Romans and the Christian Worldview Essays - 1312 Words

Paul’s letter to the Romans is of his greatest theological works, passed down for thousands of years and still as relevant today as it was in Paul’s time. How exactly is it relevant the modern Christian may ask? What with its harsh language that includes statements such as â€Å"the wages of sin is death† (6:23) and â€Å"the wrath of God† (1:18), one may say that current times have changed. Some may say that the issues Paul addresses are acceptable in today’s society. What exactly is the Christian to think? The purpose of this short essay is to examine how the Book of Romans relates to the Christian in the twenty-first century and how it helps to shape his worldview. David Noebel in his book Understanding the Times defines worldview as, 1) Any†¦show more content†¦For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now† (Romans 8:19-22). Paul explains to the reader that nature â€Å"was subjected to futility† (8:22). James Dunn references Genesis and the Hebrew language regarding this passage; â€Å"the LORD God formed the adam, dust from the adamah. The tie in was no doubt deliberate: the adam was formed to till the adamah; and subsequently the adamah is caught up in adam’s penalty for his disobedience (the ground cursed and its produce necessitating hard labor)†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Therefore, Paul teaches in Romans that the earth (creation) has fallen under condemnation along with man yet with the promise of man’s redemption God will also redeem His creation. Due to the Fall of humanity and man’s blatant expression of disobedience sin thus entered the scene. Where once man had peace with God and walked with God and knew God in a way that no man has known since; when Adam openly disobeyed God this shared communion was shattered and along with it, any hope of redemption outside of God’s ultimate plan. What then does Romans teach about sin? Paul teaches that the wages of sin is death (6:23). James Dunn includes these additional consequences; â€Å"Misdirected Religion,† â€Å"Self-Indulgence† and â€Å"Sins.† Of the four that Dunn lists,Show MoreRelatedRomans And The Christian Worldview1546 Words   |  7 Pages Romans and the Christian Worldview Todd M. Lynch L25710767 BIBL 425 D01 08/15/2015 â€Æ' Romans and the Christian Worldview Introduction Paul’s letter to the Roman’s was an occasional epistle as opposed to a systematic theology. However, Paul did present the Gospel in a systematic way. He was writing to an unknown audience of Christian’s, so he made sure to explain himself thoroughly in all areas, more so than if he was writing to those who knew him or had heard him speak before. He wanted to giveRead MoreRomans and the Christian Worldview Essay753 Words   |  4 PagesBarbara Underwood Bible 425 November 5, 2012 ROMANS AND THE CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW ESSAY Paul’s argument in Romans is foundational to the Biblical/Christian Worldview. Paul brings to realization of what God is revealing to the Christian World. Most Christians do not understand the consequences of not obeying the moral laws and its values. Christians are influenced by other religions because of the lack of understanding the expectations and the fact of being accountable for theirRead More ROMANS AND THE CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW Essay1370 Words   |  6 PagesPaul’s letter to the Romans is known as one of his greatest theological works. It has been passed down for thousands of years and is still just as relevant today as it was in Paul’s time. How exactly is it relevant the modern day Christian may ask? What with its harsh language that includes strong sentences such as â€Å"the wages of sin is death† (6:23) and â€Å"the wrath of God† (1:18) one may say that the times have changed. Some may say that these issues in Paul’s ti me are acceptable in society todayRead MoreRomans Christian Worldview Essay933 Words   |  4 PagesRay Foote Worldview Paper Bible 425 From the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Romans is not only a letter to the Gentile church in Rome, but also a great introduction to the Gospel for anyone, believer or non-believer to get a starting point from which to form a world view. Paul is clear from Romans 1:3-5 states that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, and the Son of God. Within the first chapter of Romans, Paul is clear in that God’s wrath is on the whole earth, believer and non-believerRead MoreBiblical Vs. Biblical Worldview1182 Words   |  5 Pagessociety and pointing others towards Christ. A truly Biblical worldview is one which results in the believer honoring Christ and clearly set apart from the world. Every worldview has a set of underlying assumptions which influence how one sees the world, and a Biblical worldview is no different. What is different is that these assumptions can be tied back to Christ. This fundamental difference results in those who hold a Biblical worldview being truly s eparate from the secular world, pointing towardsRead MoreBiblical Worldview And The Christian Worldview1295 Words   |  6 PagesBiblical Worldview in Romans It is an important factor in a Christian’s life to have a biblical worldview that coincides with God’s beliefs. A Christian cannot grow in their relationship with God with just their own understanding and knowledge. They must surround their framework of beliefs and ideas on God’s word and what he calls his children to live their life accordingly. That is why Paul’s letter to the Roman church is such as significant demonstration of the Gospel and the Christian Worldview andRead MoreBiblical Worldview Essay1425 Words   |  6 PagesBiblical Worldview: According to Paul Justin Wilson BIBL 110-D21 November 12, 2015 Having a worldview contributes to each person’s evaluation of origins, which in return will impact each individuals life choices. Holmes defines a worldview that â€Å"is not disengaged theology; rather it represents the beliefs and values and purposes that guide our work, play, family, and society.