Academic Articles

     China’s history has been long and varied throughout her existence.  From ancient times to modern, she has seen and made great strides both in her influence around the world, and amongst those of her own people.  China is the originator of inventions such as paper, printing, the compass, and gunpowder.  The Great Wall, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and the Yun Gang Grottoes are only a touch of the magnificent architectural structures that the Chinese have forged in her long history.  However, China has also experienced devastating times that have nearly destroyed it and its people.  From the feudal dynasties of the past to the failed and disastrous policies of the “Great Leap Forward”, China has seen and experienced times that were almost her undoing. In the midst of her roller coaster ride however, one thing has remained constant: the Sino-centrism of the Chinese people.     ...

     Often whenever I ask anyone if they believe in God or not, I usually get one of three answers: yes, no, or I don't know.  From those who say no, I usually get one of these three answers: I believe in science, I believe in mankind, or I believe in myself.  These answers, of course, get me to pondering.      Although not completely sure, I would venture to guess that when they say science, they don't just mean chemistry, biology, and such, but rather they also include such things as technology, math, discoveries, and so on that have made our lives better.  Therefore, in the next few sentences, when I say science, I will also include these other disciplines in my interpretation.      It is doubtful that anyone would contest the reality of science being an ameliorating part of our lives.  Without a doubt, it has made grade strides, especially in the last two centuries, in enriching our lives.  Science has not ...

         Undoubtedly everyone at some point in their life has posited the question “Who am I?” This, along with “Why am I here?”, “What is the purpose of life?”, and other seemingly transient questions, has been a query that has puzzled philosophers throughout the ages. Individuals and cultures alike have tried to render a verdict for the evidence that has been presented. Although the glut of answers that has been given throughout history has varied tremendously both in scope and nature, they can all be condensed into two basic viewpoints: atheistic and theistic. In the atheistic view, which tends to be the leaning of most modern philosophers, is that we are here, just like everything else - by accident.  Over the course of billions of years of evolution, humans, somewhere in the last few million years have developed a conscience – a self-realization.  What it is really, is anyone’s guess, but it somehow puts us a little...