CHURCH OF GOD

ORIGIN
Most of the Pentecostal churches which bear the name "Church of God" can be traced to a holiness revival in the mountains of northwest Georgia and eastern Tennessee. In 1884, R.G. Spurling, a Baptist minister in Monroe County, Tennessee, began to search the Scriptures for answers to the problems of modernism, formality, and spiritual dryness. An initial meeting of concerned people was held on August 19, 1886, at the Barney Creek Meeting House to organize a new movement that would preach primitive church holiness and provide for reform and revival of the churches. Christian Union was the name accepted by the first eight members enrolled that day. Spurling died within a few months and was succeeded in leadership by his son, R.G. Spurling, Jr. After ten years of little growth, three laymen influenced by the Spurlings' work claimed a deep religious experience similar to that written about by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, and as a result began to preach sanctification. The three laymen began to hold services at Camp Creek, in Cherokee County, North Carolina, among a group of unaffiliated Baptists, Spurling and the Christian Union moved their services to Camp Creek and united with the group in North Carolina. During this revival that followed this merger, spontaneous speaking in tongues occurred. After searching the Scriptures, the group recognized the phenomena as a Biblical occurrence and as a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.


II. BASIC THEOLOGY AND BELIEF
The Church believes in an experiential understanding of justification by faith, sanctification as a second work of grace, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit evidenced by speaking in tongues. It also believes in the restoration of both ministerial and spiritual gifts to the Church. They are believing Christians, who use the Holy Bible as the basis of their teachings. They do practice "footwashing" at least annually, and they do encourage mid-week services, usually held Wednesday evening.

III. GOVERNANCE
The Government of the Church of God in centralized. Authority is vested in the general assembly, which meets every two years and is chaired by the general overseer. A supreme council operated between general assemblies, and a general executive committee oversees the boards and agencies. State overseers have charge over the churches in their areas and appoint the pastors. Tithing is a central feature of finances. The height of centralization came in 1914 when the annual elections of the general overseer were discontinued and Tomlinson became overseer for life.

IV. ORDER OF WORSHIP
The order of worship is much like the Pentecostal Church, but more orderly. They still practice speaking in tongues, singing praises, lots of prayer, and preaching the gospel message.

