How Owen Meany is Directly Compared to Jesus Christ
Throughout the novel “a prayer for Owen Meany,” by John Irving, the main character is portrayed as a very religious martyr. In the Christian faith Jesus Christ is a martyr as well. Although there are many differences between the life of Jesus, as depicted in the bible and Owen Meany, there are many similarities as well, so many in fact, that the reader is forced to ponder if these similarities are intentional.
Jesus Christ was a miracle birth: he was born from a virgin.
“The virgin will be with child and she will give birth to a son” - Matthew 1:23
To be born from virgin makes the child blessed because the mother is then untouched and pure. Owen Meany was also born from a virgin.
“’You’re saying Owen Meany was a virgin birth?’ I asked Mr. Meany; he wouldn’t look at me, but he nodded vigorously.
‘She was a virgin-yes!’ he said”
According to the bible if a women is with child, but is also untouched, then the child is a son of God. It was a miracle that Mary became impregnated with Jesus; it was a miracle that Mrs. Meany became impregnated with Owen. Both children are thus marked, and become a tool of God.
In Matthew 16:21 to Matthew 16:28 Jesus predicts his own death. God allows Jesus to see how he is going to die and why he is going to die in order that Jesus knew how he would fulfil the will of God. Owen was similarly informed of his death, ironically at about the same age as Jesus (betwe...
One reason Finny is an archetypal Jesus is because Finny preaches his ideas to his peers. For example, Finny invents a game called blitzball after being disappointed by other sports. “Blitzball was the surprise of the summer. Everybody played it…” (39). The rules of blitzball were completely improvised by Finny. He was able to create a game with no losers and everyone is a winner. There is really no end to it and Finny is able to teach the people playing the game that, “You always win at sports.” (35). Additionally, Finny plans the Winter Carnival. He plans the first Devon Winter Carnival and his peers listen to him and help him set it up. He inspires a new event and since it was Finny’s idea, everyone follows his instructions and helps him. Finny is the only person who would be a...
Thomas C. Foster in his work How to Read Literature Like a Professor argues that even though characters may display evil characteristics, their religious values overpower and express “themselves in connection with the [character’s] role within society” (Foster 125). Literary characters may display some of the same characteristics as Christ while accomplishing actions with “redemption, hope, or miracle” (132). Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby symbolically resembles a Christ figure—sacrificing himself to save Daisy from the law, outstretching his arms towards hope, and coming to West Egg to retrieve Daisy’s unworthy world.
He is likened to a mother in labor giving birth in the new creation. This is the truest expression of “maternal love” found in the Passion. Julian invokes a Marian theology through her depiction of Christ as mother. Mary is Jesus’ mother yet Christ gives birth to all as he enables the Kingdom of God to give birth in the world through the action of the church.
In The Meaning of Jesus N.T. Wright and Marcus Borg present different views on issues relating to how Jesus is viewed. While Borg and Wright do agree on central ideals of Christianity, Borg tends to have more liberal views, whereas Wright holds more conservative views.
It is also said that a boy has been given birth in one family and in
This justice recognizes the significance of community initiation and participation to reducing crime, instead of leaving the problem of dealing with crime to government alone. This justice measures success in a different way, where instead of measuring inflicted punishment, it measures the harm that has been prevented or repaired. These two benefits among others are important in improving the criminal justice system in the community with the participation of both the community and the justice system. In most cases, the justice system that comprises of law enforcement goes through the investigating process of a crime without the assistance of the community. This makes it difficult for law enforcement to bring perpetrators of crime to justice. Therefore, with community involvement, the law enforcement can interactively engage with the community in policing the community and brining criminals to
An overview of the Orwellian world of 1984 will give some context for comparison between what is happening in our world today, how it mirrors the situation in the novel, and the implications that it carries regarding what is happening within our society...
Even though many of Orwell’s ideas in his novel 1984 seemed completely fictional, several of the concepts throughout his book have a common link to today’s society. For instance in the same way telescreens monitor people every second of their li...
The relentless support of abortion is always contradicting the moral and good teachings of the Church. Through passed laws, pro-choice supporters have made it possible for many women to have abortions. In some countries, including the United States, there does not have to be a reason for a woman to have an abortion early in the pregnancy. The Supreme Court in the United States ruled that the fetus’s ability to live was between about twenty four weeks to twenty-six weeks (Glendon 22). These laws show that supporters of abortion do not believe that life begins at conception. This is contrary to the teachings of the Church. “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5). God knew us before we were conceived. He made us accord...
Kerby Anderson’s “A Biblical View of Abortion,” shows the aspect of abortion from the point of view of the Holy Bible. Anderson says that no where in the Bible does it actually say that abortion is wrong, just only that it was the unthinkable. It was said that children were viewed as a gift or heritage from the Lord. Also the scriptures said that God was the one opens and closes the womb. And it was said to be a curse to be without a child. Anderson mentions that David has a relationship with God while he was developing and growing before birth. David was also seen as “God’s creative work within his mother’s womb” (Anderson). He also says that if a woman is to give birth and the baby dies, or is stillborn, then the law of relation is used. “A baby inside the womb is treated as a baby outside the womb” (Anderson). Anderson uses examples and passages from the Holy Bible to show evidence that the Bible is against abortion, and so is Anderson.
Ultimately, common ideas found in the novel 1984, totalitarianism, surveillance, and lack of privacy are also ubiquitous in modern society and government. Big Brother and modern day government have been able to control its citizens through surveillance equipment, and fear all for a little more power. There is much to learn from such an undesirable form of society much like the one of Oceania in 1984. Examining Big Brother government closely, alarming connections can be made to real-world government actions in the United States and the cruel world within Orwell's book.
As the saying goes “health is wealth”, a good health is as primary a need in human life as food, clothing, and shelter. Exercise plays a key role in achieving a good health. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, exercise can be defined as the “physical activity that is done in order to become stronger and healthier”. Scott Roeben, a humorist and creator of the award-winning humor Web site, Dribbleglass.com.Scott, in his article “The Case Against Exercise” states that the claim that exercise is a good and positive thing is a ludicrous claim and is the most destructive rumor among the rumors spread upon the humankind. He believes that exercise causes human suffering rather than promoting better health and a longer life and that the hazards
... mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:13). Both of these verses talk about God creating the baby and watching over him even before he was born. The Bible clearly views the unborn as a person. Genesis 25:21-22 says, "Rebekah became pregnant. The babies struggled together in her womb." (Genesis 25:21-22). Luke 1:41 says, "When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb…" (Luke 1:41). Both of these verses clearly view the unborn as a person; neither verse refers to the unborn as anything except a baby. Psalm 51:5 says, "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." (Psalm 51:5). This says that a child is sinful from the time of conception, but how can something that is not yet a person be sinful? Abortion breaks one of the simplest, moral standards: "You shall not murder."
It is common knowledge that exercise is one of the best ways to stay healthy. Regular exercise has many effects that benefit the human body. But how much exercise is needed to see improvements? The Center for Disease Control states, that according to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, two types of physical activity are needed to improve your health- aerobic and muscle-strengthening. The CDC recommends 150 minutes a week of moderately intense aerobic activity, like brisk walking, or 75 minutes a week of vigorously intense aerobic activity, like jogging or running along with two days a week spent doing muscle strengthening activity on the major muscle groups. Consistently following this recommended
Exercise is a major key when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. Although there are many different types of exercise as well as different types of intensity levels, depending on age, weight, gender, disease, etc., some types of exercise are better than others. Regardless of the type of workout, exercise helps control weight and certain health conditions and diseases. It also helps people be more positive and boost their energy.