Peculiarities of the Phenomenon of Overcoming Death by Hero and Saint

Late antiquity is marked by substitution of the heroic ideal by the ideal of sainthood. Preliminary studies has shown that victory of Christianity was not the victory of the one God over the many, it was a victory of man over the institutions of their past. The article discusses changing the perception of the Death from antique heroes to Christian saints. Antique ideology introduced heroes who achieve everlasting glory and fame by performing physical power, courage and heroism. They die in the battlefield a ‚καλὸς θάνατος‛ and defeat the death by their everlasting glory. This conception is destroyed in ‘Meditations’ of Marcus Aurelius: everlasting remembrance is ephemeral, after-fame is vanity. Christianity introduced a completely different path. Saints deny ephemeral material life and glory and seek martyrdom in order to attain eternal life. That common paradigm can be discerned in hagiography about warrior saints – soldiers of the Roman Empire renouncing their military service to become soldiers of Christ. Lately, in the High Middle Ages, warrior saints images contributed to the notion of the Holy War. Participants in the Holy War were promised a spiritual reward, such as remission of their sins and assurance of a place in paradise. Thus two main ways could be identified to overcome the death: everlasting glory, which defeats the death and eternal life, which denies the death. These peculiarities of Antique and Christian attitudes enable us to clarify the significance of the symbolic meaning of military service and weapon that goes back to Plato and was adopted by Christianity

Embodied revelation: The threat of sudden cardiac death for implantable cardioverter defibrillator candidates

BACKGROUND: Heart failure is a severe, chronic condition characterized by high mortality and high morbidity. Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of death for people with heart failure as well as the primary cause of death in the United States. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) represent the standard of care as the only effective therapy for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. However, a significant proportion of qualifying heart failure patients declines this life-saving device. Nurses are charged with advocating for well-informed patient decisions. Yet, there is little extant literature that addresses the decision-making process for patients considering an ICD. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the decision-making process heart failure patients experience when considering a primary prevention ICD. METHODS: This classic grounded theory study utilized purposive sampling to recruit 12 heart failure patients who had been offered primary prevention ICD implantation. Data from open-ended interviews were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The grounded theory of embodied revelation: the threat of sudden cardiac death for ICD candidates describes the decision-making process of heart failure patients considering an ICD. The theory consists of four stages and a critical juncture. The first stage of the theory is living in conscious denial in which patients are aware on some level that they have heart failure and that they could die from this condition. Regardless of the degree of understanding, the awareness of true mortality risk is repressed. The stage ends abruptly with the critical juncture of grasping the threat of sudden cardiac death when the patient begins to comprehend the risk of death and the second stage of heightening awareness begins if the condition of valuing longevity is met. This stage is usually precipitated by a significant medical event and newly realized candor displayed by the health care provider concerning the significant death risk and recommendation for an ICD. Patients who declined ICD therapy remain in the first stage. They did not experience the critical juncture and never moved to the second stage of heightening awareness. The third stage of sanctioning ICD therapy begins while the patient is still experiencing some degree of anxiety related to a new understanding of the risk of death and the life-saving capabilities of the ICD. The decision to accept the device occurs rather quickly. At this point, the patient usually takes on a passive role and acquiesces to their provider\u27s recommendation. The final stage of the theory, living in new assurance, describes how the heart failure patient continues to consider and support the decision made often downplaying the rigor of the process. The patient enjoys a more blissful state of assurance fueled by a new sense of security with having an ICD.;CONCLUSIONS: Embodied revelation: the threat of sudden cardiac death for ICD candidates explains the complex decision-making process surrounding an invasive life-sustaining therapy. This new grounded theory has profound implications for research, nursing and medical practice, and bioethical considerations

Insurance company financial management by optimising premium level: the case of Poland

The article, which falls within the terms of reference of insurance risk analysis, presents research on the death risk regional differentiation and its influence on the level of insurance and social security premiums. The article is divided into four parts. The first one describes probability of death as a measure of calculated death risk and presents synthetic results of death probability estimates for individual Polish voivodships. In the second part net life insurance premiums calculated separately for individual voivodships and premiums calculated with the average death risk factor for the entire territory of Poland are compared. Part three discusses the effect of the regional premium and death risk differentiation method on financial management of insurance companies indicating the value of the insurance fund established. The said fund has been calculated on the basis of the method presented and without the application of the regional premium differentiation method. In conclusion, recommendations are made concerning the possible application of the regional premium differentiation by insurance companies

Confidence in Christ and the Sin Unto Death - When Should a Believer Not Pray?

John’s instructions in 1 John 5:13-21 represent several well-known issues in New Testament studies. Writing on this passage could well feel like entering into an already raging battle. Opinions on this passage are almost as numerous as the authors who write about 1 John. About the only non-controversial aspect of these 9 verses involves the issue of confidence for Christians. The issue of assurance or confidence in knowing about eternal life (and other related issues) is a constant theme in 1 John. John consistently emphasizes the reality of salvation as coming through only one source—the incarnate Jesus, God in the flesh. This relationship with the incarnate God creates confidence in the life of the believer to the degree that he or she has a reasonable expectation that God will hear and respond to the believer’s prayers. In chapter 5:13-21, however, John seems to raise an issue with this view by discussing a situation in which believers may not pray for others—when those others have committed the “sin unto death.” John’s exclusive gospel seems challenged here if John is asking believers to avoid praying for other believers who have committed the “sin unto death.” A consideration of the context of John’s brief epistle may yield clues to understanding this topic in a way that keeps confidence intact while challenging the attitudes and actions of the false teachers mentioned in 1 John. In fact, a close look at sections of 1 John 3 may well yield the exegetical clue for readers to better understand the controversial issues raised in 1 John 5. To accomplish this goal, a brief overview of John’s letter will be given, some major themes will be delineated, and a comparison between the language and thought of chapters 3 and 5 will be offered. Then, with that information in hand, an interpretation of 1 John 5:13-21 will be attempted with special attention to the issues of confidence, prayer, and sin. An overview of John’s letter will provide context for these later discussions

Expectations and promises

Discusses the Chancery Division judgment in Thorner v Curtis on a claim by an unpaid farm worker, who was led to expect that he would inherit the farm. Examines whether proprietary estoppel could be proved even if the deceased landowner made no express promise. Reviews case law on proprietary estoppel

Car wash water recycling system

The high rate of transportation and vehicle washing centers led to an increase in water consumption. When the water consumption increase, the amount of wastewater discharged and the cost of utility will also increase. Only the right technique used for washing the vehicles can minimize the amount of water consumption. Conservation of water will not only save the water supply, but it will also help in financial savings. Recycling and reusing the water from the car wash means collecting, processing, and treating the contaminated water to remove the dirt and contaminants and using the treated water again for car washing. As cars body always stained with dirt and dust while driving, some dirt such as small stones might stuck and penetrate into the wheels and caused major damage. Thus, a regular car wash usually is needed for every vehicle to avoid this problem. Moreover, getting a regular car wash can also improve car performance. Hence, periodically car washing is one of the best ways to preserve and maintain the performance of vehicles

Romans 8: The Christian\u27s Power for Victory over Sin

The most strategic epistle in the NT is the Book of Romans where the clearest and most comprehensive explanation of the gospel and the principles of the Christian life. No Book in the NT is more important to understand thoroughly than is the Book of Romans. This Study Guide is an inductive study where definitions and grammatical significance are presented, followed by an application question or several related verses for the student to examine for comparable concepts. This guide is ideal for online studies, home Bible studies or the basis for classroom discussions