Church and State

The theory of evolution is at odds with the views of many religions, and
many people want to allow a religious view of creationism to be taught in the
public school system. The foundation of evolution is based upon the belief that
the origin of all ordered complex systems, including living creatures, can be
explained by natural laws without the initiation or intervention of God. A
person who believes in the biblical model of creation is viewed by some non-
believers as a naive, narrow-minded religious fanatic who is not willing to look
at the observable evidence with an open mind. Because the evolutionary idea of
origins has been so widely accepted by the scientific community, many people
have reasoned that the creation model should be completely rejected without
fairly examining its claims. Even many Christians who have deep trust and faith
in the Bible have never really understood the claims of the creation account
(McLean 11).
Over the past several years, a great deal of controversy surrounding the
creation-evolution issue has been generated by scientists who have based their
claims on the creation model and have been willing to let their reputations
stand. Creationists have openly requested that when the discussion of origins
occurs in the public school system, both the model of creation and evolution be
presented side by side.
Initially, scientists and educators who have accepted the theory of
evolution without question were reluctant to pay any serious attention to
creationism; however, it has now become apparent that substantial numbers of
people are taking creationism seriously. Many evolutionists view this trend as
a serious threat to the advancement of science and have vowed to do everything
in their power to stop the teaching of creation in the public school system.
Most evolutionists now view creationism as nothing more than a particular
version of fundamentalist Christianity with no valid scientific content. One
hundred-fifty years ago such a theory for the origin and history of the earth
and life would have been termed absurd. Today, however, those who reject the
idea of random evolutionary processes being responsible for designing life and
shaping the geological features of the earth are termed religious, unscientific
fanatics.
Today, throughout the industrialized world, the moment children are able
to respond to their environment, they are constantly bombarded with the doctrine
of evolution. Faith in the biblical concept of creation by the hand of God is
ridiculed and rejected by the secular system of education. Humanistic thinking
widely accepts evolution as fact, even though "The all-too frequent picture of
evolution as a progression from ameba to man, is, and always has been, utterly
without foundation" (Weisz 665).
Oddly, it is commonly accepted that all living things are the product of
evolution, that evolution is taking place today, and that evolution will
continue to shape the destiny of life in the future.
Darwin's theory of evolution, based upon the idea of natural selection,
set off a bitter controversy among scientists, religious leaders, and the
general public. Noted British scientists such as Thomas Huxley and Alfred
Wallace supported Darwin's work, and many different groups eventually accepted
the theory of evolution.
After Darwin's idea of the origin and development of life became well
known, others used the concept of evolution for developing theories about
society. A number of new philosophies began to emerge based on the Darwinian
theory. These ideas came onto the world scene and made serious implications
which made a view of agnosticism and atheism respectable. "As far as Darwin was
concerned, a man's religion was his own affair, and he tried to keep his loss of
faith to himself" (Gregor 112). For example, the German philosopher and social
scientist Karl Marx, who is often called the founding father of the communist
movement, compared the struggle for power among social classes to the struggle
for survival among organisms. Marx was so awe stricken by the way Darwin was
able to explain away the need for God regarding the origin of life that he
decided to dedicate Das Kapital, a book against capitalism , to Charles Darwin.
