If the Democrats nominate Hillary, expect to play James Carville, a leading role in the campaign. Otherwise, Democrats will continue to act on the chorus of “Send in the clowns to”. In 2004, John Kerry, the largest number of votes in the history of the United States collected and still lost. Carville needs, the mastermind behind the rise of Bill Clinton in the White House to take over some ruins. Carville predicted that Kerry would beat Bush by 52 to 47 per cent and said that if Bush is reelected, he would be “the signature political achievement of my life.”

After the defeat of Kerry, he said: “I think the Democrats should have won. (Kerry received the second highest number of votes in the history of U.S. presidential elections). We do not know … I was disappointed on election night. I ‘ll be honest with you. “Carville believes,” “The Democratic Party is in reality a precarious time … Now we have no control over every branch of government. I mean, we have won three of the last 10 presidential elections … I think this is a message to Democratic Party: We need to produce a narrative. We must do more to solve the problems rather than manage them. ”

James was born 25th October 1944, at Carville, Louisiana, a town near the Mississippi River and the name of his grandfather. He is currently married to Mary Matalin loyal Republicans, the deputy campaign manager for the reelection campaign of George Bush in 2004. He got his first job in professional politics in 1982, a Senate race, sixteen years after the failure at Louisiana State University in 1966. (He returned after a two-year smoothly into the Marines to complete his law studies). The following year he led the campaign, the governor of Texas Lloyd Doggett. Six years later, he joined with Paul Begala and Carville, a political consulting firm Begala form.

In 1992, the two managed the campaign of Bill Clinton. Before that, Carville of the successful 1991 U.S. Senate campaign in Pennsylvania, Harris Wofford, Zell Miller of 1990 offers of Governors and the reelection of Senator Frank Lautenberg R. 1988 in New Jersey. He also manages to win the 1987 Governor Wallace Wilkinson in Kentucky and in 1986 victory for governor Robert Casey in Pennsylvania. In 2000, he saw, and that Al Gore lost a disputed presidential election, the current President, George W. Bush.

A few months later, Carville noted with irony, “A friend warned me of the Republicans when I voted for Al Gore, and he won, the stock market would tank, we lose millions of jobs, and our military will be completely overwhelmed. You know what ? I voted for Al Gore, he won, and I’ll be damned if all those things are not true! ”

“America is preparing to take an hour,” says Carville. “And it is producing only very minor changes in the vote, earthquake policy … incredibly quick release of environmental legislation and restructuring or attempted fundamental restructuring of both the tax code and Social Security system, and you will see a right wing PAC judiciary, and you will To see an administration and a Congress that 100 percent is representative of the social interest. You will receive a reduction in the protection of employees, or see something. You’ll definitely see a huge adopted and signed legislation on product liability, product defects and medical malpractice to limit … All this will come. ”

This should be the message of democracy in 2008, provided that these things do not materialize in advance.

The Democrats will probably be a matter of holding on to a thing “Company”. This problem could the homeless, a growing problem throughout the country. It seems to me that you can not convince a woman who is under a bridge or in a car accident that Bush’s energy policy, gas prices higher or whether the prayer should be allowed in schools is asleep, relevant. Street children ask where their next meal and has nothing to do about terrorism, weapons of mass destruction or other policies optical illusions.

Annual figures roaming about 1% percent of the total population of the United States and may represent up to 10 percent of all poor in this country. Many of those who have an adequate and affordable housing are, by a thread, and if it seems an oxymoron, these facts:

More than three million homeless people face every year, and adults and single parents, single (largest group) and a rapidly growing older population. With the escalating cost of living, working people have come out of the housing market. With many of these people made for the apartments available and the price rises than to demand. In some areas of California (such as Solano County), wars are bidding up the price of such accommodation.

Some factors are precursors of homelessness. Families with incomes of half or below the federal poverty level, the abuse of drugs and alcohol, violent environments (physical or sexual) and “graduate” from foster care – that is, foster children, the 18 and go literally anywhere. Even with the help of shelters and transitional housing provisions, the average duration of homelessness of more than 30 months. According to the National Coalition for low-income housing, housing is as affordable, if not more than 30 percent of the cost of the family income. If housing costs higher than those of families in the face of the most important decisions, which often choose among, between paying the rent in full and eating. interviewed for the record, between twenty and thirty percent of homeless families in 1996, they had gone without food for a party last month (Burt, Aron, and Lee, National Alliance to End, said homelessness).

