek speaking Jews could have felt that the Hebrew-speaking ones looked down on them. 3 This disquiet led to the apostles to intervene. The twelve stated, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables” (Acts 6:2, NIV). This may mean that there was a problem with the administration of the phys
Brief History Alcoholism is considered a diseased condition mainly because of excessive consumption of intoxicating beverages. Psychiatrists utilize at least three criteria in diagnosing alcoholism in individuals. American Psychological Association suggests that identification of physiological problems, including hand tremors and the experiencing of blackouts among individuals, is one of the ways of diagnosing alcoholism. Another way of establishing whether an individual is an alcoholic is to find out whether he or she has psychological problems, such as an obsession with intoxicating beverages. This is considered a serious condition, which proves that an individual is addicted to alcohol. Finally, an alcoholic individual has some behavioral problems, which tend to interfere with his or her normal functioning in society. Such an individual would always have conflicts with other family members, as well as colleagues in the place of work. History shows that alcoholism is not associated with a specific age, but, instead, all ages are represented. This is a challenge to many families since some of them fail to control their members against acting in a manner that would be dangerous to others. In the United States, history shows that alcoholism is rampant in all ethnic groups (Richter & Richter, 2001). Additionally, it does not discriminate against people based on income, meaning that it is a problem for both the poor and the rich. In this case, poor and rich families indeed face this issue. Recent studies suggest that extremely learned individuals are affected more by alcoholism as opposed to unskilled individuals. Individuals with no inspiration would not engage in alcoholism as compared to extremely encouraged persons. Some studies term alcoholism as a family disease. In this regard, alcoholics could be adults, teenagers, youth, husbands, or even wives. In extreme cases, an alcoholic member of the family may disrupt life and make it unbearable for other family members. Many problems facing individuals and their families are attributed to alcoholism since it affects members in different ways. For instance, the drinking behavior of the mother could harm even the unborn child since alcohol affects the fetus. Studies show that the mother’s organs and tissues would contain alcoholic materials given the fact that they are transported through the blood. This implies that even the placenta would contain alcoholic materials (Rogers, McGee, Vann, Thompson, & Williams, 2003). The fetus obtains its food through the membrane that separates the maternal and fetal blood systems, which means that the child would be affected. A drinking mother may give birth to a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which is one of the birth defects. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome affects the weight and height of the child. Moreover, children might be born with mental problems and other defects on various body parts, such as the face and the lips. These defects affect the reasoning of the child, the learning ability,
Population, Health Behaviour and the Underlying Reasons The population selected for this task is indigenous Australian teenagers and the health behaviour being studied is the use of illicit substances. This population cohort is affected by illicit substance use disproportionately when compared to their non-indigenous counterparts. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) (2018), in 2016, 27 per cent of aboriginal Australians used illicit drugs, which was almost two times higher than the 15.3 per cent associated with non-indigenous Australians. The commonly used illicit drugs include marijuana (16.7 per cent) and non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs (11 per cent) (Graham & Clough 2018). Therefore, it is important to understand the underlying reasons that cause this population to use illicit substances. The reasons behind the widespread use of illicit substances among aboriginal Australians are many and complex. However, the common risk and causative factors of this behaviour include homelessness, effects of colonisation, dispossession, unemployment, poor living standards and departing from culturally meaningful practices. Other factors include boredom, family conflict, dependence on welfare and the lack of appropriate amenities and facilities. According to Vey (2018), there is a strong correlation between poverty and drug abuse, and this observation could be used to explain the disproportionate use of illicit substances among Aboriginal Australians. The majority of Aboriginal Australians are exposed to at least one of these predisposing factors, which makes them prone to the use of illicit substances. This assertion underscores why the majority of people in this population cohort are vulnerable to such kind of behaviour. However, despite the extensive use of illicit substances, some protective factors exist within communities of Aboriginal s in Australia. For instance, cultural support and growth play an important role in ensuring that people do not spend their time abusing drugs. Education is also a central protective factor as the number of Aboriginals’ children joining and remaining in school has been increasing over the last years (Baxter & Meyers 2019). After being educated, Aboriginals stand a good chance to secure employment opportunities, which alleviates poverty levels and curtails the probability of drug abuse based on the risk factors identified above. The behaviour of widespread use of illicit substances among indigenous Australians could be explained using the minority stress theory. Based on the context of this theory, victimisation, ex