Marx and other humanists of his day believed the individual, not God, is the
highest being.
The acceptance of the evolutionary doctrine soon spread throughout the
academic world in spite of the opposition put forward by scientists and
religious leaders. Most scholars who had swallowed the humanistic philosophy
were proud of the fact that they could explain the physical world around them
without relying upon God.
In many parts of the industrialized world, much of the controversy over
evolution centered on the issue whether the theory should be taught in schools.
Many people would not accept the theory of evolution because it conflicted with
their belief that God is the creator and sustainer of life. The Bible also
states human beings were created in the image of God, and were elevated above
all other forms of life. Because of this view by the majority of people, the
teaching of evolution in the public schools in the United States occurred
through a gradual process over many years.
The first major confrontation regarding the teaching of evolution in
public schools occurred at the famous Scopes trial which took place in Tennessee
in 1925. The effect of the trial on education was felt for many years, as most
schools avoided teaching evolution and publishers produced textbooks that hardly
covered the topic. For years following the Scopes trial, the creation-evolution
controversy was not a high-priority issue. The issue lay dormant until the
1950s, when there was a growing concern among educators that science teaching in
the public schools needed to be upgraded with current evolutionary teaching.
The fact is, "The author or teacher who states [that evolution is an established
fact] is either ignorant of the facts in the case, or is seeking to hide them
from his students" (Schnabel 97).

Christmas History

The word Christmas comes from the old English "Cristes maesse" meaning Christ's
Mass. The Holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The actual birthday of
Jesus is not known; therefore, the early Church Fathers in the 4th century fixed
the day around the old Roman Saturnalia festival (17 - 21 December), a
traditional pagan festivity. The first mention of the birthday of Jesus is from
the year 354 AD. Gradually all Christian churches, except Armenians who
celebrate Christmas on January 6 (the date of the baptism of Jesus as well as
the day of the three Magi), accepted the date of December 25th.

In American/English tradition, Christmas Day itself is the day for opening gifts
brought by jolly old St. Nick. Many of our current American ideals about the
way Christmas ought to be, derive from the English Victorian Christmas, such as
that described in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

The caroling, the gifts, the feast, and the wishing of good cheer to all - these
ingredients came together to create that special Christmas atmosphere.

The custom of gift-giving on Christmas goes back to Roman festivals of
Saturnalia and Kalends. The very first gifts were simple items such as twigs
from a sacred grove as good luck emblems. Soon that escalated to food, small
items of jewelry, candles, and statues of gods. To the early Church, gift-
giving at this time was a pagan holdover and therefore severely frowned upon.
However, people would not part with it, and some justification was found in the
original gift giving of the Magi, and from figures such as St. Nicholas. By the
middle ages gift giving was accepted. Before then it was more common to
exchange gifts on New Year's Day or Twelfth Night.

Santa Claus is known by British children as Father Christmas. Father Christmas,
these days, is quite similar to the American Santa, but his direct ancestor is a
certain pagan spirit who regularly appeared in medieval mummer's plays. The
old-fashioned Father Christmas was depicted wearing long robes with sprigs of
holly in his long white hair. Children write letters to Father Christmas
detailing their requests, but instead of dropping them in the mailbox, the
letters are tossed into the fireplace. The draft carries the letters up the
chimney, and theoretically, Father Christmas reads the smoke. Gifts are opened
Christmas afternoon.

