Xerxes I (خشایارشاه), was a Persian king (reigned 485 - 465 BC) of the Achaemenid dynasty. "Xerxes" is the Greek transliteration of the Persian throne name Khshayarsha or Khsha-yar-shan, meaning "ruler of heroes". In the Hebrew Bible, the Persian king אחשורש Aḥashverosh (Ahasuerus in Greek) probably corresponds to Xerxes I. Xerxes I of Persia - Political career. Xerxes I The Great, son of Darius I The Great and Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus the Great, was appointed successor t ...

Including:

• Xerxes I of Persia - Political career
• Xerxes I of Persia - Missing later years
• Xerxes I of Persia - In the Bible
• Xerxes I of Persia - External link

Read more here: » Xerxes I of Persia: Encyclopedia - Xerxes I of Persia

Dionysus is a god of mystery religious rites, such as those practiced in honor of Demeter and Persephone at Eleusis near Athens. In the Thracian mysteries, he wears the "bassaris" or fox-skin, symbolizing new life. His own rites the Dionysian Mysteries were the most secretive of all (See also Maenads) Many scholars believe that Dionysus is a syncretism of a local Greek nature deity and a more powerful god from ...

See also:

Dionysus, Dionysus - Worship, Dionysus - Bacchanalia, Dionysus - Appellations, Dionysus - Birth, Dionysus - Childhood, Dionysus - Midas, Dionysus - Other stories, Dionysus - Consorts/Children, Dionysus - Parallels with Christianity, Dionysus - Modern interpretations, Dionysus - Dionysus in Neopaganism, Dionysus - names with the origin Dionysus, Dionysus - Bibliography

Read more here: » Dionysus: Encyclopedia II - Dionysus - Worship

Many species; see text and classification Birch is the name of any tree of the genus Betula, in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. These are generally small to medium-size trees or shrubs, mostly of northern temperate climates. The simple leaves may be toothed or lobed. The fruit is a small samara, although the wings may be obscure in some species. They differ from the alders (Alnus, the other genus in the family) in that the female catkins are not woody and disintegrate at maturity, falling apart to release the seeds, unli ...

Including:

• Birch - Species
• Birch - Uses

Read more here: » Birch: Encyclopedia - Birch

Vincent was once a member of the Turks. Considering the Turks are an organization known for their ruthless efficiency, Vincent seemed to have unusually refined ethical standards. When he was assigned to supervise the Jenova Project in Nibelheim, he fell in love with a scientist named Lucrecia Crescent, an assistant to Professor Gast. When he proposed to her, she rejected him, ultimately entering a relationship with her associate Hojo instead. Lucrecia became pregnant afterwards, almost certainly in order to provide a test subject for their next experiment: An investigation int ...

See also:

Vincent Valentine, Vincent Valentine - Background, Vincent Valentine - Characteristics and abilities, Vincent Valentine - Theories, Vincent Valentine - Advent Children, Vincent Valentine - Dirge of Cerberus, Vincent Valentine - Ehrgeiz, Vincent Valentine - Trivia, Vincent Valentine - Footnotes

Read more here: » Vincent Valentine: Encyclopedia II - Vincent Valentine - Background

As the main purpose of this article is to vindicate the Catholic doctrine of the meritoriousness of good works, the subject is treated under the four following heads: Merit - NATURE OF MERIT. If we analyse the definition given above, it becomes evident that the property of merit can be found only in works that are positively good, whilst bad works, whether they benefit or injure a third party, contain nothing but demerit (demeritum) and consequently deserve punishment. Thus the good workman certain ...

See also:

Merit, Merit -
Catholic Doctrine, Merit - NATURE OF MERIT, Merit - The existence of merit, Merit - CONDITIONS OF MERIT, Merit - THE OBJECTS OF MERIT, Merit - External Sources

Read more here: » Merit: Encyclopedia II - Merit -
Catholic Doctrine

In psychology, motivation is the driving force (desire) behind all actions of human beings, animals, and lower organisms. Many textbooks define it as an internal state or condition that activates behavior and gives it direction, desire or want that energizes and directs goal-oriented behavior, or an influence of needs and desires on the intensity and direction of behavior. Motivation is often based on emotions, specifically, on the search for positive emotional experiences and the avoidance of negative ones, where positi ...

Including:

• Motivation - Types of motivation
• Motivation - Physiological needs
• Motivation - Other biological motivations
• Motivation - Secondary goals
• Motivation - Coercion
• Motivation - Self control
• Motivation - Controlling motivation
• Motivation - Early programming
• Motivation - Organization
• Motivation - Drugs
• Motivation - In Education
• Motivation - Is Money a Motivator?
• Motivation - Reference

Read more here: » Motivation: Encyclopedia - Motivation

Yom Kippur - Forgiveness and vidduy. According to the Talmud, God opens three books on the first day of the year; one for the thoroughly wicked, another for the thoroughly pious, and the third for the large intermediate class. The fate of the thoroughly wicked and the thoroughly pious is determined on the spot; the destiny of the intermediate class is suspended until Yom Kippur, when the fate of everyone is sealed. The liturgical piece Unetanneh Tokef (attributed to Rabbi Amnon of Mainz) states: ...