Introduction There can be no doubt that computers present modern-day children with unprecedented opportunities to add fun and excitement, precision and accuracy, speed of comprehension, and comprehensiveness to their education. It is also common knowledge that computers, especially when connected to the internet, present distractions that could lead to the self-destruction of even adults, not to speak of young impressionable, sensitive, vulnerable children. Parents and teachers, however, sometimes forget the fact that the use of computers by children could lead to certain physical, emotional, and psycho-social problems. This paper surveys the ways in which computers can aid education, and, while taking note of the common dangers of computer use among children, arrives at the conclusion that computers, wisely used, under proper guidance, are more a boon than a bane to young minds that hunger and thirst for knowledge. Main body Computers are a fact of life in every area of modern life, and there is no wishing away their impact on the minds of children. In such a context, it would surely be foolish not to make use of computers in education. The enormous benefits of computer-aided education cannot be over-emphasized Most schools in the developed world use some kind of Information Communication Technology in their classrooms. Information Technology is also a core subject that is taught and tested in many schools. The infinite resources of the World Wide Web can be and are being used to great advantage in almost all schools. Most schools, moreover, have a system by which children can communicate with their teachers online, from home, or elsewhere. They can use the system to raise questions, clarify doubts, even submit assignments from remote locations; and it is an attested fact that most children, (if not all teachers) soon become enamored of this manner of learning and teaching. Children who have become used to the sight of computers at home are fascinated by them and most parents find that the computer is used as an educational tool by the children, even without their suggesting it. Once children get ‘the hang of’ a computer, they quickly become aware of the various uses they can put it to, and even learn for themselves what they need to do when the operating system ‘hangs’. Thus, one of the greatest advantages of the computer as a tool in education is the fact that it builds the child’s capacity to learn things independently. It is a well-known principle of pedagogy that the things that one learns on one’s own initiative serve to enhance both one’s core knowledge and to strengthen one’s capacity to increase it. As Richard Feynman tells the schoolteacher in his account of one of several adventures of a ‘curious character’: “You’ll have to go ask the girls—they understood what…it was right away” (Feynman 1992, p. 44). Some children, however, may perhaps need to be guided to appreciate the vast educational possibilities of the computer. Such children may need to be introduced to the techniques of creating and editing word documents or spreadsheets; they may need to watch someone else at work before creating a drawing using the “
Introduction Social theory explains the effect of social relationships on the social and economic institutions in the society. Many social theorists, classical, and neoclassical theorists have focused this field (Granovetter 481). The interaction between different structures of the society is becoming intense with most of the structures depending on others. In modern market economies, interaction between social and economic structures is narrowed to individual influences in each system or structure. The growth of the society has resulted in the need for the opening of economics, and this is known as economic liberalization. The liberalization of economies and the development of competitive markets cause many questions concerning the embeddedness of political, social, and economic structures in society. Competitive market economies are controlled by generative market force. These forces are demand and supply. These market forces continue to take shape in the society, and this causes questions on whether political and social structures still have a strong force in the working of free and competitive markets. This forms the main topic of this research. The topic of research is assessing the role and impact of social and political structures in the working of modern liberal markets. The research problem This research seeks to ascertain the level of interplay and contribution of political structures in shaping the working of modern economies. The topic of the research has been motivated by the continued argument on the embeddedness of political, economic, and social structures. With considerable demand and direction towards completely liberalized economies, the level of embeddedness of these structures seems to decline. However, many researchers still hold to the view that these structures are embedded. They fail to produce real findings indicating that the structures are still embedded as argued by classical theorists and now neoclassical theorists. Another aspect that warrants the attention of researchers is the impacts of detachment of one structural function from the working of another structure. A good example can be the elimination of political structures in respect to the working of economies. The difficult question that is posed to social theorists regarding this subject is the establishment of the most important structure that carries all the others. Does a social structure prevail within the larger economic structure or is the vice versa true? Many economic theorists continue to argue for the essence of political influence on the working of economies. They base their argument on a number of economic crises that have occurred and the role that political structures have played in remedying such situations. This seems to be a logical ar
To achieve and maintain the well-being of society, health systems are fundamental and are critical drivers of development and economic growth. The health sector consumes significant amounts of resources and generates massive flows of emissions and waste (Ghersin et al., 2020). It leads to wastewater, hazardous and general waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and high consumption of resources: water and energy. There is a problem of direct and indirect impact on the environment. The environment, characterized by polluted air, dirty running water, and holes in the ozone layer, influences the social determinants of human health, including quality of life and risks. It can be addressed through compliance with the growing requirements of regulatory documents and new progressive strategies that contribute to a greener healthcare industry. Currently, the world is moving toward environmentally-conscious practices in various fields, including healthcare. LEED certification is a significant indicator that a building has been designed and built “using sustainable strategies;” all the following medical organizations have this certification. (Shkolnik, 2021, p. 2) By adhering to such requirements, healthcare institutions can improve many processes towards a greener future associated with the unique challenges of this industry. So, the facility is fully electric in Kiowa County Memorial Hospital, while just under a third of its interior is made from recycled materials (Kiowa County Memorial Hospital, 2021). The attention is paid to the use of natural light, allowing three-quarters of the