A Spiritual Reflection on an Embryo's and a Person's lives

Have you ever thought about the similarities that can be between the life of an embryo in the womb of the mother and a person's life in society? Even though it is hard to realize, there could be many common aspects between them, it is possible to assume that an embryo and a person have similar lives and understanding of life. In two societies, the womb and wherever a person lives, they meet their primary needs and they try to survive and protect themselves against anything that can endanger their life. Moreover, they live in a status of ignorance and confusion regarding their present and future. Therefore, an embryo and a person might be two faces of the same coin. An embryo and a person have very similar life style. They both live in an environment which helps them to grow and to become more mature biologically and psychologically. They both are fed by another person and without that other they may not survive even a day. Moreover, an embryo has a certain period of time to prepare itself for another step of life and he would not be able to do this without the help of the other, which is his mom, as well a man in the society has a limited period of time to get ready for another step which could be a possible life after death. Life is similar to a river which has a goal to reach the ocean, it is impossible thinking there is no any destination for such a sophisticated life. Therefore, the embryo and the man have a limited period of time to become enough mature for other societies like human and supernatural. Another common aspect of the life of an embryo and the life of a person consists in their ignorance and confusion of their transition situation. It will be hard for an embryo to think about a society other that the womb of its mother. As well, it will be unbelievable for a person to think about another life other that this physical society. Moreover, a baby in the womb of its mother never can imagine a life in full light in which he can walk and run. He can never believe in a life that he can eat whatever he likes and do whatever he would do. The same might be for a person who does not believe in another life in which he is not limited to meet his physical needs. It is very hard for a person to realize any future life after death without limitation of time and place. This is how it is for an embryo realizing a totally different life in which he can be free of close environment of womb. They both live in a status of ignorance because they have developed an empirical understanding of their life. Therefore, an embryo and a person do not differ very much from each other because they both experience a total ignorance of their presence and futures. In conclusion, there are many similarities between the life of an embryo and the life of a person in the society. They both want to meet their primary needs in order to become more mature physically and psychologically for another life. In addition, they both are not aware of their future because they live and think that is the end there will be nothing after that. They do not believe in light, they are pleased with that darkness which surrounds them, but one day that darkness will turn into the light and the truth will be discovered.

Being Positive

I believe that we must purify our hearts, minds and eyes. Many times what we think and what we say is a negative result of our personal experiences which should never be generalized as a current logic for all the world. Let us see the good in everything and be an optimistic person. My dear friend , look for the positive, think positively, see the positive side of everything and I'm sure you'll find the entire world positive. Remeber when you go to a party, you say "I want to enjoy this happy moment" It's right! this short life is like a happy moment in a party, so enjoy it in a right way before it is finished!

Contribution Of Renaissance To Art

In my opinion, one of the greatest events in the history of art was the Renaissance. The term "Renaissance" comes from the verb "born again", it was said that culture had died with the barbarian invasions and the fall of the Roman Empire, and it was reborn after a thousand years. Modern scholars say the beginning of the Renaissance was around the second decade of the fifteenth century, with the most famous work of Brunelleschi, the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore. It has two extreme phases: the Humanistic and Mannerist period. The Renaissance originated in Italy and from there expanded to all countries of Europe. The main centers of distribution were the Papal Rome, Florence and Venice. The Renaissance expressed the desire to revive the true face of classical art, and it is this fact that artists of the Renaissance inherited ideal of harmony and balance. The ideal man understood as a synthesis of beauty and goodness ideal of harmony between man and nature, between man and God, between reason and faith. One of the typical inventions of this period was the theory of one point perspective by Brunelleschi. We can see this in for the first time in Holly Trinity which is considered the masterwork of Masaccio with the assistance of Brunelleschi himself. The illusionism of the piece is perfect. It is approximately 20 feet tall and is placed on the side wall of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. Christ is represented on the top half, in a coffered, barrel-vaulted chapel. On one side of him is the Virgin Mary, and on the other, St. John. Christ himself is supported by God the Father, and the Dove of the Holy Spirit rests on Christ's halo. Another example of one point perspective is Perugino masterpiece on the wall of the Sistine chapel, which is a scene of Christ Delivering the keys of the Kingdom to Saint Peter. In addition, the greatest masters of Italian Renaissance are considered Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael. Leonardo da Vinci, became famous for his paintings "The Last Supper" and "Mona Lisa". The Last Supper covers the back wall of the dining hall at the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. The theme was a traditional one for refectories. The other great artist is Michelangelo, who was famous as a painter, sculptor and architect. His most famous paintings are the eleven frescos in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican and the famous "Last Judgment". His most important sculptures are "David", the "Moses" and the "Pieta. Then we have Raphael, who became famous for his "Madonna", portraits and paintings on religious themes. His most famous work in Vatican is The School of Athens, in which we see Plato and Aristotle surrounded by disciples. In the end, I wanted just to show that how great was the contribution of Renaissance to the art. I think there are many other artists and paintings with their specific styles that contributed the Renaissance, but I think it will be necessary write down a few books just to list them.