In short, the lack of housing the number one problem for the Americans. The Democrats could paint the picture that the Republican political wages stagnate to the point where they do not, with the inflation rate. Where the consumer has been weakened, especially if they dramatically with housing costs in comparison. Working families have a higher proportion of their income on housing, often more than 50%. The Urban Institute supported this idea and said that show market trends that “The situation is getting worse instead of better. The current level of housing costs, coupled with low-wage jobs and the economic downturn could even push the working poor in their homes. ”

The Democrats should push the fact that there is a lack of affordable housing. In 1970 there were over 300,000 units of affordable housing, there were low-income households are in need. In 2001 there were over 4.7 with lower household incomes than the provision of affordable housing. (B. Alexander, “the state of the nation’s housing”, June 2000). Even more important is, are millions of families to whom the prospect of living in unsanitary or uninhabitable.

So what can we do? The National Housing Alliance states: “Your body has been found to end family homelessness. In addition, inadequate housing is an important factor for the establishment and maintenance of children in foster care. Nationally, the average cost of children staying in a homeless family in foster care $ 47,608, while the average annual cost for a permanent grant of housing and support services for the family of the same size about $ 9,000. “(RA White, CM Seth,” No Place Like Home “Children’s Voice. Child Welfare League of America, March / April 2003). The Republicans are against programs such as law, which could help the Democrats, if they can prove that such programs are essential.

The problem is not limited to inner cities. In Nebraska, the problem is exacerbated in rural areas by “a lack of builders, contractors and workers, by a lack of qualified and trained more in construction, especially in rural areas, a shortage … buildable lots, much infrastructure in place and / or undeveloped land that can be developed for residential housing is being experienced by many Nebraska communities. “Dr. Dennis Shockley, executive director of the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency has stated that “… in many rural areas, there is no research showing that there is a market for new settlements, and the price of the new construction is much higher than the costs for an existing house. He said that builders and lenders are rightly concerned that the buyer does not pay the price difference. ”

V. SUMMATION

In short, the Democrats need a presidential candidate charismatic and it would be wise to choose a Latino from the slot of vice president. In this case, Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson. James Carville needs to be to navigate the choppy waters that take place around the big fundraiser, and the party must move to the center to find a cause for pets to promote along the path. If the Democrats can make clear distinction between differences in their platform, and that the Republicans, it a chance, the majority of the Latino have to collect votes. This would not the lift they need to the White House in 2008 and 2012 may recover.

A memory is not so far

Today, the U.S. economic crisis is often references to the Great Depression. One of the biggest problems people face today is homeless. As in the years after Black Tuesday, tent villages, a large number of tents or temporary shelters in areas or just outside the city limits are again sprouting throughout the country together. In these cities, “dozens or hundreds of families are struggling to survive.

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the recession will be an estimated 1.5 million more people into homelessness force in the next two years. Causes vary, but most will be through:

* Increased job cuts
* Small Business Bankruptcies
* Increased cost of health care
* Housing costs
* The low wages for unskilled workers
* Unavailability of employment

Approximately one third of the population of homeless people in the nation together for families with children. With the rapid decline of the economy, this number is increasing. At the end of 2007 about 37.3 million U.S. households reported severe housing cost burdens. Now, two years later, the fees increased and many families are victims of home foreclosure crisis and the layoffs that have sweeping the country.

Lasting Effects

A 2009 study by the National Clearing House for the homeless has found that one in 50 American children are homeless each year. The impact of this increase may have on the younger generation is nothing less than tragic.

The study estimates that about 83 percent of homeless children were exposed to at least one serious incident of violence before they reach 12 years. Of these, nearly 25 percent will witness acts of violence within the family (eg, physical abuse). Street children have three times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems of children of non-homeless. They are also four times more likely to experience a delay in the development of education.

How to Help

Now more than ever to get involved at a crucial time. Organizations across the country come together to help people in need and welcome any assistance offered. Some of these different options:

* Volunteering for a local organization, to end family homelessness
* Support local, regional and national programs that help families to rebuild
* Make a donation to organizations such as HomeAid and other working conditions to end homelessness in our country
* Inform others about the extent and causes of homelessness in the U.S. and do what they can to

These organizations are exerting great effort, but still need help. Even the smallest contribution can make a lasting impression on someone who really needs and appreciates make. Through this cooperation, the Americans to fight homelessness and to this country a new triumph over adversity.