See also:

Yom Kippur, Yom Kippur - Date, Yom Kippur - Biblical origin, Yom Kippur - Observances, Yom Kippur - General observances, Yom Kippur - Observances among secular Jews, Yom Kippur - The eve of Yom Kippur, Yom Kippur - Prayer services, Yom Kippur - Atonement, Yom Kippur - Forgiveness and vidduy, Yom Kippur - Reconcilation with others, Yom Kippur - The Temple service

Read more here: » Yom Kippur: Encyclopedia II - Yom Kippur - Atonement

2 Population sans doubles comptes, i.e. not counting those people already counted in another commune (such as students and military personal). Avignon (pronounced [aviɲɔ̃] in IPA, Provençal: Avignoun) is a commune in southern France with some 88,300 inhabitants in the city itself and 155,500 in the Greater Avignon area. Avignon - Location. Avignon is situated on the left bank of the Rhône, in the Vauclu ...

Including:

• Avignon - Location
• Avignon - Administration
• Avignon - History
• Avignon - Early history
• Avignon - Avignon under the Popes
• Avignon - Sights
• Avignon - Miscellaneous
• Avignon - Famous residents include
• Avignon - Twin towns

Read more here: » Avignon: Encyclopedia - Avignon

From 1988 through the early 1990s, Sublime toured heavily throughout southern California and garnered a substantial following of surfers and skater punks. The band sold their initial recordings at live shows—eventually including their first full-length album 40 Oz. to Freedom. Released on the band's own Skunk Records, 40 Oz. to Freedom featured several songs that would go on to become fan favorites, as well as a selection of covers indicating Sublime's varied influences—The Grateful Dead, KRS One, The Descendents, Bad Relig ...

See also:

Sublime band, Sublime band - History, Sublime band - Discography, Sublime band - Studio albums, Sublime band - Live/Compilation albums, Sublime band - Bootleg and un-official releases, Sublime band - Hit singles

Read more here: » Sublime band: Encyclopedia II - Sublime band - History

Constitution of Japan - Meiji Constitution. The Constitution of the Empire of Japan of 1889, more commonly known as the Imperial or Meiji Constitution, was the first modern constitution of Japan. Enacted as part of the Meiji Renewal, it provided for a form of constitutional monarchy based on the Prussian model, in which the Emperor of Japan was an active ruler and wielded considerable political power, but shared this with an elected diet. See also:

Constitution of Japan, Constitution of Japan - Historical origins, Constitution of Japan - Meiji Constitution, Constitution of Japan - The Potsdam Declaration, Constitution of Japan - Drafting process, Constitution of Japan - Adoption, Constitution of Japan - Early proposals for amendment, Constitution of Japan - Main provisions, Constitution of Japan - Structure, Constitution of Japan - Founding principles, Constitution of Japan - Organs of government, Constitution of Japan - Individual rights, Constitution of Japan - Other provisions, Constitution of Japan - Amendments, Constitution of Japan - 2005 LDP New Constitution Proposal, Constitution of Japan - Human rights guarantees in practice

Read more here: » Constitution of Japan: Encyclopedia II - Constitution of Japan - Historical origins

Sociobiologists believe that animal or human behaviour cannot be satisfactorily explained entirely by "cultural" or "environmental" factors alone. They contend that in order to fully understand behaviour, it must be analyzed with some focus on its evolutionary origins. If Darwin's theory of natural selection is accepted, then inherited behavioural mechanisms that allowed an organism a greater chance of surviving and/or reproducing would be more likely to survive in present organisms. Many biologists accept that these sorts of behaviours are present in animal species. However, there is a great deal of controversy over ...

See also:

Sociobiology, Sociobiology - Sociobiological theory, Sociobiology - Controversy, Sociobiology - Implications of sociobiology

Read more here: » Sociobiology: Encyclopedia II - Sociobiology - Sociobiological theory

From 1918 camp-type detention facilities were set up, as a reformed extension of earlier labour camps (katorgas), operated in Siberia as a part of penal system in Imperial Russia. The two main types were "Vechecka Special-purpose Camps" ("особые лагеря ВЧК") and forced labor camps (лагеря принудительных работ). They were installed for various categories of people deemed dangerous for the state: for common criminals, for prisoners of the Russian Civil War, for officials accused of corruption, sabotage and embezzlement, various political enemies and dissidents, as well as former aristocrats, b ...

