International Adoption essays

International Adoption essays There are many reasons as to why people choose to adopt a child. Sometimes it has to do with infertility and couples decide to adopt children because, I could not have biological children and I do not believe in some methods of fertility treatments (Carney), but there are other reasons too. According to Christine Adamec, some people think that it is better to adopt than to bring another child into the world. Others do not want to pass a certain genetic problem onto other generations, and some have medical problems that would make the pregnancy more difficult than usual, or even harmful to the mothers health. These types of adoptive parents are called preferential adopters (Adamec, 18-19). Most adoption agencies in the United States turn down couples who are fertile. A statement from their physician describing their infertility is required. Since fertile couples are turned down, they generally adopt a child from another country (Adamec, 18-19). The web page adopt.org/ states that since birth control and abortions are accessible to most United States citizens, fewer unplanned babies are born and a good number of unmarried mothers are choosing to keep their babies. There are relatively few healthy, United States born babies compared to the number of people looking to adopt. The number of foreign-born orphans adopted by United States citizens has risen from 9,356 in 1988 to 15,774 in 1998. This large number of foreign-born orphans adopted by United States citizens is this way because interracial adoption is no longer an issue because in October of 1995 the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act was passed. This act bars any agency involved in adoption that receives federal funding from discriminating because of race when considering adoption opportunities for children (adopt.org/). Even thought this act is geared more towards domestic adoption than international adoption, it has occurred in inter...

How Authors and Editors Can Work Better Together

How Authors and Editors Can Work Better Together How Authors and Editors Can Work Better Together Reedsy was created with the purpose of allowing independent authors to work with some of the best editorial and design talent out there, and build long-lasting, fruitful collaborations. In this guest post, editor and novelist Andrew Lowe explains how self-publishing has transformed the author-editor connection into a powerful creative partnership.Have a look at this sentence:â€Å"Jim dropped the amulet into the bag and hooked it through his belt.†You could argue that there is a confusion over the object here. Is Jim hooking the amulet, or the bag, through his belt? The ‘correct’ form would be something like:â€Å"Jim dropped the amulet into the bag, which he hooked through his belt.†The object confusion has gone; it’s clear that the bag, not the amulet, is being hooked through Jim’s belt. It’s technically correct, but dead on the page. We’ve fine-tuned the mechanism of the sentence, but murdered it as a piece of flowing prose.A good editor – particularly in the case of fiction – understands that the work is a delicate balance of art and science and that sometimes one has to be sacrificed in favor of the other.In this example, I would keep the original sentence, arguing that the technical imperfection is secondary to the feel of the prose.Other editors might reach for our favorite mantra: never confuse the reader. But it would be fussy to argue that a reader, immersed in the wider narrative, would stop to ponder the amulet/bag question as presented here.It’s a subjective judgment call which, for me, taps into the most important quality that authors should expect from your editor: a passion for collaboration. A "passion for collaboration" is the most important quality authors should expect from their editor @ReedsyHQ When you hire an editor, you are not giving over your precious darling to be defaced and remoulded. You’re paying for a professional eye; a sympathetic assistant who will work to a set of consistent criteria and help you to make your book as good as it possibly can be.* * *So, let’s define terms.Actually, let’s not. If you Google something like ‘book editing copy line structural’ (and you really shouldn’t) then you’ll soon be sucked into a swirl of fuzzy definitions and conflicting concepts.Like most creative disciplines in the digital age, the different types of book editing are ever-changing, mostly because of the connected and collaborative nature of online tools.I was a consumer journalist – mostly at editor level – for fifteen years, and I understand the need for specific publications to adhere to established rules. They face numerous copy-streams flowing in from hundreds of writers to be worked on by a multitude of s ub-editors. A unified house style ensures that the task isn’t tethered to a single individual.Traditional book publishing has generally followed this model, for similar reasons. It is an industry and must operate at industrial scale, with hundreds of titles taking their place on a trusted and cost-effective production line. The editing process is often just another cog in this corporate machine.But the rise of self-publishing has presented an opportunity for the process to be more collaborative; to strengthen the relationship between author and editor.Because self-publishing does not mean ‘do it all yourself’.I believe that all the very best creatives – even those with a reputation as stand-alone auteurs – rely on some form of collaboration to realise their vision. The ‘self’ in self-publishing is more about self-empowerment. You make the decisions – including which editor is right for you. But an editor can now care about the wo rk almost as much as the author. "The ‘self’ in self-publishing is more about self-empowerment. You make the decisions." - @andylowe99

Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 12

Questions - Essay Example In the end, the author has provided a plan of actions to overcome the problems. Moreover, the author has given some suggestions to make young people aware of the importance of nursing profession, as well as to encourage them to join this profession. Considering the nature of the second and the third essay, I feel that opening and closing were appropriate because letters and memos do not need anything in the opening and closing paragraphs other than the original motive. I do not see any issue regarding cohesive devises in the essays as all of them have been written professionally. The only issue that I have observed is regarding third essay in which ‘I’d’ could have been replaced by ‘I would’. For example, ‘Division for six years, I’d like to propose†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ could have been replaced by ‘Division for six years, I would like to propose†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. Every other thing, such as, connective words, transitional sentences, and paragraphs seem to be

Vancouver, Canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Vancouver, Canada - Essay Example The area has a population of 5300 people per square kilometer (Kalman 21). One of the most important aspects that tourists may have interest in when visiting the country is the town’s architecture. Vancouver is the only place in Northern America with diverse architecture where it hosts different styles of building. The Marine building is one of the chief architectural landmarks in Vancouver. Visiting it gives tourists a general idea of the manner in which buildings in Canada were constructed in the 20th century. The diversity is unique and attractive and this is something that would amaze tourists (McDonald 18). Among the most striking figures in the city is Inusk at the Bay of England. Cactus Club Cafà © is attractive from outside and has a welcoming group of people that tend to the visitors (Alberta). Vancouver Bed and Breakfast is another attractive location for tourists where they can spend the night before they wake up to visit the different sites the country has to offer. The Lonsdale Quay is a hub overlooking the city of Vancouver (Ellen 53). When staring across the lake, one has a clear view of the landscape of the