An important reason for this phenomenon is the fact that the generation of baby boomers hit 65 years now. Already, some 45 million Americans older than and projected by the U.S. Census, this number should be increased to € 60,000,000, topping 90 million in 2050. These figures mean that value-added services such as housing, health care and food, urgently needed.

In a typical installation, VA, houses a homeless program at home for 50 elderly people and sponsors of the other 30 or so beds in the local animal shelter Hello army.

A significant proportion of the elderly, the homeless are in force and many veterans VA assumes that institutions are. Some pages are VA-rise building complex of the house of their population of homeless veterans, and plans to expand to their care. In addition, the strengthening of the “cottages”, as the assisted living homes operate one of the many ways in which VA facilities across the country prepare for the coming senior boom.

The report was published last April by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a nonpartisan organization that focuses on issues of homelessness in the U.S. The study based its definition of homelessness on the guidelines of the American Department of Housing and Urban Development, provided the estimates that 2.4 percent of homeless adults over 62 years. In 2008, HUD estimated that the percentage to about 2.8 percent, which is close to 45,000 elderly people, homeless people nationwide, and had not increased in assisted living.

Traditionally, the homeless, a trend that young adults have been imposed, the study found. But with rapidly growing senior population in the United States, these dynamics change significantly. Many experts agree that not only reduce homelessness among the elderly, the focus must be on the provision of affordable housing and various other types of assistance for all age groups. However, there are some programs that are provided by the federal government that provides affordable housing for seniors. The most common of these is Article 202, a program of Community based projects that potential residents who are 62 and older target. There are currently about 300,000 housing units in § § 202 program. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness is it about 10 people on the waiting list for each unit. All this is in addition to the option of housing that people with incomes 80 percent fall below the median region.

Finally, said the National Alliance to End Homelessness, make that an increase in the availability of affordable housing would be a giant step to reduce the amount of homelessness among the elderly. However, the research and further study is needed on how best the growing population of senior citizens who understand now serve in the streets.

The word meditation tends to confuse many people because it is unknown or as something metaphysical, New Age, or in connection with a particular religion or dogma. Well, as we have mentioned, there is nothing new to meditation and I do not think the fundamentals of meditation in its purity is confusing or complex. The essence of meditation is simple, but states in his text Ayaja psychotherapy, “Simplicity is often the most difficult thing” (Ajaya, 1983, 126). I sincerely believe that this statement is true, inter alia, through the life of Western society.

Life is simpler principles made, but people tend to complicate their mind rather than to live and the soul. I know for my life, I was in meditation and life as easy as possible. I think Stephen Levine says, that at his best when on meditation in his book, a gradual awakening, meditation is a foreign word spoken very well, somehow distant and foreboding, seemingly impossible to participate in. But another word for meditation is Just awareness. Meditation is the awareness “(Levine, 1989, 1). This explanation is quite practical and achievable for an individual to want to engage in meditation.

In this paper, I give a simple explanation of the meditation process, its psychological, physiological and mental benefits, and a brief description of my personal experience.

There are different types of meditation, but Levine says that “the differences between these techniques mainly on the primary purpose, which is focused on the process” (Levine, 1989, 8). So I’m going this paper, based on mindfulness meditation (Vipassanna), which directly participate in each moment as it occurs with the knowledge and understanding at all is possible. In my opinion, is the simplest and most effective meditation and is a very enlightened way to live your life. We are living “now” right now, and that is what provides this type of meditation. After all, as Goleman (1972a) that “The goal of all systems of meditation, regardless of ideological orientation, or origin … is to implement the guards of the fruits of the practice – to die in the life of the ego and be reborn to a new level of experience “(155).

As already mentioned, the purpose of this document meditation mindfulness meditation rather than the concentration, which usually comes to mind when the word meditation is mentioned. Although meditation concentration draws attention to a single object, mantra or deity mindfulness meditation, including a dynamic field contains the observation. It is inclusive of the depth of around us instead of closing the world that is more practical for the average participant in the Western society (Tacon, 2003). It was also by Kabat-Zinn (1994) suggested that vigilance may be advantageous in order may be many people in Western society, not be willing to Buddhist traditions or vocabulary. Thus, mindfulness meditation more suitable for our society to discuss the whole range of meditation techniques from the Eastern tradition, because of its simplicity, convenience and perceived detachment from Eastern philosophies and religions.

