The Doctrine Of Original Sin - 1537 Words

Uncontestably, Augustine is the most prominent and influential church father, for the Western Church. As the last of the ancient Christian writers, his theology not only formulated medieval scholarship; conversely, Augustine considerably impacted the theology of the Protestant Reformation. Regarding original sin and hamartiology, Augustine is the fountainhead, for both Protestant and Roman Catholic’s; however, he was not the originator of the doctrine. Depicting humankind’s solidarity with Adam preceded the teaching of Augustine, but none discussed humanity’s willful complicity in Adam’s sin as vividly and thoroughly. Imperative to understanding the doctrine of original sin is establishing the distinction between evil and sin, being†¦show more content†¦Understanding the Backdrop Augustine’s initial theological formulation of original sin came as a response to the Manichaean movement, with whom he affiliated for nearly ten years. The Manichaean doctrine of evil was utterly unacceptable to Augustine, especially regarding their absolute dualism of Light and Darkness struggling against one another. Augustine denied the existence of two â€Å"eternally antagonistic principles,† and affirmed that all that exists must come from God. Augustine, writing against the Manichaeans, asserts, Bring before our minds good things however great, which it is fitting that we attribute to God as their author, and these having been eliminated let us see whether any nature will remain. All life both great and small, all power great and small, all safety great and small†¦all peace great and small, and whatever other like things may occur, especially such as are found throughout all things, whether spiritual or corporeal, every measure, every form, every order both great and small, are from the Lord God. Augustine considered everything existent as created by God, the author of life and thus, everything was established for good. Thus, evil is not an entity, nor is it nature; ratherShow MoreRelatedThe Doctrine Of Original Sin2199 Words   |  9 PagesINTRODUCTION The doctrine of original sin refers to in Christian doctrine, â€Å"the condition or state of sin in which each human is born; also the origin of this state.† It is often viewed as one of the most difficult parts of Christian theology. The idea that Adam’s sin was imputed to the whole human race and that we are personally implicated with Adam, is a good example of a doctrine that has generated a great deal of debate. Some theologians go as far as to view the doctrine of original sin as ‘offensive’Read MoreOriginal Sin1617 Words   |  7 PagesDoctrines are used as a foundation to Christian beliefs. They serve to many churches as fundamentals in the direction their members chose to live their lives. It is important to understand the historical backgrounds of the doctrines that pertain to ones particular beliefs. I will be discussing this very information for the doctrine of original sin. The doctrine of original sin mostly pertains to the Roman Catholic religion. I will be covering when, where, and why the doctrine was originated. OriginalRead MoreEssay on Original sin1612 Words   |  7 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Doctrines are used as a foundation to Christian beliefs. They serve to many churches as fundamentals in the direction their members chose to live their lives. It is important to understand the historical backgrounds of the doctrines that pertain to one’s partic ular beliefs. I will be discussing this very information for the doctrine of original sin. The doctrine of original sin mostly pertains to the Roman Catholic religion. I will be covering when, where, and why the doctrine was originatedRead MoreTaking a Look at the Original Sin1159 Words   |  5 PagesOriginal Sin In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth ex nihilo (out of nothing). After God created the earth he made â€Å"the adam† out of the dust of the earth and by breathing into his nostrils made the man living. Everything God created was Good, the man was also good but only with woman was man complete. God created woman from the rib of Adam. Both Adam and his partner Eve were both placed in the Garden of Eden where they were to live and eat from, everything in the Garden exceptRead MoreA Statement on Original Sin Essay593 Words   |  3 PagesA Statement on Original Sin First articulated by Augustine (A.D. 354–430), the doctrine of original sin holds that all of Adam’s descendants inherit the guilt of Adam’s sin and thus incur the punishment for Adam’s sin. Inheriting Adam’s guilt at birth, then, presumes one guilty before God at birth and destined for hell. This is the basis for the Catholic need for infant baptism, for the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception (that Mary herself was uniquely