† While many worldviews seek answers to life’s fundamental questions, Christians stand on the foundation of a biblicalRead MoreA Christian Worldview From Counseling Model1119 Words   |  5 Pagespaper will attempt to construct a Christian worldview from which counseling model will be developed. An assessment of basic skill will be conducted before bereavement is discussed. This paper seeks to offer some insight into Bereavement and Christian counseling. CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW AND COUSELING MODEL Developing a Christian Worldview A worldview is a set of assumptions or presuppositions that an individual constructs to answer questions about life. Ones worldview is found at the center of theirRead MoreThe Unite Kingdom ( Uk )1277 Words   |  6 Pagesthere are multiple practicing religions throughout the collection of islands. The below correspondence provides a brief history of the UK, the current and projected population, different worldviews of the religions present in the UK, how Christian leaders and managers may be impacted by the diverse worldviews and how those leaders/managers should prepare to lead individuals throughout the country. History of the United Kingdom The UK has gone through a plethora of rulers throughout its historyRead MoreThe Book Of Romans By Paul1024 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction The book of Romans was written by Paul to present a basic system of salvation to a church that had not receive the teaching of an apostle before. In this book, the basis of a biblical worldview can be illustrated by Paul when it comes to explaining the natural world, our human identity, human relationships, and culture. The Natural World With regards to the natural world, Romans 1:20 clearly states that â€Å"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky

Euthanasia Should Not Be Legal - 942 Words

In the event of someone with a terminal illness euthanasia, many believe may be the only option where the individual has the option to die and put an end to their pain and suffering. those who stand in agreement with these options, including myself, consider themselves pro-choice and provides the argument that euthanasia grants an individual the autonomy to make the ultimate decision in regards to their life. Others, believe that euthanasia deprives not only the individual affected but their families the ability of happiness or the option of life that that loved one. Euthanasia should be a decision made by the individual affected by the terminal illness and carried out by a licensed physician. Those seeking death through euthanasia should ultimately have the final say so in regards to when and how the individual dies. One of the more notable cases involving euthanasia, was the case of Brittany Maynard. Mrs. Maynard was an advocate of the Death with Dignity law passed by the state of Oregon, which allows for anShow MoreRelatedEuthanasia Should Not Be Legal1683 Words   |  7 PagesEuthanasia is derived from the Greek, â€Å"eu† meaning good, and â€Å"thanatos† translating to death, together the word makes â€Å"good death†. A person who is terminally ill often goes through excruciating pain and suffering. Ultimately, the right to euthanize a terminally ill patient should be legal across the nation because that person doesn’t see an end to their anguish, so they wish to turn to euthanasia. Euthanasia frees the patient’s body and mind, lets them die with dignity, and their loved ones don’tRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal? Essay1449 Words   |  6 Pages Euthanasia: The Right to Die Euthanasia is a concept that has been around for a very long time. It has been practiced since ancient Greece. We all have different opinions towards it; some of us might be for it and others against it. In most parts of the world Euthanasia is illegal. Many countries have denied the right to euthanasia, but is that fair and ethical? It is the painless killing of a patient’s agony from an incurable and painful disease. Euthanasia should be legal. SomeoneRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?1387 Words   |  6 Pagesunexpectedly† (Wpadmin). This shows that many people show aversion towards euthanasia and would not want themselves to be euthanized. Euthanasia occurs when someone is suffering from a painful or incurable disease and they prefer to die. It is done by taking them off of life support or not giving them essential supplies to live such as food, medications, oxygen, and more. There are countless debates of whether or not euthanasia should be legal, and whethe r or not it benefits people. Some countries allow itRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?1061 Words   |  5 PagesDetermining Euthanasia Millions of precious