Domestic Violence Essay Example for Free

Domestic Violence Essay The Negative Results of Childhood Exposure to Domestic Violence The phrase â€Å"domestic violence† typically refers to violence between adult intimate partners. It has been estimated that every year there are about 3.3 to 10 million children exposed to domestic violence in the confines of their own home (Moylan, Herrenkohl, Sousa et al. 2009). According to research conducted by John W. Fantuzzo and Wanda K. Mohr(1999): â€Å"[e]xposure to domestic violence can include watching or hearing the violent events, direct involvement (for example, trying to intervene or calling the police), or experiencing the aftermath (for example, seeing bruises or observing maternal depression)† (Fantuzzo ump; Mohr, 22). The effects of exposure can vary from direct effects such as behavioral and developmental issues to interpersonal relationships, all of which lead to detrimental prospects on the child’s development. This paper will explore those effects and how it affects children. Exposure to violence in the first years of life brings about helplessness and terror which can be attributed to the lack of protection received by the parent. The child can no longer trust their parent as a protector (Lieberman 2007). This lack of trust early in life can bring about serious problems later in life, as there is no resolution to the first psychosocial crisis, trust vs. mistrust. For these children exposed to domestic violence, the imaginary monsters that children perceive are not only symbolic representations or a dream. The monsters that children who witness domestic violence have to deal with carry the reflection of their parents. Children who witness domestic violence face a dilemma because the children’s parents are at their most frightening exactly when the child needs them the most. The security of the child is shattered as their protector becomes the attacker in reality and the child has nowhere to turn for help (Lieberman 2007). â€Å"Exposure to family and community violence is linked with aggressive behavior. One of the theoretical perspectives that explains this link is social learning theory, according to which children learn from the aggressive models in their environments. Additionally, victimization may compromise childrens ability to regulate their emotions, and as a result they may act out aggressively† (Margolin ump; Gordis 2004, 153). â€Å"Posttraumatic stress symptoms and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are important consequences of exposure to violence because they can impair social and behavioral functioning† (Margolin ump; Gordis 2004, 153). Research has shown that children exposed to domestic violence demonstrate impaired ability to concentrate, difficulty with schoolwork, and significantly lower scores when their verbal, motor, and cognitive skills were being tested (Fantuzzo ump; Mohr). It seems as if the academic and cognitive difficulties from exposure affect the child possibly through its impact on psychological functioning. For example, PTSD and depression may hinder with learning and the ability to perform well in the classroom (Margolin ump; Gordis 2004). Researchers have found a positive correlation between externalizing (aggression) and internalizing (lowered self esteem, depression, anxiety) and domestic violence exposed children. Children exposed to domestic violence have been found to be four times more likely to develop internalizing or externalizing behavior problems than children who are not exposed to violence. The disruption of the development of basic competencies harms the child’s ability to manage emotions effectively and increases internalizing and externalizing behaviors (Martinez-Torteya et. al., 2009). This is particularly problematic for preschool aged children as younger children display more intense externalizing and internalizing behavioral responses to parental conflict than older children do (Ybarra, Wilkens, ump; Lieberman 2007). These responses are due in part to less mature cognitive skills. Because these skills have not advanced yet, there is an increase in the likelihood of the child expressing psychological vulnerabilities following the conflict because of cognitive errors. Exposure to domestic violence compromises interpersonal relationships that are the foundation of childrens daily lives in addition to having direct effects. â€Å"Social support is a key buffer against the negative effects of violence. Because parents are key sources of social support, the disrupted parenting associated with family violence may exacerbate negative effects of exposure to violence. More generally, children exposed to violence may be sensitized to hostile interactions and may have difficulty negotiating peer conflicts. These interpersonal difficulties can rob children of social support and increase their risk for associating with deviant peers† (Margolin ump; Gordis 2004, 154). In a study conducted by C. McGee, it was reported that many children found it difficult to develop friendships for reasons such as holding back from others as well as fear of inviting others to their home (Adams 2006). In conclusion, it is clearly shown that domestic violence has a negative effect on the children who witness it. An expanding body of research suggests that childhood trauma and adverse experiences can lead to a variety of negative health outcomes (Anda ump; Chapman ump; Dube ump; Felitti ump; Giles ump; Williamson, 2001, p.1). In fact, childhood stressors such as witnessing domestic violence and other household dysfunctions are highly interrelated and have a graded relationship to numerous health and social problems (Anda ump; Chapman ump; Dube ump; Felitti ump; Giles ump; Williamson, 2001, p.2). It is obvious and clearly shown that the children who witness domestic abuse have serious long term mental effects.