conceived free of Adam’s guilt), andRead MorePoverty And Poverty1081 Words   |  5 Pagesopinion of the poor. Famous authors and politicians during the time, like Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke, sparked an emergence of differing opinions from those commonly held prior to the revolution on the topics of human nature’s impact on poverty and original sin. In today’s day and age, this difference of opinion is still prevalent within mainstream society as people frequently stigmatize the poor for their class status. In order to fully comprehend present day issues within poverty, one must first examineRead MoreThe Sin Of The Original Sin961 Words   |  4 PagesWhen I think of the Original Sin, I think of the world’s first sin—the patriarchy and matriarchy sin. Today, the world consists of sinners begging the Lord for forgiveness—thanks to Adam and Eve. How different would the world be if Adam and Eve did not bit the forbidden fruit? Would such sin still exist today? â€Å"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness† (1 John 1:9 King James Version). It is important to keep in mind that no humanRead MoreAugustines Confessions Essays1099 Words   |  5 Pagesbaptized later. In 391 Augustine was appointed Bishop of Hippo. He is considered the greatest Church Father. He was a defender of the Catholic faith and wrote and developed many doctrines to combat the heresies of his day, including his most famous rejection of the Pelagian doctrine. Pelagianism denied original sin and affirmed the ability of human beings to be righteous by the exercise of free will. â€Å"Augustine insisted on the fallen nature of man and the need for salvation by divine grace. (592)† Read MoreWhat is the Meaning of Being Human?849 Words   |  3 Pagesand outlining their similarities and differences on what these two philosophers feel is the meaning of being human. Saint Augustines Doctrine of Original Sin and Immanuel Kants Categorical Imperative are two separate methods for taking a gander at evil. Both philosophers’ theories are different to a certain extent, Kant actually chooses to reject Augustines Doctrine totally however there are still a few likenesses between the two. Where Augustine believes that humankind is evil in light of the issuesRead MoreAnalysis: Edward Taylors Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children, and Upon A Wasp Chilled With Cold1153 Words   |  5 Pagesand joyous grace, you cannot have spiritual salvation while living on Earth. In other words, in order to make it in this earthly life, you need salvation from God in order to be freed from wrath of God and the consequences of sin. Taylor’s beliefs originate from the doctrines of Puritanism that were taught upon him as a child. He seems to believe that without spiritual salvation, you are unable to live a blissful life. Without God’s concrete support, on e cannot thrive or maximize their potential in

Mrs Birling free essay sample

Mrs Birling is one of the principle characters in An inspector calls – she is used to portray the idealistic views held by the upper-class at the time. Mrs Birling is presented by Priestly as the body of Capitalism – by portraying her in a negative light allows the reader to draw assumptions between the negative characteristics portrayed by Mrs Birling and the negative aspects of a capitalist society, which is what Priestly intended to do. Our first impressions of Mrs Birling come from the following quote used to describe her, A rather cold woman, the use of the word cold suggests a lack of emotion – of substance there, which is strange considering her life is initially put across to the reader as a vision of perfection full of desert plates and champagne glasses, This immediately sets the tone for the rest of the play as here as Priestly suggests here that some people fail to see what is directly in front of them – Mrs Birling is so focused on conforming to her stereotypical upper-class title that she doesnt appreciate the riches that she already has. The notion of maintaining a certain image is developed further by Priestly when we see Mrs Birlings embarrassment when her husband complements the cook, Arthur, youre not supposed to say such things-’ Her life is governed by her notion of correctness – as soon as someone behaves in a way which does not live up to their social expectations in society – she reprimands them. This expresses her narrow-mindedness as there is no flexibility here to step out of this stereotype – Priestly does this to portray the idea that in a capitalist society you are in a sense trapped as there is no escaping these idealistic views thrust upon you from a very early stage which also implies that Mrs Birling is a product of her capitalist upbringing. This introduces Ouspenkys theory to the play which suggests that after death we will re-enter our lives in a