See also:

Gulag, Gulag - Terminology, Gulag - Variety, Gulag - History, Gulag - Conditions, Gulag - Geography, Gulag - Influence, Gulag - Culture, Gulag - Colonization, Gulag - Life after term served, Gulag - Latest developments, Gulag - People, Gulag - Wikisource

Read more here: » Gulag: Encyclopedia II - Gulag - History

According to Hindu tradition, Rāma is an Avātara, an incarnation of Vishnu or God. The main purpose of his incarnation is to demonstrate the ideal human life on earth. Ultimately, Rāma slays the rākshasa king Ravana and reestablishes the rule of religious and moral law on earth known in Hinduism as dharma. It has been said that Brahma promised Valmiki, so long as the mountains and seas endure, so long ...

See also:

Ramayana, Ramayana - Timeline, Ramayana - Synopsis, Ramayana - Book I: Bal Kand or The Book of Youth, Ramayana - Book II: Ayodhya Kanda or The Book of Ayodhya, Ramayana - Book III: Aranya Kanda or The Book of the Forest, Ramayana - Book IV: Kishkindha Kanda or The Book of Kishkindha the kingdom of monkeys, Ramayana - Book V: Sundara Kanda or The Book of Sundara another name of Hanuman, Ramayana - Book VI: Yuddha Kanda or The Book of War, Ramayana - Book VII: Uttara Kanda or The Book Beyond, Ramayana - Lessons from the Ramayana, Ramayana - Literary works inspired by the Ramayana, Ramayana - Sugriva's cave of Hampie

Read more here: » Ramayana: Encyclopedia II - Ramayana - Synopsis

Mulroney's legacy is a complicated one, and even as of 2006 remains one heavily based on emotion. Mulroney makes the case that his once radical policies on the economy and free trade were not reversed by subsequent governments, and regards this as vindication. His Deputy Prime Minister Don Mazankowski said that his greatest accomplishment will be seen as, "Dragging Canada kicking and screaming into the 21st century." Mulroney's legacy in Canada is associated mostly with the 1988 free trade agree ...

See also:

Brian Mulroney, Brian Mulroney - Background, Brian Mulroney - Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney - First Term, Brian Mulroney - Second Term, Brian Mulroney - Retirement, Brian Mulroney - After politics, Brian Mulroney - Legacy, Brian Mulroney - Supreme Court appointments, Brian Mulroney - Notable cabinet ministers, Brian Mulroney - Quote

Read more here: » Brian Mulroney: Encyclopedia II - Brian Mulroney - Legacy

Censorship is the control of speech and other forms of human expression, often by government intervention. It is most commonly applied to acts which occur in public circumstances, and most formally involves suppression of ideas (by criminalizing or regulating expression). Discussion of censorship often further considers less formal means of controlling perceptions by excluding various ideas from mass communication. What is censored may range from specific words to entire concepts. The ostensible motive of censorship is to stabilize or improve t ...

Including:

• Censorship - Censorship Types
• Censorship - State secrets and unwanted attention
• Censorship - School textbooks
• Censorship - Terms
• Censorship - Implementation
• Censorship - Prevention and bypassing
• Censorship - Censorship around the world
• Censorship - Censorship of Media
• Censorship - Other types of censorship

Read more here: » Censorship: Encyclopedia - Censorship

It has been speculated that the real-life ubiquity of illness and death due to tuberculosis affected the portrayal of these issues in European art and literature as well as history. David Brainerd (born: April 20, 1718, died: October 9, 1747) only lived 29 years. His diary has been published and reflects his reliance upon God's faithfulness amidst his battle with consumption. Brainard's diary has proven historically very influential, particularly to the modern Christian missionary movement. He was a close friend of Theologian and Past ...

See also:

Tuberculosis, Tuberculosis - Other names for the disease, Tuberculosis - The bacterium, Tuberculosis - The disease, Tuberculosis - Transmission, Tuberculosis - Pathogenesis, Tuberculosis - Progression, Tuberculosis - Drug resistance, Tuberculosis - Diagnosis, Tuberculosis - Treatment, Tuberculosis - Prevention, Tuberculosis - BCG vaccine, Tuberculosis - Tuberculosis vaccine, Tuberculosis - Animals, Tuberculosis - History, Tuberculosis - Tuberculosis in art, literature, history and film

Read more here: » Tuberculosis: Encyclopedia II - Tuberculosis - Tuberculosis in art, literature, history and film

There have been various movements in art, such as surrealism and cubism, which have been criticized for touching on nihilism, and others like Dada which have embraced it openly. More generally, modern art has been criticised as nihilistic due to its often non-representative nature, as happened with the Nazi party's Degenerate art exhibit. Nihilistic themes can be found in literature and music as well. This is especially true of contemporary music and literature, where the uncertainty following what some perceive as the demise of modernism is explored in detail. ...

