Write a research paper on Diets are not as effective as they are presented to the masses
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Diets are not as Effective as They are Presented to the Masses
Introduction
In today’s society, the pursuit of health and fitness has become increasingly popular. With this trend, a multitude of diets have emerged, each claiming to be the ultimate solution for weight loss and overall well-being. However, it is crucial to question the efficacy and sustainability of these diets. This paper argues that diets are not as effective as they are presented to the masses, as they often lead to short-term weight loss followed by weight regain and can have negative impacts on mental and physical health.
Ineffective Weight Loss
One of the primary reasons why diets fail to be effective in the long term is their focus on rapid weight loss rather than sustainable lifestyle changes. Many diets restrict or eliminate certain food groups, severely limit calorie intake, or promote excessive exercise. While these approaches may result in initial weight loss, they often lead to deprivation, nutrient deficiencies, and unsustainable habits.
Research has consistently shown that the majority of people who follow diets regain the weight they lost within a few years. A study published in the American Psychologist analyzed 31 weight-loss studies and found that, on average, participants regained more than two-thirds of their lost weight within five years. This phenomenon, known as weight cycling or yo-yo dieting, not only leads to frustration but also negatively impacts metabolism and increases the risk of developing eating disorders.
Negative Impact on Mental Health
Diets often foster an unhealthy relationship with food and body image, which can have detrimental effects on mental health. The focus on restriction and control can lead to obsessive thoughts about food, feelings of guilt or shame when deviating from the diet, and an unhealthy preoccupation with body size and shape.
Moreover, diets can contribute to the development of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder. These disorders have serious consequences for both physical and mental well-being and require professional intervention to overcome.
Adverse Effects on Physical Health
While diets promise improved health outcomes, they often fail to deliver long-term benefits. Many popular diets emphasize quick fixes rather than sustainable changes in eating patterns. Consequently, they may lack essential nutrients and fail to provide a balanced diet that supports overall health.
Furthermore, restrictive diets can lead to nutrient deficiencies. For example, low-carbohydrate diets may result in inadequate fiber intake, which is essential for digestive health. Similarly, eliminating entire food groups, such as dairy or grains, can lead to deficiencies in calcium or B vitamins.
Additionally, extreme dieting can disrupt hormonal balance and metabolism. Rapid weight loss often triggers a survival response in the body, causing a decrease in metabolic rate. As a result, once the diet ends and normal eating resumes, weight regain is common due to slowed metabolism.
Conclusion
Despite the promises made by various diets, it is evident that they are not as effective as they are presented to the masses. Diets primarily focus on short-term weight loss goals rather than sustainable lifestyle changes. They often lead to weight regain, negative impacts on mental health, and adverse effects on physical well-being.
Instead of relying on restrictive diets, individuals should strive for a balanced approach that emphasizes long-term behavior changes. This includes adopting healthy eating habits, engaging in regular physical activity, and prioritizing mental well-being. By focusing on sustainable lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes, individuals can achieve lasting improvements in their overall health and well-being.