Instead of trying to choose a definition to describe what was being mindfulness meditation, I will give you a variety of perspectives of those who trusted to mediate with the specific practice to the point short and brief. First, mindfulness meditation is especially called insight meditation in the Buddhist traditions or vipassanna is Sanskrit and means “to see clearly. “Mindfulness meditation, a large part of Buddhism and Zen practice, but it can be used, the successful resolution of these traditions. As already mentioned, it is not necessary, a practicing Buddhist to enjoy the fruits of mindfulness meditation (Levey & Levey , 1999). At this time I am going to have different definitions or descriptions of what is mindfulness meditation.

Tacon (2003) describes mindfulness meditation as a “form of meditation, the stimuli is the field of consciousness, rather than exclusion of stimuli, such as concentration meditation (67).

Kabat-Zinn (1994) states that mindfulness meditation “is the attention to a particular way: on purpose in the present moment and without trial.” (108).

Levey and Levey (1999) describes mindfulness meditation as follows: “Mindfulness frees us of past memories and fantasies of the future through the reality of the moment clearly highlighted (89). They say also that the awareness makes us more aware of everyday miracles of life” (89).

Dunn, Hartigan, and Mikulas (1999) argue that “the practice of full awareness of the sensitivity and awareness are involved open to all stimuli, while the evaluation, analysis and classification of these stimuli is suppressed” (p. 148).

Ruth Baer States’ attention is worth the observation of the current flow of internal and external stimuli as they arise “(2003, p. 125).

Although each of these agencies to use a different terminology to express what mindfulness meditation together, the general consensus is to present in “Being in life.” In my opinion, this could be the secret that all people outside of himself. sought to be present in the moment is very simple, yet profound. Most people will probably say: “He has learned more in life than this.” It?
Mindfulness meditation focuses on all aspects of our being. Levey and Levey (1999) present a number of these regions in their book, simple meditation and relaxation. These elements include the human conscious or aware of your senses, without trial, the knowledge about your feelings with acceptance, maintenance awareness of your mind and let the flow of thoughts, it is sufficient to be observed. Two other important areas are aware of your breathing as well as what happens to your body (p. 95-97). What comes to know what happens when every minute. In order to articulate better, I want you different extracts of mindfulness meditation by Stephen Levine (1989).

o “Find a comfortable place to sit with your back straight but not rigid …”

o “Do you notice your attention to a certain point, and the feeling that accompanies every breath …”

o create sounds. Thoughts arise. other sensations arise. All the background, and given the death … ”

No Sense “created in the body, thoughts in my head. They come and go like bubbles …”

o “Do not Get Lost. When the mind is detached gently with a soft, non-judgmental awareness of non-attachment to reduce on the breath …”

o “a moment of awareness of everything that is born, all that exists” (p. 32-36).

My hope is that these extracts mindfulness meditation clarification for the reader. Levine is a master when it comes to simplicity in life, while with the ability to meditate and effective practice. Then I would discuss various interventions with mindfulness through research, the benefits followed spiritual psychological, physiological, and. Mindfulness meditation is truly a global application and it is presented by the results of research in this article appears.

Interventions

As already discussed Meditation has been around for thousands of years, but has recently been integrated into the psychotherapy in Western society. The American Psychological Association, circa 1977, has suggested that meditation could facilitate the therapeutic process “(Working Group on meditation, 1977, p. 3). Unfortunately, about 20 years later, he has not really become mainstream. However, we should be happy that some progress has been made. At this point I would like to discuss four current interventions with mindfulness meditation in the therapeutic process.

The first response is the integration of mindfulness meditation in the process of psychotherapy in general. La Torre (2001) discusses how an effective component of psychotherapy, and said that meditation brings awareness of feelings and discomfort in the therapeutic process can provide psychotherapy to discuss and explore these ideas. They also expressed that the ability to meditate in and out of the practice of therapy promotes independence and self-control session from the client. La Torre (2001) comes to the conclusion that “in most cases, the contributions of meditation in the therapeutic process of the treatment and enriched its customers a greater sense of control and awareness (p. 104).

In a separate case study Boorstein (1983), describes the integration of mindfulness meditation and bibliotherapy and its effectiveness with a depressed, anxious, paranoid and the client. Boorstein integrates different interpretations of a theme transpersonal and mindfulness meditation in and out of the meeting. Boorstein argues that the result was significantly increased and included self-esteem, presented psychological and spiritual growth and the alleviation of symptoms. Boorstein followed and said that positive results were accepted and the customer has continued to focus on personal growth and spiritual life.