continuous cycle of the same events from birth which will continue until a significant change is made – then the cycle will stop as allow you to escape from the repetitions. Priestley uses this to represent Mr and Mrs Birling as here he states that they are continually going around in this cycle as they are incapable of making a significant change to break this cycle – which also portrays a key theme represented in the play of the notion of change which is un-welcomed by the older generations. However this could also interpret that this cycle will continue for generations to come – as these same capitalist views will be carried on by Sheila and Gerald. This idea of cyclic events could have also been used by Priestley to convey a sense of repetition of the same mistakes being made in society at the time. As the play develops Mrs Birling insists on criticising the speech of others which is shown by her disapproval towards Sheila in using the word squiffy – here Mrs Birling is surprised to hear Sheila use such words, stating What an expression, Sheila! Her response to this shows how oblivious she is to everything around her as she genuinely believes that her Sheila is better than this. However she follows this by ,Arthur, what about this toast of yours? she immediately changes the subject here as Eric states, if you think thats the best she can do She refuses to accept anything other than perfection from her children so when she is faced with less than this she dismisses it – which is also the attitude she has towards Eva Smith as she is not at all accepting of her. This shows just how narrow-minded she is which Priestly uses to voice his opinion of capitalism as he feels that all capitalists are reflection of Mrs Birling – narrow minded and arrogant. Mrs Birling is portrayed by Priestly as petty as she refuses Eva Smith help from her charity simply due to the fact that she claimed her name was, Mrs Birling. Here Priestly uses one of the seven deadly sins to describe Mrs Birling – anger. Here she was so consumed by her anger It was simply a piece of gross impertinence, so she used her power as chairmen of the charity to have her case refused. This also portrays one of themes presented through out the play of the power held by the rich over the poor – as here Mrs Birling abuses her position as chairmen of the committee and has Eva Smith turned out simply because of her own personal feelings. This also allows the reader to question why she is even a member of this charity as she does not come across in the slightest way charitable – its almost as though she is a member of this charity so she can look down on others as a source of enjoyment to reinforce her position of power in society. Mrs Birling shows no remorse for her actions – claiming , I consider I did y duty, and Ive done simply nothing wrong, here she refuses to take even the slightest bit of responsibility in the death of Eva Smith which suggests one of the themes used by Priestly of the notion of change in the older and younger generation. Mrs Birling who is part of the older generation is so set in her capitalist ways that she can not see be yond this and so is not capable of taking any responsibility for the actions of another person. This is developed further as we see Mrs Birling, under pressure, trying to shift the blame onto the drunken young idler that her pregnant. Priestley deals with Mrs Birling by having her fall into a trap that she has created for herself as she is confronted with the knowledge that Eric is a hard drinker and the father of the dead woman’s child , I dont believe it. I wont believe it. Here Steinbeck uses italics for the word wont again showing how even after learning that she is to blame for the death of the own grandchild she still wont accept the truth – which highlights the position of society at the time, as Priestly suggests here that society wont change despite the need to – just like Mrs Birling. The way in which Mrs Birling is trapped could also be interpreted as situational irony as the reader knows she would not apply the same standards to her own family as she states the father of Evas child should be dealt with very severely, yet Eric is condemned by her words. At the end of the play we say Mrs Birling unchanged as she learns it was all a hoax she seems relived and amused and cannot see a reason why the family should not carry on as before. At the end of the play Mrs Birlings final line , Theyre over tired. In the morning theyll be as amused as we are. is followed after Sheila and Eric stating that the family cant continue as before but here, as in the beginning of the play, Mrs Birling dismisses it. Priestly did this to emphasise the fact that she is completely unchanged by the inspector and will continue to live her life in this cycle of events as she refuses to make a significant change.