From the English we get a story to explain the custom of hanging stockings from
the mantelpiece. Father Christmas once dropped some gold coins while coming
down the chimney. The coins would have fallen through the ash grate and been
lost if they hadn't landed in a stocking that had been hung out to dry. Since
that time children have continued to hang out stockings in hopes of finding them
filled with gifts.

The custom of singing carols at Christmas is also of English origin. During the
middle ages, groups of serenaders called waits would travel around from house to
house singing ancient carols and spreading the holiday spirit. The word carol
means "song of you." Most of the popular old carols we sing today were written
in the nineteenth century.

The hanging of greens, such as holly and ivy, is a British winter tradition with
origins far before the Christian era. Greenery was probably used to lift
sagging winter spirits and remind the people that spring was not far away. The
custom of kissing under the mistletoe is descended from ancient Druid rites.
The decorating of Christmas trees, though primarily a German custom, has been
widely popular in England since 1841 when Prince Albert had a Christmas tree set
up in Windsor Castle for his wife Queen Victoria, and their children.

The word wassail is derived from the Anglo-Saxon phrase "waes hael," which means
"good health." Originally, wassail was a beverage made of mulled ale, curdled
cream, roasted apples, nuts, eggs, and spices. It was served for the purpose of
enhancing the general merriment of the season. Like many of the ancient customs,
wassailing has a legend to explain its origin. It seems that a beautiful Saxon
maiden named Rowena presented Prince Vortigen with a bowl of wine while toasting
him with the words Waes hael. Over the centuries a great deal of ceremony had
developed around the custom of drinking wassail. The bowl is carried into a
room with great fanfare, a traditional carol about the drink is sung, and
finally, the steaming hot beverage is served.

For many years in England, a roasted boar's head has been associated with
Holiday feasting. The custom probably goes back to the Norse practice of
sacrificing a boar at Yuletide in honor of the god Freyr. One story tells of a
student at Oxford's Queen College who was attacked on Christmas Day by a wild
boar. All he had in his hand to use as a weapon was his copy of Aristotle, so
he shoved the book down the boar's throat. Wanting to retrieve his book, the
student cut off the animal's head and brought it back to the college where it
was served for Christmas dinner with much pomp and ceremony.

It is from Scandinavia that most of our Yule log traditions derive. The dark
cold winters inspired the development of traditions concerned with warmth and
light. Yuletide, meaning the turning of the sun or the winter solstice, has
traditionally been a time of extreme importance in Scandinavia - a time when
fortunes for the coming year were determined and when the dead were thought to
walk the earth. For a long time, it was considered dangerous to sleep alone on
Christmas Eve. The extended family, master and servant, alike would sleep
together on a freshly spread bed of straw.

The Yule log was originally an entire tree, carefully chosen, and brought into
the house with great ceremony. The butt end would be placed into the hearth
while the rest of the tree stuck out into the room. The tree would be slowly
fed into the fire and the entire process was carefully timed to last the entire
Yule season.

The Christmas tree has never been particularly popular in France, and though the
use of the Yule log has faded, the French make a traditional Yule log-shaped
cake called the "buche de Noel," which means "Christmas Log." The cake, among
other food in great abundance, is served at the grand feast of the season, which
is called Le reveillon. Le reveillon is a very late supper held after midnight
mass on Christmas Eve. The menu for the meal varies according to regional
culinary tradition. The traditional Christmas dinner is made of turkey with
chestnuts puree, and the buche de Noel as desert. Oysters are eaten on New
Year's Eve only because New Year's is more an adult celebration and usually
children are not very fond of oysters. The tradition in Paris is to eat grilled
chestnuts in the streets during the month of December and part of January.

The popularity of the Nativity scene, one of the most beloved and enduring
symbols of the holiday season, originated in Italy. St. Francis of Assisi asked
a man named Giovanni Vellita of the village of Greccio to create a manger scene.
St. Francis performed mass in front of this early Nativity scene, which inspired
awe and devotion in all who saw it. The creation of the figures or pastori
became an entire genre of folk art.

