The Problem of Evil Augustine and Irenaeus Essay Example

The Problem of Evil: Augustine and Irenaeus Paper Explain how the theodicy of Irenaeus differs from that of Augustine. One of the main arguments used by non-believers against the existence of God is the presence of evil and suffering in the world. The term ‘evil’ is often used to describe something that is morally wrong. Philosophers make a distinction between moral evil and natural evil. Moral evil results from human actions that are morally reproachable, and Natural evil results from the malfunctioning of the natural world, which produces entities such as disease and famine. St Augustine (354 – 430CE) based his arguments on the Bible, especially the accounts of the creation and the fall in Genesis. His influential theodicy rests upon two major assumptions; evil did not come from God since God’s creation was faultless and perfect, and evil came from elsewhere and God is justified in allowing it to stay. Augustine started from the assumption that God is wholly good and that God created a world free from faults. Following the teaching in Genesis 1, Augustine emphasised that ‘All God has made pleased Him’; suffering and evil were therefore unknown. He made the logical point that it is not possible for God to be responsible for evil since evil is ‘not a substance’. Instead, evil refers to what is lacking in a thing; it is a ‘privation of good’. Augustine used the analogy of blindness, which is not an entity in itself but an absence of sight. If God cannot have created evil, Augustine traced its origin to those areas within the world that have free will; specifically, angels and human beings. These abused God’s gift of freedom and chose wilfully to turn their attention away from God, the supreme good, and to idolise instead ‘lesser goods’. We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem of Evil: Augustine and Irenaeus specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem of Evil: Augustine and Irenaeus specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Problem of Evil: Augustine and Irenaeus specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In keeping with the story of the fall in Genesis 3, he argued that the desire for power proved too much for Adam and Eve, who were tempted by Satan, a fallen angel, to break God’s command and to eat the forbidden fruit. Having explained the origin of evil, Augustine went on to show that all suffering is a fully deserved consequence of human sin. Natural evil originated from the loss of order within nature following the first sin. This destroyed the delicate balance of the world. From then on, there was to be hostility between humans and other creatures. Humans would have to battle constantly to grow enough food. Pain, such as that resulting in childbirth, entered the world, along with death. The first sin also caused the world to become distanced from God. In this new and damaged environment, remote from God, moral evil flourished and spread. Augustine concluded his theory with a reminder of God’s grace: if God was simply just, everyone would go to their rightful punishment in Hell. Through His grace, however, God sent His son to die on the cross so that some might be saved and go to Heaven. This shows that God is merciful as well as just. Irenaeus (c. 130 – 202CE), as with Augustine, traced evil back to human free will. He differs in that he admits that God did not make a perfect world and that evil has a valuable role to play in God’s plan for humans. Unlike Augustine, Irenaeus admitted that God is partly responsible for evil. His responsibility extends to creating humans imperfectly, and making it their task to develop to perfection. This idea is based upon Irenaeus’ interpretation of Genesis, where God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. ’ Irenaeus concluded that at first, humans were made in God’s image and only later would develop into His likeness. For Irenaeus, being in God’s image involved having intelligence, morality, and personality, yet it lacked completion. Completion would only be gained upon transformation into God’s likeness. It was Irenaeus’ claim that evil was an essential means to this transformation. Irenaeus explained that humans did choose evil, which is why the fall occurred. But although evil clearly makes life difficult, it nevertheless is beneficial in that it enables us to understand what good is; â€Å"How, if we had no knowledge of the contrary, could we have instruction in that which is good? † – Irenaeus. Having explained the necessity of both potential and actual evil, Irenaeus looked ahead to Heaven, where everybody will have completed the development into God’s likeness, and where the sufferings on Earth will have been long forgotten.