Service Provisions for the Elderly

Service Provisions for the Elderly ANSWER: Have you ever wondered why people say it is rude to ask a girl for her age? Do you know why most adults cringe every time they celebrate their birthdays? Truth be told, most of us fear aging because we associate it the gradual loss of our physical and mental abilities which in turn affects our emotional state. Bernard Nash asks, â€Å"Does it not strike you that we all want to live longer but none of us wants to grow old?†[1] Tangelder, J. (2014). He believes that aging, to most of us, is like a paradox. We enjoy life enough for us to choose to live longer yet we fear the effects of aging because it links towards the inevitable end. Most of us view aging as a loss of the benefits of our youth and the gain of multiple drawbacks of aging like diseases and illnesses such as dementia and hypertension. Physically speaking, it is a known fact that we lose a lot of control when we age. We lose the ability to walk properly, pee at will, see clearly, hear accurately, and so on. Also, aging introduces things that we do not have control of like arthritis, diabetes, sleep disorder, and many more. Aging even affects most of us emotionally. People get depressed from losing all the control that they once has. All these negative ideas leaves most of us with the fear of growing old. However, people need to understand that there are multiple ways to â€Å"age gracefully† and cope with these changes through the advent of medical advancements and growing concerns of aging. We can now cope to the point where we can enjoy the transition from being young to becoming elderly. All people need is a little support as we go through all these changes of being an elderly. One of the most important kind of support that people need is emotional support. We can get these support from our own families and friends. Some people also find comfort by going to their church community or marae based community. Also, here in New Zealand, there are a lot of support groups that can help people who get depressed from not being able to do what we were so accustomed to do. In Auckland alone, there are multiple organisations such as GROW, Balance NZ, Emotions Anonymous, Franklin Depression Support Group, Raeburn House, Men’s Change Support Group, and many more. All of which aims to help those undergoing change and depression. There even is a Depression Helpline. All these networks for us to use so that we can learn a thing or two about battling our demons of aging. Furthermore, there are multiple support organisations that help with common geriatric issues. One for which is Health and Disability Advocacy Service. Advocates help those who think their rights are being violated. In this case, one’s rights to health and disability service. Advocates side with the service-user. They generally listen to one’s concerns, explain your rights, suggest different courses of action, and support the actions that one takes. In New Zealand, this is a free service. This service is very important because it is always nice to have someone behind your back. If things go south, at least you know there is a group willing to listen and help with your health and disability problems. As we all know, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. â€Å"Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.†[2] (â€Å"Alzheimer’s Disease†, 2011, p. 1). Because of this, I believe that Alzheimer’s New Zealand is another support organization that assists the elderly to cope with this particular disease. They are a non-profit organisation that support people with this disease by giving information and education programmes to aid in better understanding of the disease. They also assist people by giving them useful information on how to provide financial support in availing of further assistance from other supportive organisations. HealthEd is another support organisation that helps with the aging process. Basically, HealthEd provides a list of free health catalogue resources conveyed by the Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Agency. Though they do not provide free services, what they offer is free information. People in New Zealand will be able to access unlimited information about certain health diseases or issues such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s, stroke, and many more. For me, information is very vital because it helps people understand what they have, what they are going through, and how they can cope. There may be information on how to contain the disease, maintain good health, or eliminate the disease all together. Age Concern is also an important organisation here in New Zealand. Their primary focus is to promote the dignity, respect, rights, and wellbeing of older people. Similar to HealthEd, they have many useful articles in their own website about aging. They help the elderly in New Zealand by providing information and support. They want to have a society in which the elderly are included rather than excluded. They want to establish a place where the elderly plays a valued role in the community. Age Concern also helps with social isolation, loneliness, and elder abuse. Finally, the SuperGold Card is one way of showing how much New Zealand appreciates and values the contributions of the elderly. Basically, by having this card, the elderly can enjoy discounts and offers from different establishments. There is no actual retirement age in New Zealand but once elderly can no longer work, they generally have limited funds. Having these discounts will help them enjoy the finer things in life. After all, they do deserve it. Besides the different support organisations, New Zealand also has different service provisions that the elderly can choose to avail. One example is the hospital. Here in New Zealand, there are many private hospital establishments that specialize in elderly care. People who choose to avail this service are those who require hospital level of care. Whoever avails of this service can be assured that qualified clinical staff will be with them for the duration of their stay. Doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and other medical staff will be present in these establishments. Hospices are another service provision present in New Zealand. Hospice New Zealand (2014) explains that hospice care has a unique whole person approach – which means physical, spiritual, emotional and social needs are equally important – a multidisciplinary team provides care for the person who is dying and their families and friends, both before and after a death.[3] Hospices tailor-fits an elder’s treatment plan based on what he or she thinks is important. If an elderly service user believes that being a part of the community is essential to growing old, then the hospice sees to it that the service user remains part of the community. Based on my current experience, this is done by taking them out of the house and having them do things they like such as bowling or doing the groceries. Residential Care is also a service provision in which the elderly can avail. This is a long-term care given in a rest home which includes rest home care, continuing hospital care, and dementia care. Residents of New Zealand get a Residential Care subsidy through government funding. This is very important because this helps geriatric people financially. Even if the government does not pay all the cost of this service, it is a very big help compared to other countries where they need to spend money from their own pockets. Nursing Homes is similar to Residential Care. The biggest difference is the level of care offered by these homes. Residential Care is more on the activities of daily living while Nursing Homes involves the medical aspect such as giving of medication and providing basic first aid when needed. According to Jenni Wiltz (2013), nursing care facilities provide room, board and care for patients who aren’t able to live on their own or in an assisted living facility due to serious debilitation or a medical condition.[4] Another service provision that is out there is Independent Living services. Adolf Ratzka (2003) defines Independent Living as a philosophy and a movement of people with disabilities who work for self-determination, equal opportunities and self-respect.