lives have been deliberately taken throughout the world due to the new Euthanasia Law. Euthanasia is the practicing of assisted suicide, due to terminally ill patients or depression. The practicing has just been legalized September 2015, and will be put into effect in California January 1 2016. Although, it is still being argued if adolescents should have the right fro this and if it’s morally correct all together. Euthanasia should be illegalRead MoreEuthanasia Should Not Be Legal1520 Words   |  7 Pages Euthanasia or commonly known as Physician-Assisted Suicide is defined as the painless killing of a patient who is suffering from an incurable and painful disease or is in an irreversible coma. It is an act that speeds up death. Some people consider euthanasia to be a mercy killing and others consider it to be murder. This practice is illegal in most countries. In the United States, however, six states have legalized physician-assisted suicide even though most states, 44 to be more specific, haveRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?1919 Words   |  8 Pages Euthanasia is a widely debated topic of the 21st century. Many places have legalized it, others refuse to even talk about the subject. However, more and more people are wanting their right to die to be recognized while others fight back against that right. A lot has to go into the backing and thinking about euthanasia, beginning with the different types that there are. After that, you would have to look at both sides to analyze why it would be a good practice to have, or a bad one. ManyRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?1360 Words   |  6 PagesOwadara Adedamola ENG 101 Prof. Skeen 24 November 2015 Legalizing Euthanasia â€Å"Euthanasia is defined as conduct that brings about an easy and painless death for persons suffering from an incurable or painful disease or condition† (Muckart, et al 259). Euthanasia, also dying with dignity, is the practice of the termination of a terminally ill person s life in order to relieve them of their suffering. Euthanasia is one of today’s most controversial health issues with debates on people’s rightRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?1311 Words   |  6 Pageshave used euthanasia, or physician assisted suicide. They used it with the purpose of releasing their soul and the pain that they could not endure any longer. Euthanasia is a process provided by the medical system today that involves active and passive euthanasia. Physician assisted suicide is spreading across the world, and people are using it legally. In the U.S, euthanasia has been legalized in some states so people are trying to take advantage of it. Many people have used euthanasia so they wouldRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?1183 Words   |  5 PagesThe word euthanasia is defined as good death, but this meaning cannot be taken literally without analyzing its underlying implications (Vaughn 595). The primary issues that must be raised when discussing euthanasia are differentiating between active and passive forms, analyzing the values that people place on their life and realizing that euthanasia is beneficial. Euthanasia provides a means for patients who are in agony to be relieved of their condition while ensuring that doctors follow appropriateRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?2146 Words   |  9 PagesWho should be in charge of ending your life? Understanding euthanasia in its entirety can only be met when one knows the various forms it can take. They include passive, active, voluntary, and involuntary. Passive euthanasia refers to the practice of medical practitioners refraining from providing treatment in turn, allowing death. Active euthanasia, on the other hand, involves the deliberate killing of a person, using medical skills and knowledge as an instrument (Sheldon). The primary concern in

A resting Assurance Essay Example For Students

A resting Assurance Essay A Resting AssuranceIn the Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour the relationship between art and nature are different, but in some ways quite similar. Art and nature becomes compliments of each other. Art can be defined as anything made by humans, thoughts of the mind, dreams, and nature. Chopin illustrates how art and nature comes together and forms a picture for her character, Mrs. Mallard. In many cases of life, specifically Mrs. Mallards, death becomes an escape from lifes trials and tribulations we as people are faced with. Death becomes and escape to new life, the afterlife, where we as children of God are taught that there are no worries that individuals encounter, will not be faced with in heaven. To those who are not afraid of death, it provides A Resting Assurance that the afterlife will be full of joyful times and a form of freedom. In this case some people look so much forward to death that their lifes dreams and perceptions of life goes unfulfilled. Oppression is a big issue that Mrs. Mallard faces which is not unfamiliar in todays times. Being a woman in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, I could only imagine how times were for a powerless woman. What is art? Art can be a beautiful red bird flying through the air. It can be a lovely rainbow painted throughout the sky. Art can truly be what you make it. Art represents illusions of the mind whereas nature represents a peace of mind. To fully understand