Getting To The Reader Essays - Stalking, English-language Films

Getting To The Reader Essays - Stalking, English-language Films Getting To The Reader We have read or heard many stories throughout our lives. We know that stories can vary in purpose: They can either teach a moral lesson or entertain. Some stories interest us; others do not. In order for a story to be interesting, it must be told in a way that does not bore or confuse the reader. This story must have elements that attenuate to a central purpose. These elements (setting, character, plot, point of view, symbol, theme, etc.) forge the thoughts and ideas of the author. Joyce Carol Oates Stalking tells the tale of a young girl growing up in modern suburbia. Stalking is a critical review of modern American society and shows the detrimental effects that it can have on a young child. The main character in this story is stalking the Invisible Adversary, who is the personification of the neglect that she has received in her life. In order to send this message to the reader, Oates emphasizes the point of view of the main character, plot, and setting in her short story Stalking. The narrator of Stalking is omniscient as she follows the main character, Gretchen, throughout a city. She shows us that Gretchen is anti-social: If forced, she takes part in games (Oates 162) and she just stands around, her face empty, her arms crossed and her shoulders a little slumped (162). We also see that Gretchen is oblivious: Gretchen waits until [traffic] is nearly cleara single car is approaching. (Oates 161) and she plods through a jumbled, bulldozed field of mud and thistles and debris that is mainly rocks and chunks of glass (162). Although the narrator visually guides us on this journey, she also lets us into the mind of Gretchen - we see things from Gretchens point of view. Thoughts of Ill get you (Oates 161)Out of my wayYoull be sorry for that(162) shows us that Gretchen is angry and spiteful. Her anger and spitefulness are directed towards her Invisible Adversary - an imaginary playmate that she has created. Why is she angry, anti-social, and spiteful? Why is she stalking the Invisible Adversary? The linear plot quickly builds in this story and answers our questions at the end. As the Invisible Adversary leads Gretchen from place to place around town, Gretchen continues to shows us her audacious behavior everywhere she goes. In one afternoon, she knocks over a garbage can, steals, vandalizes a restroom, and ruins a dress. Her reckless attitude is further shown when the narrator describes Gretchens appearance. She is stocky and could be good at gym, if she bothered (Oates 162). There is also a bit of irony and contradiction when the narrator describes her face. She has untidy, curly haireyebrows heavy and darka stern, staring look, like an adult man(Oates 164). Her nose is perfectly formedher face is attractive (Oates 165). We now know that she was not born unattractive; she chooses to be unattractive. A precursor for the explanation of Getchens behavior is when she does not acknowledge h er mother at the mall. That moment in the story indicates that Gretchen feels some resentment towards her mother. We later find out why she resents them - Her mother is probably still shopping, her father is out of town for the weekend (Oates 166). Gretchens parents neglect her. She fills the void in her life, created by her parents neglect, by creating an Invisible Adversary. Of course, she is angered by their neglect and therefore is angry with the Invisible Adversary. Oates places this story in modern suburban America (no later than 1972). Without this setting the story does not have much meaning. Gretchens parents neglect is caused by the leisure of modern America. Gretchen is raised in a big white colonial home (Oates 166) where her mother is engrossed in shopping and her father is out on a business or fishing trip. Even though she is raised in a house of comfort and privilege, she is unhappy with her life. Not even the material objects in a nearby shopping mall can please her. In fact, she defiles anything that represents privilege and comfort, including her white boots, lipstick, toothpaste, a dress, her home, and herself. The narrator

How to Teach the Present Perfect for ESL Students

How to Teach the Present Perfect for ESL Students The present perfect is one of the most difficult tenses to learn for students. Teaching the present perfect effectively involves making sure students understand that the present perfect in English is always connected in some way to the present moment in time. Many languages including French, German, Spanish and Italian use the present perfect for past events. The present perfect in English covers what happens from a past moment to the present moment in time. Establishing this connection in students minds early will help students avoid mistakes. It helps to divide usage into three major areas: 1) From the past until now: Ive lived in New York for twenty years. 2) Life experience: Ive visited every state in the country. 3) Recent past events that influence the present moment: Ive just had lunch. Start by Speaking about Your Experiences Introduce the present perfect by providing three short situations One about life experiences, one speaking about some things that started in the past and continue into the present. Finally, also illustrate the present perfect for events that influence the present moment in time. Speak about yourself, your family or your friends. Life Experience: Ive visited many countries in Europe. Ive been to Germany and France a few times. My wife has also been in Europe quite a lot. However, our daughter has never visited.Past to Present: My friend Tom has a number of hobbies. Hes played chess for more than fifteen years. Hes surfed since he was a little boy, and hes practiced the art of the Japanese tea ceremony since September.Recent Events that Influence the Present:  Wheres Pete? I think hes gone to lunch, but hes been away for about ten minutes. I know hes been to the bank this afternoon so hes probably decided he needs a nice meal.  Ask students about the differences in these forms. Once the differences have been understood, return to your short scenarios and ask students related questions using the present perfect.Life Experience: Ive visited many countries in Europe. Which countries have you visited? Have you ever been to XYZ?Past to Present: My friend Tom has a number of hobbies. Hes played chess for more th an fifteen years. Which hobbies do you have? How long have you done them? Recent Events that Influence the Present:  What have we just studied? Have you understood the form? Explaining the Present Perfect Using the verbs youve introduced, quickly ask students the infinitive form for each verb. (i.e. Which verb is gone? - go, Which verb is bought? - buy, etc.). After having studied the past simple, students should recognize that many past verbs in -ed whereas others have irregular forms. Introduce the past participle form use in the present perfect. Its a good idea to provide an irregular verb sheet for future reference. Use three timelines showing the differences between usages: life experience, past to present, and recent events. At this point in the curriculum, students should easily be able to switch between positive, negative and question forms. However, its important to point out that questions in the present perfect are most often formed with How long for past to present usage, and Have you ever..? for life experiences. Finally, for present perfect that affects the present moment, its important that students understand the differences between the time expressions just, yet and already as well as for and since for past to present. Comprehension Activities Each of these uses of the present perfect can be practiced through present perfect role plays and reading comprehension activities. Its also a good idea to compare and contrast time expressions used for the present perfect and past simple. Present perfect worksheets and quizzes focusing on differences asking students to choose between the present perfect or the past simple will also help. To practice switching between the present perfect and the simple past practice short conversations with Have you ever...? followed by a question asking for specifics with when, or where. Have you ever been to France? - Yes, I have.When did you go there?Have you bought a car? - Yes, I haveWhen did you buy one? Challenges with the Present Perfect Common challenges with the present perfect include: Use of present perfect for events that happened in the pastSwitching between present perfect and past simple fluidlyUse of yet and already in questions, negative and positive formsUse of since with dates and for with periods of time

