Essays and Research Papers on Superstition Cults

This 20 page paper takes a look at the Salem witch trials of 1692, especially the trials of Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osbourne, and considers the impact of Puritan thought on the actions taken against these women. As an extension, this paper also considers the impact of these Puritan ideals on the economic, social and ...

A 4 page research paper that describes the system of Trokosi that enslaves Ghana women to fetish priests. According to this belief, if a crime has been committed and a girl is not enslaved, then the gods will be unhappy and members of the family will die. Bibliography lists 9 sources.

This five-page paper presents a discussion on the John Frum story and how it mimics Christianity and other religions. The cargo cultists are waiting for him to come back and give them eternal life and wealth much like the Christians are waiting for Jesus. Bibliography lists one source.

Ultimate Reality and the Divine in This 5 page report discusses human understanding of Ultimate Reality and the Divine in terms of individual spirituality and religious belief. It also examines it in the context of ancient people -- both those who were highly literate and the non-literate. Bibliography lists 6 ources.

A 3 page discussion of the importance of Egyptian mummies to Egyptian belief in an afterlife. Clarifies that originally only the pharaohs were mummified in recognition of the belief that they were living gods. Eventually,however, mummification became the desire of all ancient Egyptians and all those who could afford to do so pursued mummification ...

This 6 page paper considers the role of these spirits and the way in which they effect the lives of the followers. Examples of the divine spirits are given and the way in which justice can be seen is also demonstrated. The bibliography cites 8 sources.

This 9 page paper considers the nature of witchcraft and the influences on Western culture. In particular, this paper focuses first on the Salem Witch Trials, and then the Wiccan traditions, and how anti-Wiccan sentiments began first in Europe during the Crusades. This paper also considers modern versions of the witch trials, arguing ...

This nine page paper is in two parts. The first looks at the contradictions between philosophy, myth and religion to examine whether these contradictions are real or just common misconceptions. The second part of the paper looks to the early philosophers and considers the way in which they consider the contradictions in philosophy such ...

This 7 page paper provides an overview of progression of the feminist Wiccan tradition from the height of the Women's Liberation Movement to the modern time. This paper asserts that the progression of the "new age" tradition has led to an insurgence of Wiccan participation. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

This 11 page paper provides an overview of this ancient Egyptian queen who is well known for her interests in cosmetics. Her influence on society in terms of culture, politics, religion and women's roles is discussed. Bibliography lists 9 sources.

A 5 page discussion of the importance of the natural environment and its components to ancient Egyptians. Describes elaborate rituals designed to prepare for the afterlife and discusses the importance of forces such as the Nile River and the Sun in shaping the Egyptian concept of the afterlife. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

This well written and interesting 10 page paper looks at the origins of Christmas as mid winter festival, from the Mesopotamian and the Babylonians though the Greeks and Romans to the way in which was adopted by the Christian church. The second part of the paper then goes on to look at the origins ...

A 5 page paper discussing the Epicurean view of good and evil (i.e., pleasure and pain) and the part that knowledge plays in bringing the happiness that should be the goal of every individual. Epicurus (342-270 B.C.) maintained that the pursuit of pleasure was not that which could be procured through physical enjoyments, but rather through contemplation. ...

A 3 page paper which reflects on primitive religion. The reflection involves an understanding of content as it relates to personal experience and perceptions. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 15 page discussion of the critical components of the ancient Egyptian's belief in an afterlife. Notes that much of our contemporary knowledge regarding ancient Egyptian culture is based on archaeological findings. Among the most interesting of these findings are those which relate to the elaborate worship rituals of the Egyptians, rituals which to ...

An 18 page discussion of the religious beliefs of ancient Egyptian's belief. These beliefs revolved around the concept of an afterlife, an afterlife which in order for the soul to recognize the body required mummification of the mortal remains so that they were discernibly human. Provides an overview of Egyptian belief, preparation for ...

This 5 page paper looks at the way the gods are portrayed in two very different belief systems trough two literary works. By using Homer's 'The Iliad' and Saint Augustine's 'Confessions' the representational similarities and differences are discussed and explained. The bibliography cites 2 sources.

A 10 page history of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and the basis of its creation. Addresses the myth that A.A. is based on Christian precepts. Discounts this myth as being unfounded, pointing out that in reality the approach of the organization is based as much, if not more, on the occult than on Christianity. ...

A five page paper which looks at the similarities and differences between the portrayal of deities and human beings in the Book of Genesis and the Epic of Gilgamesh, with specific reference to the myth of the flood which is common to both texts. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

This 5 page paper considers the different stories told in these three works, looking specifically at the creation and the flood stories. The paper then goes on to discuss the 'documentary hypothesis' which states that Genesis was not the work of a single author, and the paper finishes with consideration of the roles of envy ...

A six page paper which looks at the traditions of Irish folklore, such as the children of Danu, the Sidhe and the sacred thorn, and considers the way in which cultural values and old customs and beliefs have persisted into the present day. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 5 page paper consider how the federal and state agencies dealt with situation at Wacko. The paper looks at the different attitudes and considers the mistakes that were made and lead to over 80 deaths. The bibliography cites 7 sources.

(6 pp) Self-help has now moved past the secula r -how to end a bad relationship, how to deal with disease, or personal addictions, to the spiritual. Those who deal with the spiritual of suggest that there is another way to view the world than the one we have traditionally learned. In this discussion ...

This 5 page report discusses how the classical philosophers of Greece could no more comprehend the nightmare of the 9-11 attack than could 21st century Americans. And yet, the harshness of the reality of ancient Greece was also painfully evident in everyday life. The model that such philosophers labored over to frame the concept of justice has valuable insight ...

A 15 page overview of the manner in which witchcraft was perceived and persecuted in the Middle Ages. Notes that thousands, if not millions of innocent people were executed as a manifestation of the Church’s desire to suppress any activity which it deemed heresy. Emphasizes that the Church’s view on witchcraft evolved from ...