hospital’s interior to be illuminated naturally. Meanwhile, efficient management of lighting and office equipment and a “heat recovery system” further enhance the hospital’s green credentials. (Chih-Lin et al., 2020) Water use also addresses environmental concerns: filtration processes cut wastewater in half. Transforming the Robert M. Mueller Municipal Airport in Austin led to the creation of one of America’s most advanced green hospitals, Dell Children’s Medical Center in Central Texas. LEED Platinum-certified innovative complex is designed to treat children and take care of the environment (Dell Children’s Medical Center in Central Texas, 2021). The property’s many green features include environmentally friendly interior paints and adhesives, an irrigation system to collect rainwater, efficient toilets and lighting, and a white roof reflecting sunlight to keep the property naturally cool. The hospital even captures steam from the plant and uses it as chilled water. What is more, the vibrant Children’s hospital of Pittsburgh boasts an array of eco-friendly elements. These include excellent public transportation, “water-efficient landscaping,” improved parking for car owners, and recycled water and materials. (Children’s hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMS, 2021) Achieved two LEED certifications; the hospital is paperless, with all patient records, test results, and other data entered and stored electronically. The technolog
Introduction The militarization of U.S. foreign policy is an ongoing debate among researchers, politicians, and citizens. Some of the debate participants name the invasion of Iraq, the First Gulf War, and the war in Afghanistan as evidence that U.S. foreign policy relies significantly on a so-called “creeping invasion” that is supported by policies and decisions of officials and congressional representatives. Others, however, believe that the Pentagon is the major influence on the creeping invasion. The importance of the topic is in the inevitable impact of the rising power of the military on the USA, its image in the press, perception by other state leaders, and influence on American citizens. The current approach of the USA to foreign policy is called the 3D approach: defense, diplomacy, and development. Although it does emphasize the importance of diplomacy, the first word, “defense,” characterizes the perception of the foreign policy as a tool for regulating defense depending on the military’s needs and aims. To understand the processes that affect and govern U.S. foreign policy, one needs to examine recent and past military events more closely. The gradual growth in responsibilities and funding of the military, the seeming need for the development of defense forces due to terrorism, and the rising number of humanitarian support missions that are led by the military indicate the high level of involvement of the Department of Defense into the U.S. foreign policy. U.S. Foreign Policy and Militarization To understand how the militarization of the U.S. foreign policy became possible, it is necessary to see what historical events shaped it. In the 1950s, the United States was aiming to support global containment in order to stop communism from rising in other countries. The American military involvement in the Korean War was necessary to prevent any control from communist North Korea over democratic South Korea. i The war ended in 1953, but American troops are still posted on South Korea’s border with North Korea. The war in Vietnam started due to the U.S. concept of containment as well, but as it did not end in victory, American citizens expressed disappointment in the American military, and the State briefly refrained from involving in major conflicts due to “the Vietnam syndrome.” However, this reluctance to use military power did not last long. ii One of the most prominent examples of military involvement in U.S. foreign policy is the Cold War. The strategy of deterrence (persuading the rival state that the costs of an attack would be too high and outweigh any benefits) was actively used during the time of the nuclear arms race between the USA and the USSR. As direct conflict could potentially result in nuclear catastrophe, both superpowers used other states in Asia, Africa, and Latin America as locations for battle. In 1987, U.S. and USSR state leaders Reagan and Gorbachev signed the Intermediate Nuclear Forces treaty that paved the path for further elimination of nuclear missiles in both states. iii In 1991, the USSR ceased to exist, and the USA had to reconsider the role of its military power in the
On the morning of January 22, 2021, Georgi Hristov Pantchev, from West Los Angeles, was arrested on charges of stalking and threatening two female doctors. He daily distributed photos (of a sexual explicit) of his victims, which contained racist statements, as well as encouraged people to kill these women. According to the Department of Justice (2021), Pantchev was charged in 2014 and served time in prison, after which he was released on parole and was banned from visiting the clinic where the victims worked. After his release, the man violated the conditions of release and repeatedly came to the clinic. He is scheduled for a retrial, during which a decision will be made on a new term in prison. The women victims filed a complaint against Pantchev, which contains all the materials and examples in his case about threats, distribution of photos, and stalking. They tried to avoid contact with Pantchev due to feeling threatened. Despite the ban on visiting the medical facility where the victims worked, after his release, he appeared there again, and in one of the visits, he was arrested after beating a police officer. Since the criminal posed a serious threat, the best solution for women would be to change their place of work. Importantly, they should take decisive measures for their safety to avoid encountering a criminal who has repeatedly threatened them. To avoid a sudden attack, it is also necessary to means of self-defense, such as gas sprays. This tool would not cause serious harm to his health and would help them escape or give him time to call the police. In conclusion, it should be noted that no matter what prison sentence Panchev received, the lives of these women still can not be completely safe. To avoid a repeated attack, they must take drastic measures to ensure their safety. In the meantime, the women will have to attend the court sessions, as they have previously done, at which the decision on the criminal will be made. Reference Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office (2021). West L.A. man arrested in Federal stalking case alleging longtime harassment of female doctors at VA medical facilities . Web.