English colonization on the indigenous peoples of the New World in the Research Paper

English colonization on the indigenous peoples of the New World in the 16th and 17th centuries - Research Paper Example In ancient times the concept of colony is found in Greek city states. According to Toynbee apart from Athens and Sparta, all the Greek city states established their colonies on different parts. Greek city states developed colonies in order to fulfill the needs of their growing population1. Modern era of colonialism is normally associated with the discovery of America in 1492 by Columbus. Spain established its colonies in the New World and shortly afterwards other European countries followed the suit. The fall of Spain gave place to England and France to fight for the new found world along with already known world of India and Africa. In this fight between the two European powers, England prevailed. English colonies were established worldwide and they boasted that sun never set on the British Empire. American history begins with the clash of Europeans and Native American people. The above statement is true for modern times, which ignores the past of New World. Archeology has revealed the old world of America but normally it is ignored and least discussed. For current purpose the focus will be on the 16th and 17th centuries. The Native Americans, who first came into contact with Europeans, had their culture and values. They used to speak some 300 to 350 distinct languages and different ways of living. The Aztecs and Incas were two great empires of this New World and their remains testify the greatness achieved by these empires. These native people first faced Spanish settlers. The sheer power and brute force humbled the indigenous population and this was the method, which was to be used by later colonial powers. English settlers tried their luck at the East and there the indigenous population despite its variation lived in similar ways. They depended on agriculture, which was done by female population. Indigenous population did not keep herds of domestic animals and Male population used to hunt and fish. They used to live in family groups but loyal to larger kin and clan. There used to be one chief, who ruled by consent. The first major impact of colonialism on indigenous population was epidemic diseases. The life style of local population was different as they never kept herds and never lived with animals. On the other hand Europeans and Asian used to live near their domestic animals. The diseases, which were spread in the local population, resulted in the death of countless people. Mann says that "what happened after Columbus was like a thousand kudzus everywhere." "Throughout the hemisphere," he wrote, "ecosystems cracked and heaved like winter ice."2 Estimates of the population of the Americas at the time Columbus arrived have varied enormously. Some have argued that existing estimates of a high pre-Columbian indigenous population are rooted in a bias against aspects of Western civilization and/or Christianity. The indigenous population in 1492 was not necessarily at a high point, and may have already been in decline. Indigenous populat ions in most areas of the Americas reached a low point by the early twentieth century, and in a number of cases started to climb again. Native Americans suffered profoundly because of their remoteness from the rest of the world. Europe, Africa, and Asia had been trading knowledge and technologies for centuries. Societies on all three continents had learned to use iron and kept herds of domestic