Christmas

The year’s most celebrated holiday is celebrated on December 25th, both in homes and churches worldwide. The meaning for Christmas is to recognize Christ’s birth, of which the exact date is not known. During the fourth century the Bishop of Rome set December 25th as Christ’s birth date. Some authorities claim that the choice of December 25th was made because it coincided with Chanukah, Mithraic’s feast of the sun god, and the people of northern Europe’s winter solstice feast. The winter solstice is the time of year in the Northern Hemisphere when the noon sun appears to be farthest south. (All About American Holidays, 1962 Encyclopedia Encarta, 1998) The Saturnalia was celebrated for seven days, during the period of time when the winter solstice occurred. During this, slaves were given freedom, gifts were exchanged, and banquets and happiness prevailed. (Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, 1998) Holiday Greenery Evergreens, the symbol of eternal life, have long been used for Christmas time decorations. The Christmas wreath represents everlasting life and God’s endless love for us. Kissing under a mistletoe supposedly started out when early Roman enemies stopped fighting when they met under a mistletoe. Holly is the most known Christmas greenery, and there are several legends about it, one is that Jesus’ crown was made of holly, and the holly berries represented his blood. (All About American Holidays, 1962) The Christmas tree: The Christmas tree is an evergreen trimmed with lights, decorations, and tinsel, is derived from a “paradise tree”, or the tree in the Garden of Eden. (Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, 1998) The use of the Christmas tree began early in the 17th century, in Strasbourg, France, spreading from there through Germany and then into northern Europe. In 1841 Prince Albert introduced the Christmas tree to Great Britain, where from there immigrants brought it to the United States. (Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, 1998) Santa Claus The beginning of gift giving during Christmas started from the three wise men, with their three gifts for the Christ child. Since then people have made up different things to tell their children where their Christmas presents came from. The historical Saint Nicholas was known in early Christian legends for saving storm-tossed sailors, standing up for children, and giving gifts to the poor. Although many of his stories can’t be proven true, his legend spread throughout Europe, and he was soon know for his extreme generosity and gift giving. Many stories include him riding through the sky on a horse and wearing his red bishop’s cloak, sometimes accompanied by Black Peter, an elf whose job was to whip the bad children. His most known legend is when he would walk through the streets in his bishop clothes, carrying a sack full of presents, and leaving a gift on the windowsills of children’s houses. (All About American Holiday’s, 1962 Compton’s Encyclopedia, 1994) >From the different parts of the world, there are different names, but the spirit of Christmas remains the same. Spanish children call their Santa Balthasar, children in Italy have a female Santa named La Belfana, Denmark has a gnome named Jule-Nissen, Holland has Sinter Klaas, Germany has Sanct Herr, and there are even some places that believe the Christ child brings their presents. (Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, 1998) The Christmas Feast On Christmas day, the year’s greatest feast was served, people went, and still do, all out. Although now we have different foods, the idea is still the same. The feast was started off with drinks and music, followed by a procession of the food. Once everyone was seated, the food was served and eaten, after dessert, people drank and danced. The banquet lasted hours and was the highlight of the day. Some of the food served was: beef, meat pies, roasted duck, geese, pigs, plumb porridge, fancy cakes, bowls of wassail, and toast. Christmas was a huge celebration filled with lots of eating, drinking, singing, dancing, and gift giving. (All About American Holidays, 1962) Christmas Decorations Centuries ago, Romans decorated their homes, public buildings, and temples on festive occasions, and we have followed this ancient custom. During Christmas time, store windows, malls, streetlights, and parking lot poles are decorated to celebrate this joyous time filled with shopping, gift giving, and happiness. Some popular and well-known Christmas decorations are: New York’s Rockefeller Plaza’s Christmas tree, when set up, the first lighting of the tree signifies the official opening of the Christmas season. Another popular attraction is Christmas Tree Lane, in Fresno, California. People there string lights around the great cedars lining Van Ness Avenue. Homeowners there also set up holiday displays on their lawns and houses. (Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, 1998 All About American Holidays, 1962