Partisan Demagoguery

The difference between socialism and active state liberalism Socialism is viewed as a complicated system since it entails diverse implications, as far as freedom is concerned. Socialists believe that, the idea of individual freedom is not appropriate because it overlooks many fundamental aspects. Since proponents advocate for freedom that jointly affects the entire community, other factions in the debate may believe that socialists are opposed to freedom.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Partisan Demagoguery specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For instance, liberals believe in individual freedom and, thus, a socialist approach would sound faulty. Socialists assert that the agent, who is also the worker or producer, should not be issued with freedom in isolation. This implies that an individual should not achieve freedom and its relative benefits through the hard work of another person (Ball Dagger, 2009). They should all benefit from their input in a similar fashion. Such factors dictate the need to have an identical magnitude of freedom for everyone. On the other hand, active state liberals embrace a refined approach in the issue of individual liberty. This faction believes that the state might stand out as evil, but its participation guarantees an impartial society. Here, the state can provide conditions that support freedom for all individuals through social initiatives like Medicare. The biggest difference between the two groups is that socialists campaign for total freedom for all people, while active state liberals fail to account for genuine equitability (Ball Dagger, 2009). Social initiatives like Medicare provide favorable conditions for all, but some individuals are charged more than the others. On a basic level, active states tend to formulate these systems because such societies are usually unequal from the very beginning (Stephen, 2008). A socialist society would solve this problem from its roots. The difference between fascism and a minimal State Fascism stands out as a unique ideology that was mainly practiced in Italy. Here, the people are expected to dedicate all their time and resources to the state in a process that would supposedly enhance real freedom. In other words, fascists believe that real freedom can only be achieved in terms of collective endeavors that are embodied in the state. They also believe that an organic perspective of the society is more significant as opposed to atomism and/or individualism. Fascism, as a school of thought, advocates for service to the state, if genuine freedom is to be achieved (Spencer, 1996). It is, however, evident that the state must employ unique measures in a bid to ensure that the people adhere to its stipulations and demands.Advertising Looking for critical writing on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, Mussol ini’s fascist empire employed propaganda and military conquests in order to control the Italians (Ball Dagger, 2009). Fascism definitely promotes corrupt ideologies that stem from the loopholes created by its constituents. In simpler terms, fascism is a practical depiction of the â€Å"evils† found in any typical state. These are the same â€Å"evils† that minimal state liberals strive to avoid in their various platforms of operation. On the contrary, minimal state liberals possess a different approach to genuine freedom as opposed to the fascists. They also believe that the individual is the most important center of political interest. Therefore, individual freedom stands out as the most significant aspect in any minimal state (Ball Dagger, 2009). Whereas the state remains vibrant in a fascist society, it possesses a limited role in a minimal state. This particular design aims at protecting individual freedoms from an encroachment that could easily be propaga ted by the state. Regardless of the â€Å"evil† label given to the state, some neo-liberals believe that the state is a necessary â€Å"evil† that can be tolerated provided the constitution is fully operational. Reflections on name calling Name calling between active liberals and socialists basically stems from simple misunderstandings. It may arise from ignoring the exploitative nature of active liberalism. This is evidenced in the overcharging of some individuals in a given state, despite providing facilities that seemingly promote collective freedom. The issue of labeling a state as evil leads to the tendency of equating a minimal state to a fascist state. However, the former only depicts the state as â€Å"evil,† while the latter is a typical manifestation of the state’s â€Å"evil† nature. The two indications can easily confuse an individual. References Ball, T. Dagger, R. (2009). Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal. NY: Pearson Lon gman. Spencer D. (1996). Italian Socialism: between Politics and History. Massachusetts, USA: University of Massachusetts Press.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Partisan Demagoguery specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Stephen D. (2008). Politics: the basics. New York: Routledge. This critical writing on Partisan Demagoguery was written and submitted by user Nathalie Hawkins to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Khmer Empire Water Management System