Philosophy Of Aesthetics Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Philosophy Of Aesthetics - Article Example To some, aesthetics is thought to be a study of critical language, or criticism of works of art. In critiquing works of art, it is suggested that a better question than 'Is it Art' would be 'Is it important' or 'Does it matter' (Burke, et al. 1993). According to An Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "criticism, and aesthetics, involve a sort of arduous thinking that isn't usually asked of people, and is produced normally only by artists . . .". The values irrevocably linked to works of art, as well as the choices that have to be made (Burke, et al. 1993) help us to understand how works of art travel through time to reach our eyes and ears. Understanding the values creates more understanding about the choices that have been made in the art's history. A painting by Rembrandt may be set aside or even discarded if it doesn't measure up to the values of the artist's body of work, or the times in which they are shown. Once that choice is made, the history of the artwork changes completely. Values are also about the 'norms', implied or not, of the art world. As in any part of human endeavor, trying to achieve the norm, the standard, often becomes only successful in achieving mediocrity. Values are the guidelines that great works of art must step outside to achieve greatness. ... History has watched art that has found great popularity and success become invisible when it becomes the 'norm' or is standardized. It becomes wallpaper. So what makes art last Is it beauty What is beauty In Webster's dictionary, aesthetic is defined as an appreciation of beauty. It is the only definition of aesthetic. In philosophy, aesthetic has no definition, only description., many descriptions. As for beauty, it is, of course, in the eye of the beholder. But this does not stop critics from deciding what is beautiful and what is not, which helps some to feel the security of those boundaries, while infuriating others who are imprisoned by them. For who hasn't stood at a window on a gray, rainy day and appreciated the dim, dreary landscape as beautiful in its way Yet there are many who will look out the window and simply say, "I don't like rain." Interpretation of art is different from evaluation, critique and judgements. Interpretation involves explanations of things that are not obvious to the viewer, or listener. Evaluation is more objective and might be thought of as having more to do with the actual piece of art and its explicit components. Critique and judgements are the defining remarks that are based on many factors, which include interpretation, evaluation, personal taste, historical reference, and many others. A tertiary conversation within the realm of aesthetic philosophy is the question 'Is Art Dead', Rosenstein (2002) puts forward the idea that not art but art theory is dead. The pallbearer has been brought to the art scene many times before and been disappointed to find it still breathing. Art is not dead but there are eras that are so lacking in originality that they