Christianity Begins

On a late afternoon, in about the year AD 33, two men were walking from Jerusalem to the nearby village of Emmaus. Their conversation centered on events that had occurred the previous week. As they journeyed, a stranger who seemed ignorant of these events joined them. Surprised, they asked him: "Are you the only person staying in Jerusalem not to know what has happened there in the last few days?" So they explained to him about a certain Jesus of Nazareth, "a prophet powerful in speech and action before God and the whole people. Our chief priests and rulers handed him over to the Roman authorities to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. But we were hoping that he was the man to liberate Israel." Even more amazing, they went on to say, were reports from some women who visited his tomb that he was alive again, raised from the dead. Suddenly the stranger spoke: "How dull-witted you two are! And how slow to believe all that the prophets said. Was not the messiah bound to suffer thus before entering upon his glory?" Then he went on to clarify from the Hebrew scriptures all the passages that referred to himself. For the stranger was Jesus of Nazareth, of whom the two had been speaking. Based on the life, death and coming to life again of Jesus Christ there has developed the world's largest religion, Christianity.
Expectation and Reality
The two men on the road to Emmaus were not simple common folk. They were a selected group of twelve followers, called disciples or learners, of Jesus who had known him for at least three years. During this period they had listened to all he said and had witnessed his amazing actions, such as healing the sick, giving sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf and even bringing people back to life. They had become convinced that he was the Messiah who was to redeem Israel. Israel wanted and expected redemption. This small Jewish nation, located in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, had for centuries looked forward to a time when their God would, through some decisive action, free them from outside oppression and establish Israel as the preeminent nation in the world. The word messiah means "the lord's anointed," someone God has set aside for a specific task. Christians believe that Jesus, from the small town of Nazareth in Galilee, was that Messiah. They also believe that what he accomplished far exceeded the expectations of Israel. The Jews looked for a messiah exclusively for themselves, though his power and love would be such as to draw Jews and gentiles to a belief in the same God. Christians believe that Jesus, as God's son, accomplished something that was intended to benefit the whole world.
The Man and the Message
What Jesus said and did can be learned from the first four books of the Bible's New Testament. These books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are called Gospels, a word that means "good news," because they are his followers' written testimonies of what his life was all about. The Gospels depict a man who was thoroughly inborn with the entire tradition of Israel's religion from the time of Abraham onward. From what Jesus said and did his followers came to believe that God was perhaps acting through him in a very special way. Very possibly he was the one long awaited who would inaugurate God's kingdom on Earth. It was reasonable that they should think this, for they too were Israelites; and they saw in his words and deeds what portended to be the dawning of a new age. What dashed their hopes was his death, crucifixion was a punishment reserved for criminals. Then came the great surprise: He was raised from the dead and appeared to them again over a period of 40 days. This stunning event required a complete reassessment of what Jesus was all about. It is this reassessment that forms the basis for the writings of the New Testament. The Gospels themselves are part of it, but it is more strikingly conveyed by the other 23 books, all written by his followers over the subsequent decades after he had left them. For he had left them. How and where to could only be explained as his returning to the God who had sent him. But he did not leave them forever: He promised that he would one day return, and he gave them a mission to perform to carry the message about his life and work to the whole world.
The Believers: the Church
The small group of Jesus' followers that gathered in Jerusalem after his departure did not call themselves anything special, they considered themselves to be Jews. The word Christian came into use years later and was originally a derogatory term used by outsiders. This group of Jews became known as Jews of the Way. During the first decades of the church's existence several significant events occurred: The assembly of believers separated themselves from the religion of Israel; they formulated an extensive assessment of what the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus meant; the first Christian martyrs died for their beliefs; and new congregations of believers were founded in all parts of the Roman Empire.
Jews of the Way
The early Christians were all Jews. They remained in Jerusalem partook of the religious observances in the Temple, and ate according to Jewish dietary laws. They differed from their fellow Jews only in that they believed that the Messiah, Jesus, had come. Had they remained quiet about their conviction, they might well have remained a sect within Judaism. However, they insisted on preaching to all who would listen that Jesus whom the Jewish authorities had persecuted was the one Israel had long awaited. This preaching aroused great hostility on the part of religious leaders and the early Christians were persecuted because of it. A young follower of Jesus, a deacon by the name of Stephen, was stoned to death for preaching that Jesus was the Messiah. The mob of Jews drug him from the city, as they stoned him and as a young Pharisee by the name of Saul watched, Stephen died as a Christian, he died praying for his murders. Yet these Christians had no thought of venturing beyond the confines of Israel with their message. It was only after the joining of a man named Saul of Tarsus that the assembly of believers enlarged its horizons to include the whole known world.
From Saul to Paul
Saul, a strict Jew and Pharisee, was a persecutor of the church. While riding through the desert he was blinded by a vision from God, and he was converted. Saul made it to Damascus where he met Ananias, who restored his sight and baptized him. After changing his name to Paul, he began what is called the mission to the gentiles. Paul and another follower of Jesus, Barnabas, more than any others, pulled the church out from temple and synagogue and set it apart as a separate institution. But, for Paul, the separation was more than a physical one. It was also a separation of law. Paul wished to extend Gods love to the gentiles.
Mission to the gentiles
Based in Antioch, Paul and his associates took this message to most of the urban centers of the Mediterranean world. He began baptizing Samaritans in the name of Christ. The Jews thought it bad enough that not pure breed Jews could join the Way, but Paul pushed the envelope by baptizing gentiles who were not circumcised. It was his belief that Christians did not have to become Jews, and that they were not subject to all the rites, rituals, and laws of the Jewish religion. This aroused an intense anger in the Jews of the Way and, finally, led to a separation of the two groups.
The Christians become the Christians
The Jews of the Way believed that if the gentiles ate unkosher food, then they could not share a table of fellowship with the gentile believers of Christ. Barnabas was sent from Jerusalem to the Christian center in Antioch to find out the condition of the mixing of Jews and gentiles. He became part of the mixer church, but there were still many debates on how to handle the group in Antioch. Until, the Council of Jerusalem where it was decided that the newly baptized followers of The Way did not have to eat kosher food or be circumcised. These followers of the Way were called Christians to distinguish them from the rest of the Jewish people. After that was settled, Paul and Barnabas set out to spread the Gospel, and this under taking was called Paul’s 1st Missionary Journey.

