Friedrich Schleiermacher s Views On Religion And Religion...

Known as the â€Å"Father of Modern Liberal Theology,† Friedrich Schleiermacher was a German philosopher and theologian who directed his attention on the nature of religious experience from the viewpoint of the individual and human nature itself (Marià ±a 3). Highly influenced by German Romanticism, Schleiermacher attempted to settle the criticisms of the Enlightenment with conventional Protestant Christianity (Crouter 261). By doing so, he abandoned the Moravian theology that had neglected to gratify his growing reservations and he embraced the sensible outlook of Christian Wolff and Johann Salomo Semler. He then became accustomed to the methods of historical criticism of the New Testament and of Johann Augustus Eberhard, from whom he attained an adoration of the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle. Consequently, he began reforming Immanuel Kant’s structure by implementing thoughts from the Greek thinkers (Marià ±a 3). On this basis, this essay will clearly articulate Friedrich Schleiermacher’s conception of religion and religion’s association with Christianity as expressed in Speech I: Defense and Speech II: The Nature of Religion of his work, On Religion: Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers. The essay will explore Schleiermacher’s refutation of three notions of religion possessed by the despisers, clarify his recognition of the true religion with sensation as well as express his understanding of the association involving religion and Christianity. REFUTATION OF VIEWS OF RELIGION HELDShow MoreRelatedThe Relevance and Authority of Scripture Essay952 Words   |  4 Pageswas â€Å"the only infallible, authoritative Word of God† (qtd. in â€Å"Church History†) the evangelical movement joined people together out of other random religions and formed a cohesive bond between churches. Liberal Friedrich Schleiermacher believed that a person’s private revelations of God took precedence over their revelations from Scripture. Schleiermacher claimed the Bible was nothing more than a record of others’ religious experiences, as opposed to the inspired Word of God (Lane 238) He taught thatRead MoreEssay on Religion in a Multicultural World1291 Words   |  6 PagesReligion In a multicultural world where language, traditions and culture differ from country to country there is one thing that may be deemed to be true and this is that religion is the centre point for most of them. So then what exactly is religion? And how can you define it? In this paper I will be analysing and considering the different definitions that have been proposed by Victoria S. Harrison in her article â€Å"The pragmatics of defining religion in a multi-cultural world† and what I considerRead MoreEssay on The Place of Scripture in Christian Faith1126 Words   |  5 Pagesinterpretation on the place and authority of Scripture in the Christian faith. The first of these were the Liberals who â€Å"viewed themselves as the saviors of a defunct out of date Christianity† (Bingham 149). Their founder, Friedrich Schleiermacher an 18th century pastor, â€Å"did not view traditional, authoritative doctrines, creeds and biblical texts as the preeminent sources in theology (1 50). Instead the Liberal perspective of Christianity put more emphasis on the doctrines of sin and grace and less attentionRead MoreHow Religion Increases Social Solidarity1890 Words   |  8 PagesHow Religion Increases Social Solidarity in the U.S. Sociologists and a number of different researchers have studied Religion and Social Solidarity both separately and as a whole. Our country, the United States of America, is a melting pot of different cultures, religions, races, and ethnicities. Back in the day when immigrants from different countries were first coming over to the United States of America, the people that were already here weren’t too fond of them coming over and bringing theirRead MoreThe Place of Scripture in Evangelical, Liberal, and Neo-Orthodox Thought1563 Words   |  7 Pagesfirst of these were the Liberals who viewed themselves as the saviors of a defunct out of date Christianity, they wanted to connect with people and bring them into the faith, not scare them with a set of rules (Bingham 149). Their founder, Friedrich Schleiermacher an 18th century pastor, felt that the Scripture and other doctrines of the faith were not of the utmost importance in the Christian practice and were not needed in daily life (150). Instead of focusing on the holiness of The Trinity, LiberalsRead MoreQuestions On Academic Integrity Policy2400 Words   |  10 Pagesbe transferred and stored in a database for the purposes of data-matching to help detect plagiarism. The assignment has not previously been submitted for assessment in any other unit or to any other institution. I have read and understood Avondale s Academic Integrity Policy. ☠Agree Date: AVONDALE COLLEGE School of Ministry and Theology Assessment Evaluation Form Unit Total Percentage Student Outcomes Unsatisfactory Partially Satisfactory Satisfactory High Very High Comments 1 2 3Read MoreHow Does Black Administrators Affect Postsecondary Education For The Mid Level Administrator?7689 Words   |  31 Pages lies behind the methodology in question?; and What epistemology informs this theoretical perspective?† (p. 2). Using these guiding questions, one can propose that specific goals of the study and fundamental assumptions about a lived experience(s) are guided by a theoretical perspective (Pattern Williams, 2002). Purpose Statement The purpose of this study is to explore the essence of microaggressive experiences and personal and professional growth of former Black mid-level administrators