The Khmer Empire Water Management System The Angkor civilization, or Khmer Empire, was a complex state in southeast Asia between AD 800 and 1400. It was remarkable, among other things, because of its extensive water management system stretching across over 1200 square kilometers (460 square miles), which connected the natural lake Tonle Sap to large man-made reservoirs (called baray in Khmer) through a series of canals  and permanently altering the local hydrology. The network allowed Angkor to flourish for six centuries despite the difficulties of maintaining a state-level society in the face of successive dry and monsoon regions. Water Challenges and Benefits Sources of permanent water tapped by the Khmer canal system included lakes, rivers, groundwater, and rainwater. The monsoonal climate of southeast Asia divided the years (and still does) into wet (May-October) and dry (November-April) seasons. Rainfall varies in the region between 1180-1850 millimeters (46-73 inches) per year, mostly in the wet season. The impact of water management at Angkor changed natural catchment boundaries and eventually led to erosion and sedimentation of channels requiring considerable upkeep. Tonle Sap is among the most productive freshwater ecosystems in the world, made so by the regular flooding from the Mekong River. Groundwater in Angkor can today be accessed at ground level during the wet season and 5 meters (16 feet) below ground level during the dry  season. However, local groundwater access varies greatly across the region, with bedrock and soil characteristics at times resulting in a water table as much as 11-12 m (36-40 ft) below the ground surface. Water Systems Water systems were used by the Angkor civilization to cope with the vastly changing water quantities included raising their houses on mounds or stilts, building and excavating small ponds at the household level and larger ones (called trapeang) at the village level. Most trapeang were rectangular and generally aligned east/west: they were associated with and perhaps controlled by the temples. Most temples also had their own moats, which were square or rectangular and oriented in the four cardinal directions. At the city level, large reservoirs- called baray- and linear channels, roads, and embankments were used to manage water  and may have formed an intercommunication network as well. Four major baray are in Angkor today: Indratataka (Baray of Lolei), Yasodharatataka (East Baray), West Baray, and Jayatataka (North Baray). They were very shallow, between 1-2 m (3-7 ft) below ground level, and between 30-40 m (100-130 ft) wide. Baray were built by creating earthen embankments of between 1-2 meters above the ground level and fed by channels from natural rivers. The embankments were often used as roads. Archaeologically-based geographic studies of the current and past systems at Angkor suggests that Angkor engineers created a new permanent catchment area, making three catchment areas where there once was just two. The artificial channel eventually eroded downward and became a river, thereby altering the natural hydrology of the region. Sources Buckley BM, Anchukaitis KJ, Penny D, Fletcher R, Cook ER, Sano M, Nam LC, Wichienkeeo A, Minh TT, and Hong TM. 2010. Climate as a contributing factor in the demise of Angkor, Cambodia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107(15):6748-6752. Day MB, Hodell DA, Brenner M, Chapman HJ, Curtis JH, Kenney WF, Kolata AL, and Peterson LC. 2012. Paleoenvironmental history of the West Baray, Angkor (Cambodia). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109(4):1046-1051. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1111282109 Evans D, Pottier C, Fletcher R, Hensley S, Tapley I, Milne A, and Barbetti M. 2007. A new archaeological map of the world’s largest preindustrial settlement complex at Angkor, Cambodia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104(36):14277-14282. Kummu M. 2009. Water management in Angkor: Human impacts on hydrology and sediment transportation. Journal of Environmental Management 90(3):1413-1421. Sanderson DCW, Bishop P, Stark M, Alexander S, and Penny D. 2007. Luminescence dating of canal sediments from Angkor Borei, Mekong Delta, Southern Cambodia. ​Quaternary Geochronology 2:322–329.

