A Mind At Death s Door A Martyr s Mind - 1747 Words

The courage to stand up for what you believe is not as rare as many think; it simply requires an infallible hope to produce faith, that will supersede and dispel all fear. Likewise, the decision to die for religious beliefs takes courage, and this practice did not start with the 9/11 attack, but martyrs can be found in some of the oldest history book telling their stories through each line. These are people who voluntarily suffer death as the penalty of witnessing to and/or refusing to renounce their religion, and both the song, â€Å"The Hymn† by Jermaine Edwards and the poem, â€Å"A Mind at Death s Door: A Martyr s Mind† by Veneisia Tomlinson amplify what it takes to stand. The perspective and peace associated with martyrdom brings â€Å"The Hymn†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦Like the song, he is hopeful and associates this with victory. The persona is portrayed as nervous and worried about being martyred, but after self-affirming through acknowledging that h is life is hidden with Christ, that he is bound to God by love; which he metaphorizes to be a strong cord, and that no pain or struggle in this life is worthy to be compared to the reward prepared for him; as shown through the biblical allusion used, he experiences a calm. The victory effectuated by martyrdom was constituted by the incentives he would receive for dying as a martyr: he would acquire a starry crown, his own mansion, an opportunity to walk on golden streets, through gates of pearl and ultimately, the opportunity to meet his Lord, Jesus Christ. The persona gets excited at the thought of these rewards and mentally annunciates â€Å"Victory over defeat! Life and death!† and after repeating â€Å"Victory over death!†, he verbally exclaims, â€Å"Jesus and I have almost met!†, placing the tragic and heart-rending idea of martyrdom in a positive and even desirable light. Simply, the first persona verbally declares that his physical death will only result in his freedom to be with God, (stanza 5 line 5) thereby characterizing not only hope and victory in death but also freedom. Martyrdom, though often considered a murderous and gruesome experience, is considered to be a joyful experience inspired byShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem The Lord Is At Hand 1622 Words   |  7 PagesAll of us are in different moods this morning. Some of you are happy some of you are stressed of you are just flat out tired. The words are Rejoice and be gentle maybe the farthest things from your mind right now but today I m going to show you through the word of God by these two words need to be closer to our heart they never let us pray. Prayer. In Philippians chapter 4 verses four and five, Paul writes to the church at Philippi and says rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice!Read MoreIs It A Hero Or Hero?954 Words   |  4 PagesMost martyrs unfortunately didn’t decide to become a hero or heroine because of an ability or skills set as a public speaker, leader / negotiator or activist, solely to encounter injustice, inequality or racism. Most martyrs probably contemplated and agonize long and hard over their role and involvement in movements, protest and rallies, struggled with the weight of understanding and finally submitting to their destiny. The anguish of destiny: realizing the target they might become, agonizing overRead MoreOedipus Rex Vs. Antigone1417 Words   |  6 Pagesflaw often leads to a major downfall by its owner. In both Oedipus Rex and Antigone, there are three reoccurring hamartias: hubris, irrationality, and unyielding stubbornness. When speaking of hubris, the characters Oedipus an d Antigone come to mind. Hubris is pride or an extreme sense of self-admiration. Oedipus is quoted saying such things as, I, Oedipus, who all men call great. His hubris clouds his vision and prevents him from seeing things as they are. Oedipus takes on the act of findingRead MoreSexual Racial Discrimination Essay840 Words   |  4 PagesAmerica. These deviants to society made efforts to bring about positive cultural changes in times of strong sexual or racial discrimination. Great improvements have been made as a result of the contributions these citizens made to our country. In 1930’s America, the public view on gays and lesbians were not as liberal as they are today. It wasn’t until influential figures like Katharine Hepburn and Harvey Milk caused up a stir in social politics that changes were made. Katharine Hepburn was a successfulRead MoreUncovering the Truth About John Brown865 Words   |  4 Pagesa man; he was a legend. (Chowder, 1) During, and after his life Brown was described as a martyr. â€Å"He stayed and he stayed, and it seems to me a deliberate act of martyrdom.† (Chowder, 4). He fought long and hard for what â€Å"he believed with certitude was a sin against God.† (Bordewich, 3). Of the many words used to describe Brown, one that would come up occasionally was hero. But â€Å"it wasnt until the 1970’s that John Brown the hero re-emerged.† (Chowder, 6). Two studies done by Stephen B. Oates andRead MoreThe Technological Advances Of The Great Gatsby3475 Words   |  14 Pagesthe subject matter coupled with the perceived impact of this doctrine on ministry. This topic makes you think of questions such as; is there hope for someone who doesn’t know God? And what happens to those whom have not yet experience God prior to death? Wi th that said, will everyone have a chance to experience God? How could a God who is so loving and caring allow the unlearned to succumb to the excruciating heat of hell? The God who tells me that He would, uphold you with my righteous right handRead More Two Pieces showing Photography as Art Essay1376 Words   |  6 Pagesin high school. It was the 70’s or 80’s, and it was a case of the rape and murder of a young woman. This case was significant because she could have been saved in many instances, but she wasn’t due to the nature of humanity. Basically, her death was witnessed by her neighbors and nearby residents, all the way from her initial capture and escape and shouts, to her recapture and death. Residents reported watching out of their windows, and looking out of their doors, but not calling the police becauseRead MoreThe, Death And Blind Sheep3005 Words   |  13 Pagesgathered, no theologian could negotiate their way out of our deserving judgment. We were indebted with total sin, unable to choose good from bad running around since birth with no clue as to who are or what was in us. It could be described as lost, death and blind sheep aimlessly moving about. But is that the case? Are we helpless to flesh and depraved as normal human beings? Depraved seems like such a grave condition for such an advanced race of people who have achieved so many great things. ConsiderRead MoreThe Denial Of Health Care1775 Words   |  8 Pageswho are like Sharon Slaton Howell, a Christian Scientist, strongly believe in the freedom of religion that is embedded in the Constitution. She argues for the freedom to practice her religions because â€Å". . . [she] feel[s] [that] as Americans, we live in a country where freedom of one s religious beliefs is law† (Howell). This statement has lead many to the idea of denying offered health care for religious reasons. In Howell’s experience, her mother was sick a extensive amount of time. No doctor wasRead MorePoetry Is An Art Of Representation Or Imitation2631 Words   |  11 Pagesrepresentation or imitation† (Hamilton 1829). One of the many poets who have poured their heart and mind into their poetry was Emily Dickinson. Dickinson has been noted as the girl who hid from soci ety with the fear of being unaccepted, â€Å"Frightened by the world and disappointed in her hopes, Dickinson, it is said, retreated into a privacy that shielded her... There,... she is established as a martyr† (Wolosky 17). Despite this reputation, it has been acknowledged that though humble her life was, she