A Study of Depression and Relationships

A primary concern for Psychology research is depression. Depression affects a great deal of our population and many aspects of an individual's mental health and well-being. In my research of books, articles, and Internet pages on depression, I chose to base my paper mainly on a 1994 article of a study of depression, entitled Depression, Working Models of Others, and Relationship Functioning, by Katherine B. Carnelley, Paula R. Pietromonaco, and Kenneth Jaffe.
This study focuses on the idea that the type of care received in childhood, positive or negative, has a great effect on relationship functioning later in adulthood. But there are two links between child-rearing and relationship functioning: attachment style and depression. Both derive from the type of care received in childhood and affect relationship functioning, and both exert a reciprocal influence on each other in adulthood. The researchers of this study wanted to examine all the correlation's between type of care, attachment style, depression, and relationship functioning. They proposed a three part hypothesis: 1. A less positive childhood would result in an insecure attachment style and depression, 2. Depressives would exhibit a preoccupied or fearful style of attachment, and 3. attachment style would affect relationship functioning more than depression.
The research was conducted in two independent studies. The first study sampled 204 college women. Women were studied based on the very plausible assumptions that women are more susceptible to depression than men and relationships carry more significance with women than men. The women were screened using the Beck Depression Inventory, a popular method of testing consisting of 21 multiple choice questions to be administered by a clinician. The questions range in scope from feelings of sadness to loss of libido. From these results, a sample of 163 was taken: 73 whose scores indicated mild depression. From this point the researchers administered various inventories to assess the type of childhood care given, romantic attachment styles, and relationship functioning.
Depression appears to be the independent variable, because the sample was selected based on desired levels of depression. Once the distinction in levels of depression had been made, childhood care, attachment style, and relationship functioning were assessed in relation to depression.
The actual distinction between independent and dependent variables is confusing. There are almost ten variables in this experiment: mild depression, no depression, dating or not dating (101 out of 163 were involved in stable dating relationships that averaged 19.99 months), positive or negative child-rearing, attachment style (fearful, preoccupied, or secure), and relationship functioning (overall satisfaction, quality of interactions with partner, and conflict resolution style). The confusion arises in that the study is assessing the relationships of so many variables.
The second study repeated the first except the sample consisted of recovering clinically depressed married women and non depressed married women.
The first hypothesis 1a was confirmed as having a strong correlation between women with negative childhood experiences with their mother and a preoccupied and avoidant attachment style. Hypothesis 1b was confirmed by a strong correlation between childhood experiences and depression.
A very strong correlation existed between depression and fearful and preoccupied attachment styles, consistent with the second hypothesis.
The researchers found that attachment style had more of an impact than depression, "attachment style was the most consistent predictor of relationship functioning and generally predicted functioning better than depression," consistent with the third hypothesis.
The second study consisting of clinically depressed married women, and non depressed women found a correlation between greater fearful avoidance and preoccupation in recovering clinically depressed married women.
This study raised several interesting questions: To what can the various types of relationship functioning and the multifarious correlation's between the variables involved be ascribed? Are the factors controlling depression external or internal? How do people develop their "working models" of relationships? Do these models derive from childhood, or are they slowly assimilated over the course of one's life?
I would now like to go on to the treatment and results of depression and the affects on the ones they love. When one is depressive, some studies show that one may become more productive at work, they need less, sleep, and also concentrate harder on their work according to Syndrome of The Elite: Bipolar Disorder II, by Carl Sherman. People affected sometimes can have quick, innovative intelligence. They can be charismatic, have more energy, but they can also have extreme mood swings to upset a relationship. When one is treated with a medication such as lithium to stabilize their moods, one may actually benefit from having such a disease. These people will be hard working, need less sleep, and can get ahead in their jobs. Some of the top executives, creative people, and entrepreneurs benefit from these conditions. However, in the home these mood swings may lead to unresolved fights, and anger within one's family. Depression can lead to excessive behavior, such as gambling, and exorbitant lifestyles. This is compounded by the problem that one suffering also likes to be isolated, and prefers not to talk about compounding problems they may be facing. This can build up a fire inside one's self. We can only say for sure that with the bi-polar stages of manic depression, that many relationships can only follow the highs and lows of the depressive's states.
To fight this disease, many people turn to the many available anti-depressant drugs on the market now. These drugs alter the bio-chemicals in the brain itself. It works wonders for most people. In fact, 85% of all manic depressives have great results right away when treated according to an the article entitled, 1 in 5 adults suffer mental illness Experts say great strides made in
treating Depression, by Natalie Neiman. Also according to this study, almost 15 to 20 percent of manic depressives commit suicide, which makes treating this disease a must. One way of tracing this is through hereditary. Almost 40-50 percent of the siblings of manic depressive's children also have a depression disorder. It is sometimes however hard to decipher between a normal teenager's mood swings, or a depression. People need to realize not to discriminate, and know that it is a treatable chemistry imbalance. If one's teenager is acting in a depressive state have them talk to a psychologist, and assure them nothing is wrong with them, and that it can only help.
I chose to do my research on this given that I am manic depressive. I had recently broken up in a relationship, and this research helped to satisfy some curiosities. With this research I realize how much I have been helped, and it helped to explain some of my personality traits. Someone who has manic depression should definitely go in for help, and should realize the risk of not. The research shows that the interaction between relationship functioning, depression, and attachment style are attributable to early childhood. In other words, an individual's experiences in his or her formative years can have lasting psychological effects, up to the most basic social functions in adulthood.