A second surgery popular and most frequently cited method of mindfulness meditation intervention program by Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction as developed (stress reduction). This program was developed specifically for chronic pain and stress disorders. It is a course 80-10 weeks for groups that uses a unique combination of discussions related to stress, coping, and obligations as well as intensive training and practice of mindfulness meditation. The ability to do for the customer within and outside the session in real-life situations is another advantage of this method (Baer, 2003).
Another measure, which strongly associated with the reduction of stress is Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). This intervention includes aspects of cognitive therapy, the promotion of individual thought or offset for those with statements such as “thoughts are not facts” and “I am not my thoughts” (Baer, 2003, p. 127). MBCT is designed to provide skills for the already pressed to observe their thoughts and feelings without trial and simply offer as mental events that come and go, and not as a reality or aspects of themselves (see Baer, 2003).
The last statement I will discuss, it integrates mindfulness meditation called dialectical behavior therapy is a therapy (DBT). This treatment is designed to treat personality disorder, but there is currently a variety of different population groups applied. DBT integrates mindfulness meditation cognitive behavioral skills training to facilitate the adoption and change at the same time. Specific aspects of this intervention are emotional regulation, interpersonal relationships, fears and tolerance skills (Baer, 2003). In my personal career, I had direct experience of this installation of dependence and found it very effective. Private embraced components vigilance in all aspects of their lives and seemed to really enjoy the practice of accepting and not judgmental in their recovery. I hope that further interventions are available and mindfulness meditation will finally receive the attention it deserves in the field of psychotherapy and life in general.
Mindfulness meditation is a complete tool for growth and self-awareness. He has the body, mind and soul as a whole, but for this material, I separate the components in the benefits associated with psychological, philosophical and spiritual elements of human beings. These are of the literature on mindfulness meditation, and especially what will be discussed in a variety of research-based.

Physiological Benefits

The literature describes a host of physiological benefits of mindfulness meditation. For a list and discuss all of them beyond the scope of this article, but I will show some of the most important physical benefits of the entire empirical literature to discuss. First, the physiological changes that were noticed during the meditation practice, such as decreased lower heart rate, respiration and blood pressure called The Relaxation Response by Benson (1975). These changes can of course be very good for people to escape the everyday stress and chaos of the society need. However, the physiological benefits of mindfulness meditation, the current changes exceed during the act of meditation. In Perez-De-Albeniz (2000), Meta-analysis of 75 studies he examined a variety of benefits found in his reading of the available research were. This included the increase in cardiac output, muscle relaxation, increased serotonin and melatonin, and the significant improvement of chronic pain. In addition, mindfulness meditation was beneficial for psoriasis, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and hypertension. This brief summary shows clearly that mindfulness meditation can be effective look for the component of the body of a man. time, the other two elements of which man.

Psychologically

Many psychological benefits of mindfulness meditation are mentioned in the empirical literature. Again, this is not an exhaustive survey of the literature, but a common outcome reported briefly on the practice of mindfulness meditation. La Tore (2003) explains the benefits of mindfulness meditation in terms of its advantages in terms of growth itself emotionally. In her article, “she explained, that the overwhelming feelings are in a better position than a person is capable of these feelings and experiences with a greater sense of security have to be accepted.

In Perez de Albeniz meta-analysis of literature, is by empirical studies that were reviewed the following evidence:

o Increased happiness

o Increase the Joy

o Increase of positive thinking

o Increase the resolution of problems

o Improved acceptance

o Improvement of Compassion

o Improved Tolerance

o Increased relaxation

o Increased reliability

o Better control of emotions and personal responsibility

o Improved psychological well-being

o decreased anxiety

o removal of drug abuse

Perez de Albeniz also discussed the ability of mindfulness meditation to help patients understand that there are no quick fixes for life, which led to the development of patience on their path to personal growth. In addition, the promotion of a non-judgmental attitude and the ability to reconcile with what is rather than what would have been.

Finally, I believe it is important to mention, offered a study by Shapiro, Schwartz, and Bonner (1998), was pre MBSR for medical and medical students. The claim that an intervention of the participating seven weeks to check with a waiting list. The results of this study included reduced self-ratings of psychological distress in all, including depression, reduced self-assessments of the state and anxiety and elevated levels of empathy. Also in the psychological field, it is clear that mindfulness meditation has enormous benefits.