The Ideology Of Enlightenment

The Enlightenment is one of the most important intellectual movements in Europe in 17th centaury. It is an age of scientific discovery and industrial revolution. It expressed the conviction that man must be guided by the light of the reason. The Enlightenment originated in England in the late 16th century by the philosopher John Locke , and developed intensively in France from 1630 to 1700. One of the most important French philosophers, mathematicians, physicists of this time was René Descartes (1596—1650). His philosophy will be called Cartesian philosophy. He is the first one who asked who am I. I think therefore I am. He believed in consciousness of himself. He was convinced that we construct who we are. He though about the contradiction with religion, saying God made me or I made myself. Decardes is the first who said I think so I can understand whatever is related in me. It's rational. He talked about the rational prove and science, like how the water becomes steam. The Enlightenment influenced many European painters of the middle and late 1700s. Increasingly, artists looked for inspiration in the material world—in nature and human nature. Some artists showed an Enlightenment interest in science and social issues in their work. Others emphasized a new sensitivity toward individuals.
It's interesting to see who lived between 1700-1780. There are no many artists, because of French academy, which in its high point says how it's possible to become a good French person? Obviously, by being as well as Raphael and not better than him. That's why there is no any master artist in 18 century. We see in 1784 Jacques Louis David who is one of the greatest artist in the modern world. In this year he painted Oath of the Horatii which is the important painting by which David has been accepted in the French Academy . It shows the continuation of the standards of Poussin as he interpreted Raphael and it's called Neo-Classical. It has political and controversial aspects such fighting for a French cause and patriotism. It's interesting to see in 100 years there are no big changes between Poussin's Death of Germanicus and the Oath of the Horatii. In these years the painting had political themes and later we see the result of this philosophy of equality and rights in French revolution in 1789.

Edik Baroni: David In The History Of Renaissance Art

Edik Baroni: David In The History Of Renaissance Art

Edik Baroni: Impact Of Protestant Reformation On Art

Edik Baroni: Impact Of Protestant Reformation On Art

Impact Of Protestant Reformation On Art

The sixteenth century is also characterized as the period of the great religious conflicts that lead to the disintegration of Christian unity in Europe. During the pontificate of Leo X de 'Medici (1513-1521) becomes evident the need to renew the Church spiritually and morally. In 1517 Martin Luther, an Augustinian theologian, put up at the portal of the Church of All Saints in Wittenberg his ninety five theses saying that salvation comes to man not because of works but by grace of God and the Holly Scripture must be interpreted freely by each individual. According to Protestants, in most cases the use of representations by the church was useless. For them the sacred images led them to look for the image itself instead of the God's word. This could direct Christians to practice idolatry and superstition. The Protestants were not only against the use of religious representations (frescoes, altarpieces, sculptures) or preventing its creation, but they also started destroying existing ones. Zwingli and Calvin were intransigent to any images and tinsel of the Church. The term "iconoclasm" breaking images" is one of important conflicts against the art of that time.Catholic Church responded to all these by the Council of Trent by antireform. The decision of the Council was very important for the Catholic Church and for centuries it became a guide which conducted the clergy. They establish very sever and rigid rules for artist. They had to adhere to compliance of Church iconology. This was the price that the Church had to pay to defend the value of its art against the risk of idolatry and superstitions.
Moreover the Council of Trent, concerned with theological issues of religious images confirmed the decision of the Second Council of Nice 325 AD, which agreed to the preservation and worship of representations of Christ and Virgin and other saints. The Council of Trent introduced also a new teaching and emphasized the value of sacred art. They stressed that images can be used as a complementary visual record of Scriptures but there must be no mistakes, and the artist should avoid secular or immoral subjects. The religious and sacred art should be universally understandable and refrain from any bizarre. As we can see the protestant reform influenced the north of Europe and became a sort of obstacle of improving the religious and sacred art in their protestant territory. However, the reform and protestant opposition to Christian art led the Catholic Church to great advances in sacred art. The anti reform decision was to convert the hearts of Christians by sacred images as opposed to the Protestant Reform which wanted to rule the minds by Scripture.