Culture Nature & Freedom Treating Juvinile offenders

Culture, Nature & Freedom: Treating Juvenile Offenders.
In Kansas, Juvenile offenders are sent to "Youth Centers". These
are merely Child prisons, lockdown facilities for kids. This style of
treatment goes against every idea of growth put forward in this class. In
this paper I will try to justify the use of residential treatment schemes
through the ideas found in several of this semesters authors; including
T.Huxtley, Rousseau, DuBois, Freud, A.Huxtley, and Mill. The Ideals set
forth by these intellectuals should be the basis for all treatment, to better
the individuals and society.
First, We can look to DuBois. He believes that people can change
their own consciousness. He shows this through his Immersion narrative.
This can't work in a youth center. The only cultural ideal here is the
Master/slave dialectic between staff and youth. The sides work apart. The
two can't join because one does not experience the other. There is no way
to be "above the veil" of their status. In a residential treatment modality,
Relationship building is key to success. The youth need to feel the veil
has been lifted. It allows them to explore safely and see the world in a
greater view. The view as other is removed and a true balance displaces
the master / slave one.
Next, we can look at Mills Ideas on culture. He would like to elevate
the morals of the human mind. To do this, we must continually test the
standard. New ideas must be able to circulate freely. We must weigh how
all actions effect others. This can not be done in these Youth centers as
well. They have very specific codes and any questioning is reprimanded.
Cultural influx is at a standstill and Censor ship is at it's highest possible
level. A residential treatment modality gives all ideas a free shot. Self
Government, A system used by the youth assures a safe environment to
share all feedback and new ideas openly, to non judgmental ears. it looks
at how one's action are related to others and provides a 'safe place' for all
expression. Allowing ideas to stay fresh and moral stability and growth to
flourish.
This leads us directly to the dehumanization described by T.H.
Huxtley. First, we have the effects of Social-Darwinism. We are using our
own projections of nature for a model. These children are being culturally
pushed aside for progress, stuck in mini prisons. Where, rather than fix
problems, we push them into suffering so that we may achieve gains.
Then there is the idea of the gospel of wealth. Why help these kids? My
money is a product of an evolutionary force, so is there placement.
Helping would only interrupt their punishment. These Youth Centers also
rob them of their ability to meet the goals of our society's Protestant
work ethic. They have no contribution! These three things let us
dehumanize these children and put their responsibility off on others.
Residential treatment, on the other hand, removes the gospel of wealth
mentality; earn as much as you want, monetary forces are not
evolutionary. Intervention is key to Residential Treatment, no
punishment of lower classes. This system makes everyone equal. This
flows into the work ethic removal as well, everyone contributes and the
group benefits. No individual benefit is given out. If one is good, then all
are good. Finally, it erases the mask of Social-Darwinism. The youth work
to meet goals for each other. No one wants to be above the rest. A strong
whole help everyone individually as well. A week whole causes resentment
and jealousy.
A look at Wiesel gives us insight to the effect of the political
institution on these Centers. Are these kids a product of our culture? If so
how do we keep this from occurring? The answer is not to lock them up.
What family bonds were available? Instead of locking the kids up, we need
to find our mistake! Rationality has an opportunity to fail here.
Residential treatment lets everyone be separate and define their own
meanings of life, between being and life itself. This helps each youth find
meaning in life virtue of their own experiences.
From here we can move to A. Huxtley. His views show what would
happen if culture completely displaced nature in society. This translates
to the society of a youth Center. Youth Centers are completely
denaturalized, almost to the point of being sterile. The futures of these
youth should not be predestined, and mapped out as in a youth center.
Here progress is mapped. In a residential style treatment setup the social
control is through self government and peer interactions, not a cultural
controlling body. Also the myth of progress is dismantles. Residential
treatment looks for change not progress. These ongoing changes allow for
humanness. There is an availability of true human values, not just the
pop culture presented in the prison center.
Finally, we can look at Freud. His ideas link the behaviors exhibited
to inner problems with family and society. He brings into question the
moral and cultural values instilled by other institutions such as church
and school. He trys to place things in several different categories. First,
The Eros and Thantos Dialectic. Agressivity hang in the balance here. Our
family structure should let us put the primary agressivity we have in
check. Regardless, Freud looks to the person and the cultural venue for
answers. A youth center is only a storage facility. There is no therapeutic
gain achieved in these Child Prisons. They merely use reactive measures
to stop behaviors, instead of looking for antecedents proactively. Once
again residential treatment has an edge. Through the self government,
relationship building process, and cultural challenges, the youth in these
settings work on the exterior antecedents that may be effecting their
behaviors . This ,in addition to clearing the distorted cultural view, also
provides a venue for problem solving and rational discussions of ideas. It
provides a vehicle for the youth to begin the self searching required to
look into some of these ideas and find a better reality. Growth and gain
for all is the key. For Freud, this is achieved by keeping drives in check
between the pleasure principle, our moral super ego, and the
authoritative "I" in the ego. Again, this is only done in residential
settings. Youth Centers only house children, hampering all these abilities
spoken about above.
I believe that the question of how to rehabilitate Juvenile Offenders is
simple. We must Fix kids instead of locking them up. The Ideas presented
here are the most sound way to do that. These theories allow for mental
growth, equality, change and freedom from censorship to new ideas. This
is exactly what these youth need. Their culture has limited them and
placed a veil over them in society. Residential treatment is the only way
to remedy this. The safety of idea exchange and the freedom of growth
allow for each youth to develop the personality needed to question the
right things and put the cultural puzzle together. Youth centers only let
them sit, and ponder the only culture they know. This makes the group
Fester and fall further down the rungs of the societal ladder. This setup
only hardens the veil of separation between the troubled youth and
society. As you can see residential treatment is the only alternative to
give these youth a chance to gain the skills needed for life today.