this concept you must first have a peace of mind with nature to draw the illusions that your mind creates. In Chopins The Story of an Hour, Mrs. Mallard visualizes many things in nature and creates a beautiful picture of new life during a grievance moment. However art and nature are indeed compliments of each other. There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds that had met and piled one above the other in the west facing her window. In this passage the blue sky to Mrs. Mallard is an art. When clouds are blue and scattered this signifies to me a peaceful, spring, and calm setting. It also represents a new life and a new beginning to enjoy the simple things in life such as nature and the joy it brings. M rs. Mallard exemplifies a characteristic that is old as Jerusalem, but as modern as war of terrorism. This characteristic is what we call oppression. Webster defines oppression as a feeling of being heavily weighed down either mentally or physically; depression; weariness. One could only imagine how Mrs. Mallard truly felt about her marriage, her husband, and of the joy that kills. Moreover Kate Chopin does a wonderful job expressing Mrs. Mallards oppressed feelings about her husbands death. Free! Body and Soul Free! During a time of grievance of a family member so close as a spouse she finds it hard to grieve, but focuses on her new life alone. She can now live for herself. But she saw beyond that bitter moment long processions of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. No one knows the state of mind of an oppressed individual until they experience oppression first hand. Mrs. Mallard reminds me a lot of my grandmother, but with a slight twist of situation. My grandmother is a diminchi patient, which is a form of Alzheimer and resides in a local nursing home. I can remember my Aunt Odessa telling me the story of my grandmothers marriage, and how my grandfather did not let her live her life. She was not allowed to leave the house unless he said so. Her job was to be bare feet, pregnant, to have his dinner ready ready at the end of his days work. If she didnt obey his rules he would beat her until that was all she knew. I tried to put myself in my grandmothers shoes and wonder why she didnt leave, but I had to imagine myself in the south in the 1930s and as an African-American woman, with no education and no job. What and who do you turn to. Your parents not having the funding necessary to send you to school so you can grow up to be someone other than their slave. What about no jobs available, so the only choice is to get married and have your husband provide you with the essentials of life such as: food, clothing, shelter, and eight children to take care of. I think to myself, how could you live with someone for 55 years and deal with those types of things? To feel oppressed in the 1930s is one thing, but to be an oppressed woman in the 18-19th century is another. Most families would hate to result to this matter, or better yet do anything to prevent it. However, my family is quite relieved. She gets the attention and the care she needs 24 hours a day and is no longer in the household that plaques her memory. Diminchi, is a disease that allows you to have no recollection of people, places, or memories (the memories of her oppressed life). I am sure she would not want to remember, and I am sure my family would not want her to recall. This is a new life my grandmother now lives. .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6 , .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6 .postImageUrl , .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6 , .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6:hover , .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6:visited , .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6:active { border:0!important; } .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6:active , .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6 .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2b613794f0f84bd65a395ae8706e8dc6:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Appearence Vs Reality in Hamlet EssayOne reliable outcome that helps escape all worries, including oppression is death. To some people death is valued as an art. In Mrs. Mallards case it is only through death that she could have a mental freedom. Mrs. Mallard experiences through death the same occurrences such as: blue skies, delicious rains, a new spring life, and the sounds and scents of the fresh air. It was at that moment death became an art of new life, rebirth, and a new beginning for her. The doctors also states she dies of joy that kills.In conclusion art and nature compliments death. In ways that Mrs. Mallard focuses on the beauty of nature and the joy it brings. She turns these things into an artful picture, which only she can see, and which she is the artist. Anyone male or female can become artist within themselves, not to please others, but to please their own hearts desires. They also can use their inner artist to free themselves of the mental and physical hardships of life. On the other hand what does one get from oppressing another? In one or more cases such as in Mrs. Mallards situation, power is the key. As long as Mr. Mallard is alive he seems to conquer Mrs. Mallards mental stability giving him the power to make her feel powerless in that she could not live for herself.

