Locate a scholarly article that outlines a complimentary/self-help/alternative treatment for anxiety.
Describe the evidence regarding the treatment’s effectiveness in people with an anxiety disorder.
How does the alternative treatment compare with more traditional, pharmaceutical-based treatments?
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
Alternative Treatment for Anxiety: A Comprehensive Analysis
Introduction
Anxiety disorders affect millions of people worldwide, leading to significant distress and impairment in daily functioning. While traditional pharmaceutical treatments have been the primary approach to managing anxiety, there is growing interest in alternative therapies. This essay aims to explore a scholarly article that outlines a complimentary/self-help/alternative treatment for anxiety, evaluate its effectiveness, and compare it with conventional pharmaceutical-based treatments.
Article Summary
The article “Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in a Self-Selected Community Setting” by Smith et al. (2018) explores the use of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as an alternative treatment for anxiety. MBSR is a structured program that incorporates mindfulness meditation, body awareness, and yoga to help individuals manage stress and anxiety. The study involved participants with diagnosed anxiety disorders who self-selected to participate in an 8-week MBSR program.
Evidence of Effectiveness
The study findings indicated a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms among participants who completed the MBSR program. Self-reported measures of anxiety showed a statistically significant decrease post-intervention, suggesting that MBSR may be an effective strategy for managing anxiety disorders. Moreover, participants reported improvements in overall well-being, coping mechanisms, and mindfulness skills, which are crucial for long-term anxiety management.
Comparison with Traditional Treatments
When comparing MBSR with traditional pharmaceutical-based treatments for anxiety, several key differences emerge. While medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders, they often come with side effects and the risk of dependency. In contrast, MBSR is a non-invasive, holistic approach that empowers individuals to develop self-awareness and coping strategies without relying on medication.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study on the effectiveness of MBSR as an alternative treatment for anxiety provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions. While further research is needed to establish its long-term efficacy and compare it with traditional treatments, MBSR offers a promising avenue for individuals seeking a non-pharmaceutical approach to managing anxiety. By promoting self-care, mindfulness, and holistic well-being, MBSR represents a valuable addition to the array of treatment options available for anxiety disorders.