Mentally

mental benefits are also shown in practice and application of mindfulness meditation. In the study by Shapiro et al (1998) was also determined that elevated levels of measures of spiritual experience, which means that after the introduction of attention, participants were more faith in the existence of a higher power, and increased the internalization of a close personal relationship to a higher power. In Perez de Albeniz (2000) found that mindfulness meditation, a patient or a person to trust their inner nature and wisdom. Finally, Walsh (1983) expresses in his article that meditation is a tool for those who immerse themselves in exploring the depths of his being available and the nature of mind, identity and consciousness. It is a tool from start to end of the spiritual search can be used (45). Obviously, there are many spiritual benefits of meditation, including evidence Nirvana, but I’m just the reader a summary. Perhaps it may encourage some to come on this journey of consciousness and discover the many additional places along the trail.

Personal experience

Henry Miller said: “The meaning of life is to live and to live means to be alive, happy drunk, deliberately calm, divine.” This is what mindfulness meditation has been my life. By all means, do not think that I sit in meditation and constant in the world. Mindfulness allows me to feel every moment of life in all my being. It allows me to live life and not just existing and implementation of this practice in the last five years has changed my life who I am. I typed in my true and combined with the energy of the universe. But by the growing awareness of the moment thanks to the vigilance, I could overcome my ego and travel every day on the road to self-realization. I knew the pure essence of mindfulness meditation. Every moment of my life enables continuous practice and application of this capability, which really gives life. Every person on this earth has the innate ability to tap into the perfection and precision of mindfulness meditation. Discover the joy it offers.

Finally, throughout this article will discuss what I mindfulness meditation, a number of descriptions provided by experts in this practice, and given the reader examples of the process of mindfulness meditation on the writings of Stephen Levine basis. It was found that mindfulness meditation deliberately simple life, which can obviously be practiced in all circles. Mindfulness mediation is extremely convenient to the west and has used in a variety of therapeutic interventions with much success. In addition, it has been shown that some physiological factors, psychological and spiritual benefits from research today. In brief mediation attention, is a great tool for any person to use the personal and spiritual growth. Vigilance is really living the life now. Go live in the moment and really experience the true essence of life without obstacles caused illusion think of the mind.

References

Ajaya, S. (1983). Psychotherapy East and West, Honesdale, Pennsylvania: The Himalayan International Institute.

Andreson, J. (2000). Meditation Meets Behavioural Medicine. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 7 (11-12), 17-73.

Baer, R. (2003). Mindfulness training as clinical intervention: a theoretical and empirical. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10 (2), 125-143.

Benson, R. (2003). The Relaxation Response, New York, NY: Morrow.

Dunn, R. B., Hartigan, JA, & Mikulas, W. L.. (1999). Concentration and Mindfulness Meditations: Unique form of consciousness?. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 24 (3), 147-165.

Goleman, D. (1972a). The Buddha on meditation and states of consciousness, part I: A typology of meditation techniques. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 4 (1), 1-44.

Kabat-Zinn, K. (1994). Where do you go there too you are: Mindfulness meditation in everyday life. New York: Hyperion

La Torre, M. A (2000). A holistic view of psychotherapy: Connecting mind, body and spirit .. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care 36 (2), 67-68.
Levey, J & Levey, M. (1999). Releaxation simple meditation. Berkeley, CA: Press CONARE.

Levine, S. (1989). A gradual awakening. New York, NY: Anchor Books.

Perez-De-Albeniz, A. (2000). Meditation, concepts, effects and applications in therapy. International Journal of Psychotherapy, 5 (1), 49-58.

Tacon, T. M. (2003). Meditation as a complementary therapy in cancer. Family and Community Health, 26 (1), 64-73.

Working for meditation. (1977). Position paper on meditation. American Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 720th

The intellectual challenge
Christian students at secular universities face a great intellectual challenge. The underlying principle of the auditorium is naturalism. Students find it everywhere, not only in biology, physics, anthropology and geology, but also in chemistry, astronomy, psychology, political science, and so on. Faculties of the university on this pervasive naturalism to defend in two respects: the exile and confrontation.