CHALLENGING THE OBAMA HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION Research Paper

CHALLENGING THE OBAMA HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION - Research Paper Example The Congress (2010) has once declared: â€Å"By most measures, we have the best medical care system in the world† (p. 32). Yet, there are still major problems and critical issue. A significant portion of the population does not have insurance and costs are continuously increasing. Failure to get a health insurance can prevent one from gaining access to preventative care. The uninsured is given treatment when s/he becomes sick, as recognized by the defendants, since health care in the United States is commonly given because of incapacity to afford medical expenses or acquire a health insurance. Yet, the acquired costs to provide medical services to the uninsured are at times remain unpaid. The costs of unpaid health care services are transferred to economic actors in the form of increased premiums and costs, which, consequently, can contribute to the continuity of the cycle and further enlarge the uninsured population (Congress 2010). The Congress approved of the PPACA against these conditions. The petitioners challenge a number of the interconnected parts of the PPACA as well. Primarily, the new Act considerably changes and enlarges the Medicaid plan. Medicaid is a joint federal-state initiative established in 1965 that supports federal subsidy to states that decide to offer health care to vulnerable and poor populations (Congress 2010). PPACA will expand the numbers of new entrants to the Medicaid rosters by widening the initiative to encompass all people under 65 years of age with a specific income percentage of the federal poverty threshold (Health Care Lawsuits 2011). Furthermore, the new Act opens the opportunity for the formation of medical benefit transactions intended to permit start-up or small businesses and individuals to control their purchasing power to acquire viable prices (Bandow 2011). And finally, the new Act obliges that the states give their workers an agreed health insurance coverage minimum level. The petitioners claim that these co nditions infringe state autonomy and the Constitution by forcing and controlling the states and denying them their ‘celebrated ability’ to govern their own Medicaid initiatives, medical care, and state machinery (Bandow 2011). The petitioners expect that these and a variety of other conditions in the PPACA will generate massive costs for Florida (Health Care Lawsuits 2011). Basically, the petitioners argue that the legislation is invasive, domineering, and may drain states’ coffers. When Congress was pressing on the agenda of President Obama to take into the public sector decision making in health care, lawmakers paid insignificant attention to the Constitution. In spite of everything, the tenants of Capitol Hill had become comfortable with proposing any laws they wanted (Bandow 2011). As expected, all of the followers of the president and their colleagues sacked the constitutional cases against the Obamacare law. Yet, the supporters of state-owned health care ar e not happy anymore. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently abolished a

The New Supervisor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The New Supervisor - Essay Example In case there is a technical problem, he should be in position to understand the problem and work out solutions. The new supervisor must guard against complacency, improper use of time, getting bogged under rules and procedures, and overstress (McNamara, Carter, 2009). In addition, he must possess a robust personality. This means he must possess a distinct attitude that radiates quality, quantity and safety in the work place. It is a measure of confidence that he has in himself and those working under him have in him. He must be able to effectively take charge and carry his team with him to meet targets successfully and regularly. This function may be routine. But sometimes there may be problems. Problems in quality, problem with a particular staff or worker, an accident, and these may require careful handling. The supervisor must be mentally alert to these and other problems that could arise and deal with them effectively. Establishing discipline is the primary responsibility of the new supervisor. This is the first fundamental in the style of the supervisor's operation. However, discipline must not be made a rigid, impersonal taskmaster. Discipline is a factor that has the entire team work for results in a time bound manner. The second fundamental is respect. The supervisor must earn and retain the respect of his entire team. ... Discipline is a factor that has the entire team work for results in a time bound manner. The second fundamental is respect. The supervisor must earn and retain the respect of his entire team. There will be plenty of opportunities to earn respect and the chief tool is attitude. The supervisor's attitude is being watched by his subordinates as well as the higher ups. There is tremendous merit in the strategy of waiting. However, it is not a waiting doing nothing. The supervisor must be master at the art of delegating. Delegation is the third fundamental of supervision. This shows how well the supervisor is acquainted with his team. Delegation involves not only assigning tasks but also quality time spent by the supervisor with each member of his team so that he gets to understand their unique abilities. Motivating is the fourth and final fundamental of the supervisor's style of operation. The speed and efficiency of the team depends on their thoroughness and ability to foreclose deals. A motivated team has its supervisor to thank for. Depending on the attitude and abilities of the supervisor the team scale dizzying heights or perform below par. Dealing with Special Situations Handling a team is not always an easy job. There are various problems to face and overcome. The supervisor must master the art of staying positive in difficult situations. Difficult situations do not always come from external sources. They can happen from within. A team member may hold grudges and this may be cause for the team to perform below its standards. There may be discord among two team members. The supervisor may not be in a position to handle all discords. But he can certainly handle the ones that come in the way of the team's goals. There are challenges in working with other