Sociology of Poverty in Britain Essay Example

Sociology of Poverty in Britain Essay a) Using the information in item A, identify two trends in the growth of poverty amongst British households in the 1980s and 1990s.The report, Poverty and Social Exclusion in Britain, shows that the proportion of households living in poverty rose from 14 to 24 % between 1983 and 1999. This indicates a significant increase in the phenomenon of poverty throughout Britain as a whole. In 1999 almost a quarter of households were experiencing poverty in Britain compared to less than a sixth in 1983.However, the growth of poverty was most rapid in the 1980s when 1% of households became poor each year. During the 1990s this figure fell to 0.3% a year. This statistic suggests that although poverty is continuing to rise the trend is heading towards a plateau or critical mass of poverty. i.e. if trends continue the rate of poverty will cease to increase and a consistent proportion of the population will experience poverty each year.b) Using the data in Item B, identify two main changes in the p ercentage share of the national income between 1979 and 1995.Data such as the Family Expenditure Survey demonstrate trends in the proportions of population situated in each income distribution decile. Item B shows that those in the top decile (defined in 1997 by Goodman, Webb and Johnson as: a single person earning à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½22,000 per annum; a couple with children with a gross income of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½50,000; or a childless couple earning à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½17,000 each per annum) held 21% of the national income. In 1995 this figure had increased to 27% of the national income.Conversely, those in the bottom decile (e.g.. a pensioner with a basic pension of just à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½58.85 in 1997) accounted for only 4% of the national income in 1979. However, by 1995 this had almost halved to only 2.2% of the national income held by the bottom tenth of the population. These figures suggest a trend known as economical polarization, whereby the wealth of the economic elite is increasing at the expense of the lower deciles of society. Whilst the rich become richer, the poor are becoming poorer. This supports the Marxist claim that the capitalist system is only beneficial to the bourgeoisie, if national income is expressed as a hypothetical pie, the richest deciles continue to take larger and larger slices and as such, those in poverty did not reap the benefits of economic growth under the Thatcher government of the 1980s.c) Identify and explain two difficulties facing sociological researchers attempting to measure relative poverty.Townsend claims that individuals can be said to be in poverty when they lack the resources to obtain the types of diethave the living conditions which are customary or at least widely encouraged or approved in the societies to which they belong. Townsend operationalized this definition in the creation of his deprivation index, discovering that 22.9% of the population were in poverty in 1969 according to this criterion whilst by the state standard it was only 9.2. However, researchers face many problems in attempting to measure relative poverty.Pichaud criticizes Towensends index commenting that it is unclear what items such as eating fresh meat have to do with poverty or how they are selected. In this respect, the measurement of relative poverty appears to be as invalid as Rowntrees early work employing absolute definitions. Similarly, such indexes may be more greatly affected by cultural and social differences than the existence of poverty. For example, if a convention towards vegetarianism arose in society, according to this criterion a high proportion of the population would be experiencing poverty when this is clearly not the case. Pichaud states that taken to its logical conclusiononly when everyone behaved uniformly would no-one be described as deprived. The decision to include and exclude certain items in fact reflects the views of the researcher not what is customary to society as a whole.A problem which faces all researche rs in the measurement of poverty is that of finding a point at which a line can be drawn. Selecting a line at which poverty starts to increase rapidly is as arbitrary as any other , e.g. the EUs suggestion of 50% of the national average income. Similarly research such as Townsends is criticized on the basis that it is in fact a reflection of inequality, not poverty. In this respect the measurement of relative poverty is essentially worthless as inequality will always exist. Researchers such as Sen claim that relative deprivation cannot be the only basis for the concept of poverty, there must be an irreducible core of absolute deprivation in our idea of poverty. A distinction between poverty and inequality must be made clearly by researchers, i.e.. if famine were widespread in society it would be false to claim that there was no poverty as all members were experiencing equal circumstances.d) Using your wider sociological knowledge, outline the evidence that some groups are more vulne rable to poverty than others.Researchers such as Oppenheim and Alcock have investigated the social distribution of poverty. Such research suggests that certain groups of society, for example women and the elderly are more vulnerable to poverty than others.Official statistics show that full-time participation in the labour market greatly reduces the risk of experiencing poverty, 75% of those where the head of the family were unemployed were experiencing poverty. Similarly 34% of lone pensioners were experiencing poverty. In stark contrast, only 2% of couples in full