Banishment Approach
The approach is forbidden, of course, the most venerable and least aggressive of the two. A science teacher, the state at the beginning of the semester: “Science involves collecting and analyzing data, assumptions about the nature of reality make. There should be any reference to the supernatural to be outside the limits of scientific investigation. If God exists , or angels, fairies, elves, goblins, or the “Boogie Man” is not relevant to scientific investigation. Keep your religious or superstitious, if you want but do not put them in this class. It does not matter, we have no time for theological debates here. ”

Students come immediately to the idea that belief in God is anti-intellectual, or at least the faith must be compartmentalized and can not pass on the table in science class. As believers, the way, if you want to learn to students, but science is a naturalist.

We Christians can not accept exile. We have made our life of Christ (Col 3:4, Phil. 1:21) and His Lordship extends to every aspect of our lives. Of course, those who at the beginning of the universe (Col. 1:16) and even now he suffers every moment (Col. 1:17), has created the right to a room where his work be examined and admired.

It is macro-and micro-planning, organization to systematize and engineering, after all, makes all science possible. If we do not live in an orderly universe our scientists would be for historians and statisticians, the recording of millions of random events, as they sweat, but can not make any deduction, induction or an approximation of what would happen to be reduced.

The confrontational approach

A newer and increasingly popular in the classroom is to take the creationist bull by the horns and attack belief in the God of the Bible by all possible means. This is view the strategy as the creation / evolution and the skeptical Inquirer. The teachers make the mechanical / materialist explanation of the origins removes all need God. Naturalists in the classroom are not above using illogical arguments to win their students.

For example, they may employ ad hominem arguments, the participation of faith in a Creator / Sustainer of witch-hunting, skinheads and the Ku Klux Klan. Or they can reductio ad absurdum arguments, as would be asked, how many dinosaur couples be safe in the ark, or how could he have both male and female mosquitoes went. Or they can cut down straw men, as alleged, to win, if they can prove that the slightest change occurs, limit or creationism only to those who did the world begin to believe in 4004 BC. Or they can not sequiturs, such as committing claims that differ from each other since the finches, that mega-complex single-celled organisms has evolved from single-celled life forms, and those of non-life.

Of course, we must be careful to make our case, taking care to avoid the same mistakes. But it is difficult with an opponent, who refuses to fight by the rules to fight for.

We need Christian campus ministries because someone must stand up and affirm our university in the biblical view of origins and earth and the purpose of our existence.

The Bible clearly affirms these truths about our universe: (1) It was a start, all three persons of the Godhead are involved in their creation (Genesis 1.1 to 3, John 1:1-3, Colossians 1: 15 -17 ), (2) In the beginning it was drawing out of nothing (Hebrews 11:3) created and (3) its interdependent systems are by design of God, and under its current control (Job 38-39; Psalm 19:1-6 ).

The Bible has a name for those whose minds they dizzying lead to atheism. Psalm 14:1 calls them fools, does not refer to the Stupids, but even deceived rebels against God. Just to be sure that we do not forget, the problem occurs again, that the same fifty-third Psalm. Paul describes those who have renounced their knowledge about God, that those whose hearts have become darkened crazy and become arrogant (Romans 1.21-23). In these three bodies does the intellectual rejection of God’s existence is a moral rejection of the will of God (Psalm 14.3; 53:3, Rom. 1:24-32).

The results of this naturalism
This naturalism in force (or anti-supernatural) has at least three significant results. First, our students learn that truth is relative. Without God, the eternal, immutable ground of all reality, the truth a little more than the subjective perception of it. Those who hold absolute truth be ridiculed and harassed.

In a recent speech entitled “The Trouble with open-minded,” Bruce Lockerbie said: “In the environment of the university today, absolutes dissolve into absolutism and violated with contempt. Ironically, however, the students have learned of today that some survive “absolute. Here is an example of this “absolute” campus, which are today’s students and many teachers absolutely safe! (1) I think, therefore I am [René Descartes]. (2) God is dead God is dead. And we have killed him [Friedrich Nietzsche]. (3) There are truths but no truth [Albert Camus]. (4) We have neither behind us, before us in a luminous world of values, any means of justification or excuse. We are alone, without excuse [Jean Paul] Sartre (5) on the left. Life is hard, then die. [] Stickers.

Modern American campuses are similar to the ancient Athenians that Luke describes in Acts 17:21: [they spent their time] to do nothing but talking and listening to the latest ideas. As Christianity and its beliefs and practices which is nearly 2000 years, they believe it from all those who came of intellectual age should be abandoned. Second, the faith of our students in and outside the classroom is involved.