Justice Systems And The Justice System Of Other Nations

There are numerous things that have been and will be discussed concerning our justice system and the justice system of other nations. Contrarily there are varying types of courts all throughout these other nations as well. Similarly, all nations have criminal sanctions, sentencing practices, and types of punishment, death penalties, and imprisonments. The question I present is what about all those who have been unlawfully convicted, sentenced and then later on exonerated centered upon DNA or whatsoever evidence available? What about the many nations whom have taken the act in an effort to exonerate those individuals mainly here within the United States? I believe that the wrongly accused be worthy to not only be exonerated from their†¦show more content†¦The U.S. Constitution is supposed to guarantee the protection of those rights. This is why we go through countless lengths of looking for evidence and testimonies in our courts of law. Regardless of who the person is or what they may have done, discretion should always be used because the evidence will in many cases set the path for the sentence. If all the components are brought properly to the case, then the investigations should work accordingly and as follows from courts to sentencing. Nevertheless, those that are given a guilty verdict are not always the truly guilty defendants, many innocent people have been led to prison and there is where their nightmare begins in living color. When an innocent individual is incarcerated, it is an injustice to the individual being sentenced, the relatives of the sentenced, and the criminal justice system altogether. Years may pass and new evidence will be presented such as DNA testing and it will have confirmed that individual as innocent exonerated of their crimes. The challenge of being incarcerated is for the individual to make a change into a â€Å"normal† life which many times can be hard. Not only should our society do its part to improve the criminal justice system but also to support the responsibility in restoring those who have served their time under a wrong conviction. If there is anything we as a society should also provide to these once incarcerated, it is payment

What Is Evolution Essay Sample free essay sample

Development is possibly one of the most uncomplimentary premiss or theory sing the being and beginnings of humanity. The thought that every alleged higher-up and civilized being in the carnal land were one time Primatess who trudged on all 4s. swung from tree to corner. had leanings towards force and mischievousness. and at the most. behaved in an ‘entertaining’ mode. doesn’t incite the most peculiarly pleasant sentiment for most of us. Charles Darwin’s peculiar trade name of doctrine doesn’t work stoppage a most appealing chord for our self-importance. and the English naturalist’s controversial theory was met with more tangible negative responses. But despite the less than enthusiastic response where the topic of important dealingss between human existences and Primatess are concerned. Dutch psychologist and prima primatologist. Frans De Waal. nonetheless delves into a similar capable affair. to a different grade. in his competently titled bo ok. â€Å"Our Inner Ape. † Unlike Darwin nevertheless. De Waal focuses on a light and peculiarly reviewing enquiry into humanity’s conflicted and multi-dimensional nature by pulling close mention to human beings’ nearest animate being relations. the apes. And piece. as mentioned in the old paragraphs. primate-human dealingss doesn’t precisely strike the most appealing of chords. Frans De Waal delivers his penetration to the human mind and nature in a light. enlightening but colloquial note. which proclaims it more challenging and hence more entertaining than endangering. This is possibly made ab initio apparent in the book’s playful rubric. and in its conversely serious and honest caption which promises to explicate. â€Å"†¦Why We Are. Who We Are. † â€Å"Our Inner Ape† relates the features of two ape species – the ill-famed Pan troglodytess and possibly the lesser known pygmy chimpanzee – as mirror ape images or representations of every human being’s nature or ‘inner ego. ’ In which instance. Pan troglodytess appear to incarnate or compare the evident â€Å"evil† or â€Å"Dr. Jeykyll† facet of human nature. as these peculiar species of ape are ill-famed for their pitilessness. their capacity to kill. and their general leaning towards force. Chimpanzees live in a patriarchal society where power is wielded by males through force and force. Bonobos. on the other manus. are the chimpanzees’ full antonym. While Pan troglodytess live in a patriarchal scene in which force. violent deaths. and ruthlessness persist. Bonobos coexist in a relatively peaceable environment. in groups where females wield the most power. This power – which is possibly mostly responsible for perpetuating the said peace in pygmy chimpanzee folks. to set it crudely – is sex. Bonobos are sexual Primatess. they mate often and rather liberally with the antonym or same sex. old and immature alike. De Waal dubs them the â€Å"hippie† primates. â€Å"gentle. † â€Å"sensitive. † â€Å"kind. † and – this is truer for them than possibly any other species – prefer to â€Å"make love. non war. † Where Pan troglodytess would kill members of their ain folk for meat. pygmy chimpanzees are said to likely portion it. given that other pygmy chimpanzees participated in the Hunt. As may hold been alr eady apparent. the bonobos’ traits characterize them as the â€Å"Mr. Hyde† facet or firm â€Å"good† representation of our unconditioned human egos. The capable affair into which De Waal’s â€Å"Our Inner Ape† delves into is finely bracing and edifying for two grounds. One. because our construct of the ‘inner animal’ or ‘inner ape’ or anything which involves animalistic inclinations are viewed as violent. cruel. harsh. and finally. ‘inhuman. ’ Peoples refer to dictators. terrorists. liquidators. and persons who commit to by and large evil classs of action as â€Å"animals. † and this sentiment doesn’t present a positive intension. But in De Waal’s book. our positions displacement. and we see that the intension of â€Å"animal. † much like the term â€Å"human† doesn’t entirely equate â€Å"good† or â€Å"evil. † because these are mere facets of our being which comprises our entireness and integrity. And two. because the features and inclinations which bonobos and Pan troglodytess possess. force. goodness. power. gender. wa r. peace. these are subjects and facets which encompass every species. regardless of the inquiry of high quality and civilisation. and they neceessarily mirror and associate the complex multi-dimensional facet that is our humanity. De Waal’s observation and comparing on the intense and disparate features of Primatess. and its dramatic resemblance to the dichotomy of human being’s innate nature affords readers a absorbing penetration to a topic which holds great relevancy and significance to us all. As human existences. we all possess the innate capacity to prosecute in any of the antecedently enumerated features. and De Waal provides a vivid. possibly overdone. but however concrete and existent position of these unconditioned homo capacities in Pan troglodytess and pygmy chimpanzee. It is non so much a book about Darwinist doctrines or evolutionary political orientations as it is about humanity. in its multi-dimensional kernel and nature. and the demand to acknowledge and accommodate with our innate capacity for good and evil. because. as the Dutch psychologist pronounces. of the superior â€Å"animals† that are worlds. â€Å"It is capable of incredible devastation of both its environment and its ain sort. yet at the same clip it possess Wellss of empathy and love deeper than of all time seen earlier. Since this animate being has gained laterality over all others. it’s all the more of import that it takes an honorable expression in the mirror. so that it knows both the archenemy it faces and the ally that stands ready to assist it construct a better universe. † ( De Waal ) . Mentions De Waal. Frans. ( 2005 ) .Our Inner Ape.Riverhead Hardcover.