See also:

Nihilism, Nihilism - Etymological Origins, Nihilism - Nihilism in Philosophy, Nihilism - Nihilism in Ethics and Morality, Nihilism - Postmodernism and the Breakdown of Knowledge, Nihilism - Nihilism and Nietzsche, Nihilism - Nihilism Self-consistency and Paradox, Nihilism - Nihilism in Art, Nihilism - Dadaism, Nihilism - Nihilism in Literature, Nihilism - Nihilism in Music, Nihilism - Books on Nihilism

Read more here: » Nihilism: Encyclopedia II - Nihilism - Nihilism in Art

Main articles: Politics of Cuba and Elections in Cuba The Cuban constitution states that, "the Communist Party of Cuba...is the superior guiding force of society and the state". Members of the Communist Party of Cuba are selected by the party in a thorough process that includes interviews with co-workers and neighbors. Those selected are considered model citizens and strong supporters of the revolution. It makes recommendations concerning the future development of the revolution, and ...

See also:

Cuba, Cuba - History, Cuba - Culture, Cuba - Famous Cuban poetry and literature, Cuba - Cuban music, Cuba - Religion, Cuba - Society, Cuba - Education, Cuba - Public health, Cuba - Demographics, Cuba - Government and politics, Cuba - Human rights, Cuba - Provinces, Cuba - Geography, Cuba - Economy, Cuba - Notes, Cuba - Infrastructure, Cuba - Printed sources

Read more here: » Cuba: Encyclopedia II - Cuba - Government and politics

Decapitation - Biblical. Goliath John the Baptist in the Gospels Holofernes in the deuterocanonical Book of Judith Apostle James, traditionally Apostle Paul, traditionally Decapitation - Celtic Saints. Saint Winefred of Flintshire in Wales. Saint Urith of Chittlehampton, Devon, England. Saint Columba of Spain. Saint Columba ...

See also:

Decapitation, Decapitation - Decapitation throughout history, Decapitation - Decapitation in the modern world, Decapitation - Some famous persons who have been beheaded, Decapitation - Biblical, Decapitation - Celtic Saints, Decapitation - Islamic, Decapitation - China, Decapitation - England, Decapitation - French Revolution, Decapitation - Italy, Decapitation - Mythological, Decapitation - Scotland, Decapitation - Nazi Germany, Decapitation - Modern era, Decapitation - Other meanings of the word

Read more here: » Decapitation: Encyclopedia II - Decapitation - Some famous persons who have been beheaded

Muhammed ben Da'ud (1029–December 15, 1072) was the second sultan of the dynasty of Seljuk Turks, in Persia, and great-grandson of Seljuk, the founder of the dynasty. He assumed the name of Muhammed when he embraced Islam, and on account of his military prowess and personal valor and fighting skills he obtained the surname Alp Arslan, which signifies "a valiant lion." He succeeded his father Da'ud as ruler of Khorasan in 1059, and his uncle Toğrül as sultan of Iran and Baghdad in 1063, and thus became sole monarch of ...

Including:

• Alp Arslan - Byzantine struggle
• Alp Arslan - State organization
• Alp Arslan - Death
• Alp Arslan - Reference

Read more here: » Alp Arslan: Encyclopedia - Alp Arslan

Theologians have placed the Family's basic theology within the historical Christian tradition, along with some unorthodox beliefs. To some extent, they identify, and would be seen by most, as fundamentalist Christians, though some of their more radical beliefs and practices would certainly be regarded as non-traditional, even heretical, by most fundamentalist Christians. The Family International states they believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God and sacred revelation. David Berg is regarded as a prophet by them, in the under ...

See also:

Children of God, Children of God - Beliefs, Children of God - Recent Teachings, Children of God - History, Children of God - The Children of God 1968-1977, Children of God - The Family of Love 1978-1981, Children of God - The Family 1982-1994, Children of God - The Family 1995-2003, Children of God - The Family International 2004-present, Children of God - Issues, Children of God - Criticism, Children of God - Notable members past and present, Children of God - Statistics, Children of God - Programs projects and productions, Children of God - Leadership Regional Offices and Management, Children of God - Sources, Children of God - Academic, Children of God - Journalistic and popular

Read more here: » Children of God: Encyclopedia II - Children of God - Beliefs

Merit (Latin meritum), in general, is understood to be that property of a good work which entitles the doer to receive a reward (prœmium, merces) from him in whose service the work is done. By autonomasia, the word has come to designate also the good work itself, insofar as it deserves a reward from the person in whose service it was performed. In Catholic theology, a supernatural merit can only be a salutary act (< ...

Including:

• Merit -
  Catholic Doctrine
• Merit - NATURE OF MERIT
• Merit - The existence of merit
• Merit - CONDITIONS OF MERIT
• Merit - THE OBJECTS OF MERIT
• Merit - External Sources

Read more here: » Merit: Encyclopedia - Merit