[5] Independent Living does not mean that the service user does not need any help at all. Independent Living is being able to have the same rights and choices that other non-disabled people have. Even if we grow old, that does not mean we lose the control we have in making choices for ourselves. I also consider Day Care a crucial service provision that can assists the elderly. Before we get old, we enjoy doing different things like swimming, horseback riding, or going to the beach. When we get old, it does not mean we stop liking these things. Day Care is a programme where the elderly can continue to enjoy the things they used to do. In the place I work, we see to it that our service users do things they enjoy. We take them swimming, bowling, laughter yoga, and many more. All these support organisations and service provisions are there for a reason. As an employee of Kindly Residential Care and Rest Home, I believe that the above mentioned organisations and services should be accessed so that our service users can enjoy the finer things in life. By introducing them and their families to these options, our service users will have the dignity to age gracefully. They might even consider this stage in their lives to be the best among the rest and, possibly, look forward to what awaits them in the not so distant future. ANSWER: SOCIAL ISOLATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR FAMILY When people grow old, it is a known fact that they gradually lose the different abilities and skills they once had. This muddles one’s emotions to a point of them losing their own self-confidence thereby choosing to isolate themselves from their families, friends and others. But social isolation isn’t only a result of one’s own doing, society tends to isolate the elderly thinking they are too fragile to do anything. Kindly Residential Care Rest Home understands the importance of being part of a bigger whole. We have partnered with different organizations to ensure that our service users remain part of society. We also have a series of activities and programs that our service user can choose to be a part of such as: Day care Swimming 10 pin bowling Fishing Horseback riding Group recreational activities like coloring, drawing, and painting. Music therapy Laughter yoga Others ASSUMPTION OF AUTOMATIC LOSS OF INDEPENDENCE Society has this concept that the older people get, the more they would need our assistance. Though this is somewhat true, it does not mean these people automatically lose all sense of independence. They may not be able to do the things they used to do but they still have right to independence and choice. In Kindly Residential Care Rest Home, we make sure that our service users are given the dignity to remain as independent as possible through various ways such as: Giving them a chance to choose. They can choose what to wear, what to eat, or what chores they want to do. Encourage and empowering them to do things. Assigning of tasks will make them feel like they are part of a bigger picture. Supporting them as needed. We do not do things for them but we assists them whenever there is a need. Being patient and letting them do things at their own pace. As long as the job is done, it does not really matter how long it takes. Educating the service users, their families, and society. Everyone should know what the service user is going through so that everyone will be on the same page when it comes to caring for the service user. UNABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT OWN CARE People often have this misconception about the elderly not being able to make sound decisions about many things especially their own care. Most elderly people retain the ability to make decisions but there are a few that require aid and support. We, at Kindly Residential Care Rest Home, believe in supporting our service users in whatever decisions they make as long as no harm will come to them. By partnering with other organizations, we can assure our service users that they can make the best educated decision regarding their health. Our partners are: Health and Disability Advocacy Service Age Concern Grey Power Carers New Zealand HealthEd Alzheimer’s New Zealand SeniorLine Others DISSATISFYING INTERACTIONS WITH THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY People often write off the elderly because they assume that the elderly have no clue as to what they are doing or as to what is currently going on around them. We live in a fast-paced world and people think that the elderly take too long to catch up. People think the elderly cannot learn new things. Especially in the medical community, medical staff tends to do things for the service user to speed up the process. Instead of giving the elderly a chance to accomplish something, most staff ignores this. This results in both parties having the wrong conception towards each other. Most medical communities feel like the elderly are always unsatisfied with their help while the elderly feel like they are being taken for granted. Kindly Residential Care Rest Home sees to it that every service user is given full attention especially when it comes to their medical status. This can be achieved through: Prioritizing the service user Practicing active listening Personalizing the type of care towards the needs of the service user Quarterly review to check what is working, what needs to be done, and what to improve on. Proper training of staff if needed UNCERTAINTY OF SUPPORT SERVICES AND TREATMENTS People usually fear the unknown. The elderly never had the same access to internet as we do. Knowing and getting specific information about the different support services and treatments out there was very hard to come by. And once they do come by a specific support service or treatment they have not heard of, they will be very skeptical and hesitant to try it. Unlike today’s generation, we can easily read people’s comments and testimonials about a certain support service or treatment. Through those, we can make a sound decision whether to go through with the program or not. Kindly Residential Care Rest Home fully understands this dilemma most service users have and we have dedicated ourselves to helping our service user find the right support service or treatment that best suits them. Because of our vast knowledge and partnership with support organizations, we make sure each service user knows about their options by: Explaining about the program Telling them about the advantages and disadvantages of the support service or treatment Giving recommendations Enrolling them for a trial period if possible Making follow-ups to see if the service user is satisfied with the service BIBLIOGRAPHY http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/resourcefinder/listings/resource/73/support-groups/ http://advocacy.hdc.org.nz/ http://www.alzheimers.org.nz/about-us http://www.ageconcern.org.nz/ http://www.caughey-preston.org.nz/services/hospital-care/ REFERENCES Tangelder, J. (2014). Aaaaagh! I’m Getting Old. Power to Change: Experience his Power. Retrieved from http://powertochange.com/experience/life/gettingold/ Alzheimer’s Disease: Fact Sheet. (2011). National Institute of Aging, No. 11-6423, Pg. 1. Hospice New Zealand. (2014). What is Hospice? Retrieved from http://www.hospice.org.nz/ Ratzka, A. (2003). What is Independent Living – A Personal Definition. Journal of Independent Living Institute. Retrieved from http://www.independentliving.org/def.html [1] Tangelder, J. (2014). Aaaaagh! I’m Getting Old. Power to Change: Experience his Power. Retrieved from http://powertochange.com/experience/life/gettingold/ [2] Alzheimer’s Disease: Fact Sheet. (2011). National Institute of Aging, No. 11-6423, Pg. 1. [3] Hospice New Zealand. (2014). What is Hospice? Retrieved from http://www.hospice.org.nz/ [4] Wiltz, J. (2013). Residential Care VS Nursing Home. Journal of Livestrong.com. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/164027-residential-care-vs-nursing-home/ [5] Ratzka, A. (2003). What is Independent Living – A Personal Definition. Journal of Independent Living Institute. Retrieved from http://www.independentliving.org/def.html