Traveling As Personal Interest Essays - Self, Luther Standing Bear

Traveling As Personal Interest Personal Interests 2 People in general consider traveling as their personal interests. One of my Personal Interests is traveling. When I was younger traveling quickly became one of my interests simply because I enjoyed it so much. I have traveled almost all over the world and seen a variety of different cultures and people. The reason why I chose traveling to write about is because of the experiences and knowledge it gave me. There are two things that I learned while traveling. The first thing was that it taught me to be open-minded about people and their culture. The second thing it taught me which I think is the most important, to respect other cultures no matter how unusual their beliefs seemed to be. Traveling is one of my personal interests because it made me a more open-minded person when it comes to inter acting with people. It also made it more understanding as to why people act the way they do in there own society and in a society as diverse as the U.S. Before I had any traveling experiences I thought that I had done everything there was to do and seen everything there was to see. Nothing seemed interesting anymore and I thought I knew everything about the world because I had just recently graduated from College. When I got married to my husband in 1975 we decided to take a trip to Europe. This was my first trip anywhere except from traveling within my country. I was not that excited to be honest I had studied about Europe and didn't think anything of it. When we arrived in Europe, we first went to Germany to see my husband's sister the first thing I noticed about Germany that everything was so small I felt so uncomfortable. I thought to my self-how could people live in such small houses. On top of that all the water they drank was mineral water which I hated. I couldn't understand why the Europeans didn't` drink juts normal water. Another thing that bothered me was that I am very Personal Interests 3 friendly but it seemed to me that Europeans are not very friendly. That is when I slowly began to realize why that was the case. I learned that where I came from the whether is very warm which makes people come out more and interact with each other. The difference with Europeans is that since it is always cold in Europe people do not go out much therefore they are not so friendly, that is normal to the Europeans but not normal to people who are not native to Europe. With this newly acquired knowledge I slowly got accustomed to their society and became open-minded about their norms and it didn't seem to bother me much. Then as time went on my husband and I traveled to, Turkey, Italy, London, Canada, Mexico, China, the U.S. and many more other countries. As one could see traveling is one of my greatest personal interests simply because it has taught me so much about other cultures. Another important aspect of traveling which I like is the fact that it caused me to respect everyone's culture. This is a big reason why I chose traveling as my personal interest Because It helped me not to prejudge everyone based on there culture there race or religion. I feel that to be able not to judge a person just based on their race or religion it would be a very useful tool in life. The way traveling helps a person respect other cultures is that it allows you to see first hand why and how each culture does the things that they do. For example when I went to Mexico I saw how hard working Mexicans are and I also saw how friendly and honest they are. The image which one might have about a race is going to be very biest because when people think about other cultures they always compare it with their own. This causes a person to think that there own culture is better than anyone else's and it makes people ignorant which ultimately can causes racism. I am very grateful that I had