time work were defined as poor. Clearly therefore, earning power is conversely proportional to the likelihood of suffering poverty.Oppenheim and Harker cite gender as significant with regards to poverty. Most statistics do not take into account the sex of individuals as they are broken down into households. In 1996, estimates suggest that 5.2 million women were in poverty compared to only 4.2 million men. Women nearly alw ays have lower independent incomes than men, income is not distributed evenly throughout the household. Webb found in 1991 that an estimated 2 thirds of adults in the poorest households were women. Furthermore the womens average independent income was only à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½99 compared to à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½199 for men. Reasons for this trend include the fact that lone parents are vulnerable to poverty and nine tenths of these are women (58% of lone parents are defined as poor.). Similarly, Glendinning and Millar claim that women are disadvantaged in labour market, many women care for sick or elderly relatives but receive only paltry state allowances for doing so.Ethnicity also appears to be another factor which contributes to poverty. Bertouds study calculating figures on Households Below Average Income concluded that ethnic background may severely disadvantage the individual. 84% of Bangladeshis receive less than half the average national income compared to only 28% of white people, and only 1 % of Pakistanis earn above one and a half times the average compared to 23% of white people. The conclusion is that poverty is more prevalent among ethnic minorities than white people, despite the fact that there are fewer pensioners and lone parents among them. Bertoud states that the Bangladeshis and Pakistanis are perhaps the poorest group in Britain. This is attributed to the fact that more men are unemployed in these groups and few women seek employment external to the home, this again confounds the theory that lack of earning ability increases vulnerability to poverty. Pete Alcock adds that ethnic groups are just as likely to experience social deprivation as material deprivation, particularly due to the enduring racism of lower socio-economic groups.The disabled present the final group vulnerable to poverty, again this is likely to be a result of their low earning power. Oppenheim and Harker argue that they face the risks of poverty because of inadequate benefits. Consistently , research into poverty has displayed that state supplements and income support given to all groups vulnerable to poverty are not sufficient to lift them out of it.The conclusion appears to be that the only way to avoid poverty is via full time access to the labour market. However, this is refuted by the growth of self employed individuals experiencing poverty (27% in 1992). This group has grown in prominence due to economic backlash during the late 80s and early 90s, leaving any unemployed but lacking the skills to make a success of their own businesses. Still, it is clear that certain groups are more vulnerable to poverty than others most noticeably the unemployed.e) Outline and assess the major sociological explanations for the increase in poverty when living standards for the majority are rising.The three major explanations for the increase in poverty are: cultural, e.g. Oscar Lewiss observation of South American peasant cultures; individual, for example the Dependency culture ( Murray [1994], Marsland [1989] ); and structural theories such as Marxism and functionalism.The earlier, individualistic theories of poverty inevitably placed the blame on the poor themselves. Neither society, or societal groups were held accountable, the poor were poor because they were unable or unwilling to provide adequately for their own well being. Cultural theorists such as Oscar Lewis suggest that values such as fatalism, apathy and immediate gratification characteristic of the poor perpetuate their situation. In turn these norms are transmuted to each new generation creating a poverty stricken sub- culture independent of the rest of society. As a result, poor groups are unable to seek the benefits of increasing living standards because they are conditioned to accept their situation and unwilling to make the effort to change it. For example with regards to education, the poor are averse to seeking higher or even further education due to the delay of gratification. As a resul t they are condemned to the lower, unskilled echelons of the labour market.However such claims are criticized as presenting only a middle class and value laden perspective. In particular, the specific observation of South American cultures cannot be generalized to western industrial societies. Groups such as Marxists would condemn such studies as an excuse to blame the poor and exonerate the capitalist system which exploits the poor to the advantage of the economic elite. The poor are unable to seek the higher living standards of the privileged majority because the system is biased against them. Poverty stricken groups are subjugated by the bourgeoisie in order to glean extra profits and capital via labour exploitation.Herbert Spencer was an advocate of individualistic theory and strong critic of the poor. He argued that usually a poor fellow was also a bad fellow. According to Spencer it was wrong to help or show sympathy for those who engaged in dissolute living, if an individual was too lazy to work then he deserved to starve. Critics would argue that Herbert Spencer presents an out- moded and ignorant attitude to the poor, in claiming that the poor do not take responsibility for themselves the bourgeoisie are in fact shirking responsibility for the capitalist system which disadvantages