Early Childhood Influences Your Outcome in Life Essay Example for Free

Early Childhood Influences Your Outcome in Life Essay In the early years of your childhood, is the time when you learn most of your traits that will make you who you are for the rest of your life. Whether your parents held you enough when you are a child can determine if you are successful in life, or if you drop out of high school and start beating your wife and kids. If you teach your kids when they are little to tie their shoes or to spell their name than they are more likely to like school, your culture can determine whether they do well in school or if they don’t understand from the beginning. Some researchers say that if you have a good parent that loves you, spends time with you, or well if they really just help you out while you are a child your child has a better chance at doing well at school because they aren’t starting so far behind. If you have a low economic standing than child usually just fall back into the gangs, or drugs because they don’t have the support to stop and get out. Your outcome in life almost always stems from how you are treated as a child. When you start school you are thrown into a mix of people, some can read already and write while others don’t even know their name. If you start kindergarten and you are already so far behind than it’s hard to catch back up. If the child wasn’t shown their numbers before because their parents didn’t help them very much while they were growing up. If as a parent you isolate your children by not educating them or leaving them by themselves while doing homework than they’re going to have a hard time trying to figure out what to do, and they know that their parents aren’t there to check in on the homework. Michael Thompson, Ph.D. A parent may be working out of the home, or need to be working in the home and cooking dinner. So if you are home, stay close, and if you are not there, have another adult check to make sure its going OK. And remember that all homework is not equal, so not everything will need your rapt attention. Research says that you need to have some interaction while the child is doing their homework. Whenever you send the children away to school yes they are away but you need to help and stay informed because it isn’t always the students fault that they are getting in trouble maybe they just don’t understand something or the teacher isn’t explaining it the way they need to learn it. As a parent you need to help your children out because it will affect their outcome in life, because if every time they try and ask a question and the teacher yells at them obviously they aren’t going to ask; but if as a parent they stay informed with the teacher than the parent can help on the home end too. Socioeconomic standing is very important to how a child will develop. In low socioeconomic areas there is very poor education, low parental control, and a high gang/violence rate. If you are brought up with only knowing the life of the streets you have a higher percentage of staying there. This is because you are â€Å"born into it†, if you have the ability to go to a high achieving school get good grades and have peers that do the same then obviously you are going to do better. For an example I inserted the graph above if you are born into a higher-class family you are more than likely going to stay there, but if you are born into a lower class family you are more likely to stay there (graph found on You’re Born Into It America sited in the bibliography). There is the example of gang violence, which is an element that thrives in the lower class; it gives power, brotherhood, family and money. Gangs are a large part of what hold some of the brightest people back. In California alone males ranging from 7th-12th grade 50.9% of males were associated with gangs; that was in 2010. Living in a socioeconomically depressed neighborhood makes it hard enough to get out and make it on your own but the fact that there are gangs influencing these minors left and right make it even harder. A great example of someone growing out of a socioeconomically depressed neighborhood is Julian Castro who was the first Latino keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention. Castro was raised in San Antonio by a single mother who worked her hardest to proved all she could for her two sons. Julian and his brother Joaquà ­n both worked very hard to get out of their depressed area so that they could provide for their mother. They both graduated from high school and were accepted to Stanford, then to Harvard. These to Hispanics made the choice to be hard working and expand their view on living, they knew there was more to life than not having anything. One of the main reasons they were able to do so well is that their mother and grandmother helped them as much as they could. Julian became the first keynote speaker to be a Latino because he wanted to beat the odds; he did not want to end up like the people he saw around him. Another great story is President Barak Obama’s he was born in Hawaii, his father and mother both left him to be brought up by his grandparents. They did not have very much money and Barry had to find his own way to pay for college since no one set that up for him. Obama had a very hard life growing up, working multiple jobs, keeping his grades up, studying for tests and trying to get scholarships so he could go to college. He did it though, and now he is the most important man in the United States and possibly the world. He worked his way out of the life he had as a child and did not want that life for his future children. In president Obama’s speech after the 2012 election he said â€Å"†¦you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the united states of America, the best is yet to come.† He was speaking of each persons individual journey in this country, you have the choice to grow up and try and your hardest to make a better life for yourself even if your parents are not there all the time. The U.S.’s census bureau reported that around 30% of families in America are being headed by a single parent. These houses may be dysfunctional and â€Å"doomed to failure† (usg.org) but many people that have grown up in a single parent home have had just as much attention as someone that has two parents. In America, 22 million children have a one-parent household, a mother runs 83% of those houses and half of those mothers do not receive any type of child support to help out. Not receiving child support have put 70% of single parent moms in poverty making on average $13,00 annually. Currently there are over 9.8 million mothers as a single parent. Living in that type of poverty is hard to do but plenty of people are able to do it and grow up and become an amazing person with a great future. The people who say that because they live in poverty they are always going to be poor are going to stay there because it takes hard work and dedication to grow out of the socioeconom ically depressed neighborhood you grew up in. In 2000 the National Assessment of Educational Progress found that 90% of 4th grade parents participated in parent-teacher conferences among the 8th grade that number dropped to about 57%. Parents believe that once you are in middle school you can do your homework by yourself because the parents are not helpful since they do not remember it themselves. In elementary school parents are totally involved since everyone is still a â€Å"child† but you do not grow out of adolescence till you are 18 because you are not a legal adult so parents should be helping their children out till they are a senior in high school because that is why you have parents. Many schools do not even reach out to a parent if their child is failing or being suspended, because well they are an adult now. It is said that most children who have a strong parental backing through high school will do better in college. The students who have a parent helping them choose the road they follow 97% of the time make better choices when it comes to drugs, sex and partying in college. In Isanti County only 69% of parents attend conferences while the percent for lower grades is higher. Researchers say its because in elementary schools teachers have on average 20-30 children total while middle and high school teachers have over 120 students so its a lot harder to keep in touch with parents. That is why parents need to stay involved with their child’s education. Your childhood has influences on your outcome in life of course but you can change the out come of your life and make it what ever you want it to be. Being born into poverty does not mean you have to stay there the rest of your life. Parental involvement and personal goals are how you change your outcome. Obama and the Castro twins are perfect depictions of how goals that are met can make you what ever you would like to become. References Barack Obama Biography Facts, Birthday, Life Story Biography.com . (n.d.). Famous Biographies TV Shows Biography.com. Retrieved November 11, 2012, from http://www.biography.com/people/barack-obama-12782369?page=3 Julian Castro Biography Facts, Birthday, Life Story Biography.com. (n.d.). Famous Biographies TV Shows Biography.com. Retrieved November 12, 2012, from http://www.biography.com/people/julian-castro-20967527 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Emerging Trends. (n.d.). FBI. Retrieved November 11, 2012, from http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/2011-national-gang-threat-assessment 774,000 gang members and 27,900 gangs active in the US: Crime News à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬  Crime in America.Net. (n.d.). Crime in America.Net: Crime, Violent Crime, Criminals, Crime News, Statistics and Research. Retrieved November 11, 2012, from http://crimeinamerica.net/2010/04/01/774000-gang-members-and-27900-gangs-active-in-the-us-crime-news/ Adolescence: Are Parents Relevant to Students High School Achievement and Post-Secondary Attainment? / Browse Our Publications / Publications Resources / HFRP Harvard Family Research Project. (n.d.). HFRP Home / HFRP Harvard Family Research Project. Retrieved November 11, 2012, from http://www.hfrp.org/publications-resources/browse-our-publications/adolescence-are-parents-relevant-to-students-high-school-achievement-and-post-secondary-attainment El ementary, r. U. (n.d.). Reports of Gang Membership, by Gender and Grade Level: 2008-2010 Kidsdata.org . Kidsdata: Data and Resources about the Health of Children . Retrieved November 12, 2012, from http://www.kidsdata.org/data/topic/table/gang-gender.aspx?f=1loc=2,127,347,1763,331,348,336,171,321,345,357,332,324,369,358,362,360,337,327,364,356,217,353,328,354,323,352,320,339,334,365,343,330,367,344,355,366,368,265,349,361,4,273,59,370,326,333,322,3 Helping With Homework. (n.d.). PBS. Retrieved November 12, 2012, from http://www.pbs.org/parents/goingtoschool/helping_homework.html Living With One Parent Vertical Thought | United Church of God. (n.d.). United Church of God. Retrieved November 12, 2012, from http://www.ucg.org/marriage-and-family/living-one-parent/ President ObamaÃÆ' ¢Ãƒâ€šÃ¢â€š ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ¢â€ž ¢s Election Night Speech Video Feature NYTimes.com. (n.d.). The New York Times Breaking News, World News Multimedia. Retrieved November 11, 2012, from http://www.nytimes.com /interactive/2012/11/06/us/politics/06-obama-election-night-speech.html Sias, E. (n.d.). Concerns discussed with low parent-teacher conference attendance in Braham | The Isanti County News. The Isanti County News. Retrieved November 8, 2012, from http://isanticountynews.com/2012/11/20/concerns-discussed-with-low-parent-tea