Language and Literacy in Social Practice Essay Example for Free

Language and Literacy in Social Practice Essay Language and Literacy in Social Practice is one of a set of four readers which looks at literacy and language practices as they are moulded and shaped by the cultures of the societies they serve. Edited by Janet Maybin, the book is a collection of key articles by seminal writers in the field who investigate the role of language and literacy as part of social practice. Broken down into four sections, the book begins with articles by Malinowski, Dell Hymes, Halliday and Volosinov and sets the scene for an anthropoligical/historical exploration of the sophisticated interaction and interrelationships between language, culture and social structure. Section two then provides ethnographic accounts of recent research by researchers like Taylor and Heath who document detailed evidence of literacy practices in a wide range of situations. They show in effect how literacy practices are very much the product of economic, religious, cultural and political processes and in particular the profound effect of differing socio-cultural expectations on the educational experiences and successes of learners at the macro level of the family and the local community. Section three moves away from a local focus to review literacy practices from a cross-cultural and historical perspective drawing on the writings of Street, Graff and Gee to look at literacy and language not so much as competencies and skills but rather as a product shaped by sociocultural parameters and some socioeconomic myths. The final section draws on the cultural and historical perspectives presented thus far and adds the further specific dimension of the political aspects of language planning and teaching to investigate how literacy and language teaching is very much a product of the rhetoric of governments and a tool to control and disposses minorities and to maintain a status quo that is elitist and exclusivist. What then is the value of Maybins book? It certainly doesnt work as a sourcebook or a handbook of how to improve literacy practices in any given situation and nor is it meant to. What it does work as is as a body of readings for reflective practitioners who would like to explore the significance of the crucial place language and literacy teaching holds in most Western societies and to look at the ways in which even the most mundane literacy practices are heavily influenced by discrete parameters of culture, society and history. Its merit lies in the way that it, through historical perspective, social theory and current research, strongly encourages the reader to value what McGinitie has referred to as the power of uncertainty. Language and Literacy in Social Practice forces the reader to consider the complex and interrelated nature of language learning and the nature of literacy acquisition as value laden activity value laden because of the variety of social factors which vie for dominance in the formation and maintenance of a majority Discourse. The structure of the book is logical and easy to follow. For myself, I found the first section to be the least valuable in terms of what it had to offer me, but, given its intention to provide a theory base for the sociological perspective of language as a social semiotic, it achieved its aim adequately. What was much more thought provoking were the articles in section two which detailed the ways in which literate practices were inextricably related to social and cultural practices and values. Of particular value to me as well were the articles by Rockhill on Gender, language and the politics of literacy and Paolo Freire on Adult literacy processes . Language and Literacy in Social Practice is not a book of readings preaching to the converted. Rather it is a thought provoking collection of writings which will encourage the sensitive literacy educator to examine again the values one transmits. Particularly in the culturally plural Australian context, Maybins book provides readings that, while not specific to the Australian context, are nevertheless very easily transferrable in the principles and understandings they embody. So much so that if one were to carefully think through and implement by negotiation the broad principles outlined in the book, Language and Literacy in Social Practice could well serve as a blueprint for a policy framework for literacy education in any society that truly valued its cultural diversity and which was determined to provide the sort of education that would question the status quo. Additionally, it would offer all participants real access to those constructions of empowering literate behaviour that are the staple of the disourse practices and power relationships of everyday life. It is not, I dont believe, overly strong when Rockhill says that the politics of literacy are integral to the cultural genocide of a people . Language and Literacy in Social Practice raises the sorts of issues that will help us re-examine our own personal politics to prevent just that sort of cultural genocide no matter how well intentioned or how genteel our motives. It is a book for all educators, cutting across cultures and specifics, providing a body of thought that, if it doesnt change existing practice, will at the very least strongly encourage a reappraisal of what it is that one actually does in the classroom.