those in poverty. However such perspectives are still relevant today as they unwittingly reveal the ignorance of the privileged who are prepared to perpetuate a system which exploits those they consider to be inferior.In this respect, cultural theory of dependency is closely linked to individualistic theory in terms of explanations of poverty. Similarly it is used to blame the poor for their situation and negates the structural causes of poverty.New Right thinkers such as David Marsland claim that the lower deciles of society benefit from the economic growth of Britain without contributing to it. Seemingly, the cultural explanation is that the welfare state creates a lack of incentive for the poor to seek paid employment. Therefore the more privileged members of society justifiably enjoy higher standards of living as they work hard to achieve them. Peripherally they also fund the welfare state via national taxes and as a result the poor receive financial support by proxy from the middle and upper classes.Again, this perspective seeks to justify the actions of the elite in their attempts to detach themselves from the poverty suffered by others. The welfare state presents a simple and easy way of life to these groups and as such they are reconciled to their poverty. Followed to its logical conclusion it is necessary to disestablish the welfare state in order to prevent this. This cause of action would force the poor to seek employment in the labour market where they could a) contribute to Britains economy, and b) subsequently improve their standards of living.Charles Murray presents a similar argument in his study of the American underclass. This sub- cu lture of poverty does not seek elevation to privileged society as it is functions using its own norms and values whilst receiving financial support from wider society.Despite the fact that such arguments were held in high esteem by the Conservative governments of Thatcher and Major, critics such as Dean and Taylor Gooby refute its claims. They state that the culture of dependency theory extols the values of self reliance and hard work but denigrates laziness and dependence on others. In fact reliance upon others decreases human happiness and it is therefore unlikely that those experiencing poverty do so as a result of calculated choices. It is not rational to assume that, whilst the standard of living rises for the majority, the poor would rationally seek to exclude themselves from social elevation.Cultural and individualistic arguments are strongly contested by those who point out the existence of situational constraints. This argument claims that the poor can only change their beh aviour once situational constraints such as unemployment are removed.Similarly, conflict theories such as Marxism suggest that the poor are victims of a biased, capitalist system rather than the cause of their own poverty. The government claims to seek economic equality using methods such as progressive taxation, the threshold of which may not even be reached by the poorest members of society. However, indirect taxation such as VAT tends to be regressive. Duties on alcohol and tobacco swallow a greater proportion of income from the poorer sections of the community than the rich ones. However it could be suggested that those in poverty should not waste their money on frivolous expenditures such as these.Similarly conflict theorists argue that welfare systems such as income support may eradicate absolute poverty but do little with regards relative poverty. Therefore, inequality and economic polarization between upper and lower deciles is ever more prevalent. Le Grand concluded that th rough housing policy the richest group receives nearly twice as much per household as the poorest group. This confounds the Marxist view that the economy is biased in such a way as the poor remain down trodden whilst the rich elite take more and more economically.Marxist theorist such as Ralph Miliband place less distinction between the poor and other members of the working class. Westergaard and Resler claim that by focusing on the desperately poor the elite attempts to divert attention from the larger structure of inequality in which poverty is embedded. The poor are merely the most disadvantaged stratum of the working class which as a whole is exploited. As economic growth has continued throughout recent decades little filters through to the working class as a whole due to the capitalist greed of the economic elite. According to Kincaid the low wage sector helps to underpin and stablise the whole structure and yet the poor reap no benefits. Obviously, this stabilization is merely used to further increase the privilege of the bourgeoisie at the expense of the masses who are essential to the system as a whole. Though living standards on the whole increase, so to does inequality. Whilst the poorest sections of society may be placated by the economic ability to purchase DVDs and Digital television, the upper classes grow fatter and fatter with the wealth they have exploited.Clearly, functionalists would dispute these Marxist claims. For example, Parson and his contemporaries explain such inequality as the result of the weighted uses of those in society. An unskilled worker is no where near as necessary as a brain surgeon with years of training. Similarly the unskilled worker greatly out numbers the brain surgeon, it would therefore be dysfunctional to provide both with the same proportion of national income. Morally each individual has equal worth but functionally this is not the case and economic distribution represents this. Inequality is an inevitable social phenomenon, if the poor seek to align themselves in terms of skills and values then they would be able to experience the gains of the majority.