When the Apostle Peter anticipated, people sometimes ask students the reason for the hope (have 1 Pet. 3:15), and our students should be prepared with a good response. But Peter also said in the second Peter. 3:3-4, “will come in the last days scoffers, mocking and after their own passions. They will say: Where is this coming he promised?” As our fathers died, everything goes like it since the beginning of creation. “The is the doctrine of naturalism, uniformitarianism, in contradiction with itself and the creation of a large number of contributions by the disasters and catastrophes of nature. Our students must learn the flaws in naturalism model such that, in their faith to remain steadfast and not eroded by wave after wave of faculty banishment or confrontational ridicule and peer pressure from other students.

Third, our students not only that the truth is relatively taught, but the morality is relative. Isaiah cries: “Woe to those who call evil good and good, darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own eyes “(Isaiah 5:20-21).

The deification of tolerance
On campus, tolerance is the highest praise of virtue, and intolerance as the greatest vice. Senator Dan Coats of Indiana spoke recently on the virtue of tolerance. Quoting GK Chesterton: “If the world then tries serious pursuit, it will likely be under a new name,” Coats said the new name is tolerance of the persecution itself. Our students learn not judgmental which has the effect of funding they have no moral judgments at all. Coats said that the poet Ogden Nash confessed: “Sometimes with secret pride I sigh / To think that I am tolerant / then ask who is really mine; / tolerance or a rubber spine.”

This deification of tolerance demonizes any who is aware of “absolute moral and who have the courage to say in love, for example, a homosexual,” What you do is wrong and destructive, both for you and for society. “One of my colleagues told me of a Christian student we call Ann, whose work in an AIDS screening clinic setting local daily contact with practicing homosexuals. She decided to be salt and light in this place, and therefore makes friends with a lesbian we call Florence. ”

After Ann was confident that Florence could sense her friendship, she asked why she became a lesbian. “When I was young,” says Florence, “I was always ready to play hard to climb trees, hunt, and other things ‘guy’ is so wanted. I like my father a lot of his.”

“It’s funny,” said Ann. “I was a tomboy. I followed my father and trying everything he did.”

“Really?” And you are true in order not it? ”

“Yes.”

“I thought that lesbians had my experience.”

Ann has this for a while. Then share a few weeks later, when Florence was his sexual experience (a lesbian one) and describes how it all seemed funny, “said Ann,” It is logical. Maybe it’s like drinking when I arrived on a diet and had Diet Coke . First person who drinks the stuff like them, but after a while get used to it, and then they do not interfere any more. Perhaps the gay is sex so. First, it may not, but if you do continue, you are are used to. ”

Florence said nothing for a while. “Yes, maybe you’re right,” she answered finally. These two conversations Ann had with Florence brought the lesbian a long way. Not all the way to Jesus Christ, but more light-years. If Ann had just shown “tolerance” and ignored the moral difference between her and Florence, nothing would have changed.

Coats said that is the irony, as the virtue of tolerance has been stolen from us Christians. It is time for us to recover. We serve a God who can send his sun to appear on the evil and the good and the rain on the just and the unjust. In a world full of hate Jesus introduced tolerance as something revolutionary. He was accused of a drunkard and a glutton and the friend of publicans and sinners. Our friends in the university act as if they invented something mulitculturalism recently. But Paul says that Christ is the way: There is neither Jew nor Greek, barbarian nor Scythian, slave nor free, male and female (Galatians 3:28 and Colossians 3:11).

No one has more experience in multiculturalism the church, which has taken 2,000 years, the Gospel to every nation and culture, as it fulfills the Great Commission.

We Christians believe in tolerance. But our tolerance is not as flat as that of the university community. In his speech points Coats tolerance has two extremes: free movement and tracking. Our non-Christian colleagues on campus stand on the permissiveness extreme – stands for nothing and fall for everything. They believe that Christians are in the other extreme, we treat them as racist, homophobic and ethnocentrists.

But we are not there. We balance Coats: persuasion (2 Cor. 05:11, 14-21). Not that we are trying to force people to our (really, in accordance with the Lord) standards. Instead, we have learned from our teacher that external conformity has little value when the heart is not there. Rather, we try to change the mentality of people who believe that the heart has to follow changes, their actions.