Residential Schools Essay

Long before Europeans came to North America, aboriginal people had a highly developed system of education. There was a great deal for aboriginal children to learn before they could survive on their own. Aboriginal elders and parents passed on not only survival skills to their children, but their history, artistic ability, music, language, moral and religious values. When European missionaries began to live amongst aboriginal people, they concluded that the sooner they could separate children from their parents, the sooner they could prepare aboriginal people to live a civilized (i. e. European) lifestyle. Residential schools were established for two reasons: separation of the children from the family and the belief that aboriginal culture was not worth preserving. Most people concluded that aboriginal culture was useless and dying and all human beings would eventually develop and change to be like the ‘advanced’ European civilization. Early residential schools were similar to religious missions. Later, the mission-run schools were administered jointly by Canadian churches and the federal government, and for a number of years, residential schools became official Canadian policy for the education of Indian. . . Provincial education curriculums did not change to reflect the educational needs of aboriginal children. The elders in fact seen a major change in the way the children were acting, they would refuse to do chores and would often talk back and often became violant. The school demanded very little in comparison. Loneliness, sickness, confusion and abuse all had to be borne in lonely silence. Aboriginal children continue to have difficulties fitting in to the existing schools, which are still designed around a culture alien to their own. They were issued clothes and assigned a bed number. Aboriginal people have demanded, and received, official apologies from the Anglican, United and Roman Catholic churches which operated residential schools. All of this must have been a staggering shock to the new â€Å"student† . Many things combined to make the experience difficult for young aboriginal children. After several years away at school, children often found it difficult to speak their mother tongue. The residential school experience continues to plague First Nations education. The white man’s school contradicted everything these aboriginal children had learned at home. â€Å"The organization of the schools and the content of the curriculum conveyed to aboriginal children that the human values, the political institutions, the spiritual practices and the economic strategies of other Canadians were infinitely superior to the â€Å"primitive† ways of their traditional lifestyles. † Students began to believe that the ceremonies and rituals which harmonized the spiritual and social life of the community and gave its members a sense of personal significance and group identity, were â€Å"heathen† and â€Å"the work of the Devil.