Vocation and Religion free essay sample

A discussion on the way in which Samuel Butler satirizes the idea that ones vocation must be religious or theological in the nature of its calling with reference to his book, The Way of All Flesh. The following paper examines the way in which Butler suggests religion can prove an obstacle to finding an individuals true purpose in life in his book , The Way of All Flesh.References are made to Robert Brownings poem Fra Lippo Lippi. and Tennysons Locksley Hall, in which both the central characters have vocations that are not religiously sanctioned vocations. Before the full flowering of the Victorian Era in British society, the nature of what constituted an individuals vocation was primarily understood primarily in theological terms. Even today, the Merriam Websters Collegiate Dictionary defines the word vocation as a summons or a strong inclination to a particular state or course of action but especially as a divine call to the religious life. We will write a custom essay sample on Vocation and Religion or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, the increasing interest in science, history, and secular identity caused Victorian society as a whole to undergo a profound destabilization. Both the religious and social moral structures that had prioritized religion as a means for providing an individual with his or her ideal occupation were called into question. Rather than viewing those called to the clergy as the only recipients of a unique gift or vocation, the idea that religion was the only calling an individual could experience is called into question in a number of Victorian narratives of self-understanding.

Free Essays on The Problem With Modern Education

The Problem With Modern Education Mark Edmundson provides a graphic portrayal of his opinion of college students and professors. He states that after the baby boom, â€Å"College became a buyers market. What students and their parents wanted had to be taken more and more into account. That usually meant creating more comfortable, less challenging environments, places where almost no one failed, everything was enjoyable, and everyone was nice† (Edmundson 153). Other authors, such as Brent Staples and John Holt also support this opinion. The belief that college professors are getting soft and students are getting lazy is not a new idea. These thoughts have been progressing towards their current state since the late 1980’s. Brent Staples believes that many college departments, especially those in the humanities, shower students with higher grades in order to keep low-demand classes at the minimum enrollment. â€Å"As a result of the university’s widening elective leeway, students have more power over teachers† (Edmundson 153). For example, at Drexel University, and many universities across the country, they are doing away with tenure and more and more professors are part-time, and have no security in their job. This leads to professors tailoring their instruction to what the student, the â€Å"consumer† wants and needs. Though the pressure on the professors to lower standards is very strong, there is little pressure put on students to perform to the standards that college used to be defined by. John Holt insists that school does nothing but corrupt young students and make them less curious, wise, and intuitive than they were before. College used to be a rite of passage for the few chosen intellectuals who would choose to broaden their horizons by means of further education. Higher education no longer gives students the knowledge they will need to succeed in the real working world. College has become so lax that stu... Free Essays on The Problem With Modern Education Free Essays on The Problem With Modern Education The Problem With Modern Education Mark Edmundson provides a graphic portrayal of his opinion of college students and professors. He states that after the baby boom, â€Å"College became a buyers market. What students and their parents wanted had to be taken more and more into account. That usually meant creating more comfortable, less challenging environments, places where almost no one failed, everything was enjoyable, and everyone was nice† (Edmundson 153). Other authors, such as Brent Staples and John Holt also support this opinion. The belief that college professors are getting soft and students are getting lazy is not a new idea. These thoughts have been progressing towards their current state since the late 1980’s. Brent Staples believes that many college departments, especially those in the humanities, shower students with higher grades in order to keep low-demand classes at the minimum enrollment. â€Å"As a result of the university’s widening elective leeway, students have more power over teachers† (Edmundson 153). For example, at Drexel University, and many universities across the country, they are doing away with tenure and more and more professors are part-time, and have no security in their job. This leads to professors tailoring their instruction to what the student, the â€Å"consumer† wants and needs. Though the pressure on the professors to lower standards is very strong, there is little pressure put on students to perform to the standards that college used to be defined by. John Holt insists that school does nothing but corrupt young students and make them less curious, wise, and intuitive than they were before. College used to be a rite of passage for the few chosen intellectuals who would choose to broaden their horizons by means of further education. Higher education no longer gives students the knowledge they will need to succeed in the real working world. College has become so lax that stu...