Childhood Sexual Abuse Impacting the Etiology of Eating Disorders Essay

Childhood Sexual Abuse Impacting the Etiology of Eating Disorders Today's literature estimates that as many as 1 in 3 females and 1 in 7 boys have been the victim of sexual abuse. There are about 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of incest each year in each major city in the United States. It is reported by the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse that in 1993, 2.9 million children were reported to protective services because they were being abused, neglected, or both (Schwartz). 16% of these 2.9 million children had been sexually abused. It is estimated that there are 60 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse in America today http://www.prevent-abuse-now.com/stats.htm#Disclosure. This childhood sexual abuse has been implicated by some eating disorder experts as a factor in the etiology of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Eating disorder experts are currently engaged in heated debate concerning whether sexual abuse is a specific risk factor or a general risk factor in the development of eating disorders. Those who propose a spec ific link hypothesis believe that eating disorders are directly related to early sexual abuse and are a form of gender specific posttraumatic stress disorder. The proponents of the specific link hypothesis believe that their exists "complex, multiple mediating mechanisms between sexual abuse and disordered eating" (Kearney-Cook, 1994). They believe that sexual abuse has a direct effect on the victims body image. There is an emphasis on the "adverse effects of sexual abuse on body esteem, self-regulation, identity, and on interpersonal functioning" (Kearney-Cook, 1994). Those on the opposite side of the argument believe that eating disorders are not specifically caused by sex... ...ke-Kearney, Ann and Striegel-Moore, Ruth H. (1994). Treatment of Childhood Sexual Abuse in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa: A Feminist Psychodynamic Approach. International Journal Of Eating Disorders, 4, 305 - 319 Waller, Glenn. (1991). Sexual Abuse as a Factor in Eating Disorders. British Journal of Psychiatry, 159, 664 - 671 Kinzl, Johann F., et al. (1994). Family Background and Sexual Abuse Associated with Eating Disorders. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 151, 1127 - 1130 Moyer, Diane M, et al. (1997). Childhood Sexual Abuse and Precursors of Binge Eating in an Adolescent Female Population. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 21, 23 - 30 Zlotnick, Caron, et al. (1996). The Relationship Between Sexual Abuse and Eating Pathology. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 20, 129 - 134