Free Essays on Columbian Exchange - Sugarcane

Sugarcane was an important element of the Columbian Exchange and unfortunately resulted in stimulating the American slave trade. â€Å"Sugar cane is native to Polynesia, where†¦small pieces were often found washed up on foreign shores where they were said to flourish. This was the ‘explanation’ of its movement to China, India, and elsewhere† (Hobhouse 44). Refined sugar originated (1432) near modern Funchal, Portugal. Vineyards eventually would replace the sugar crops because the Europeans had destroyed most of the island’s woodlands necessary to grow sugar cane. Sugar was introduced into the Caribbean soon after the arrival of Columbus in 1492 (51). â€Å"By 1530, there may have been more than a dozen sugar plantations in the West Indies, using imported animal, imported machinery, imported workers in an agricultural development in a new continent an ocean away from the market† (52). The reason for this new agricultural growth was because the tropical climate was perfect for growing sugar cane and this would justify the high cost of settlement. The Caribbean settlers planted every kind of tropical plant. â€Å"Sugar crops are salable while other crops were riskier. Sugar is extremely addictive so the demand for it grew over a period of time (52). â€Å"Before Columbus carried a few pieces of sugar cane to the Caribbean, sugar was a luxury. Most European got it from their apothecaries to help make medicine taste better. But by the middle of the 16th century, tropical American forests were giving way to vast colonies of cane-growing plantations. Europe was hooked on sugar† (Columbian 27). In 1514, Bartolome Las Casas was given a piece of land in the Spanish colony of Cuba. The natives that were conquered would rather die than be a slave. Las Casas suggested using African slaves instead of the natives since they were known to work willingly, and this was the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade (Hobhouse 57). ... Free Essays on Columbian Exchange - Sugarcane Free Essays on Columbian Exchange - Sugarcane Sugarcane was an important element of the Columbian Exchange and unfortunately resulted in stimulating the American slave trade. â€Å"Sugar cane is native to Polynesia, where†¦small pieces were often found washed up on foreign shores where they were said to flourish. This was the ‘explanation’ of its movement to China, India, and elsewhere† (Hobhouse 44). Refined sugar originated (1432) near modern Funchal, Portugal. Vineyards eventually would replace the sugar crops because the Europeans had destroyed most of the island’s woodlands necessary to grow sugar cane. Sugar was introduced into the Caribbean soon after the arrival of Columbus in 1492 (51). â€Å"By 1530, there may have been more than a dozen sugar plantations in the West Indies, using imported animal, imported machinery, imported workers in an agricultural development in a new continent an ocean away from the market† (52). The reason for this new agricultural growth was because the tropical climate was perfect for growing sugar cane and this would justify the high cost of settlement. The Caribbean settlers planted every kind of tropical plant. â€Å"Sugar crops are salable while other crops were riskier. Sugar is extremely addictive so the demand for it grew over a period of time (52). â€Å"Before Columbus carried a few pieces of sugar cane to the Caribbean, sugar was a luxury. Most European got it from their apothecaries to help make medicine taste better. But by the middle of the 16th century, tropical American forests were giving way to vast colonies of cane-growing plantations. Europe was hooked on sugar† (Columbian 27). In 1514, Bartolome Las Casas was given a piece of land in the Spanish colony of Cuba. The natives that were conquered would rather die than be a slave. Las Casas suggested using African slaves instead of the natives since they were known to work willingly, and this was the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade (Hobhouse 57). ...

3 Tips for Writing a Successful Letter of Continued Interest

3 Tips for Writing a Successful Letter of Continued Interest SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’ve found yourself waitlisted or deferred from your dream school, you might be worried and frustrated. What does being on the waitlist mean? Do you still have a chance of getting in? What can you do to improve your chances? While there’s not one singular way of ensuring your eventual admission to your dream school, a letter of continued interest can show your continued dedication to the admissions committee. In this article, we’ll talk about what a continued interest letter is and give a letter of continued interest sample so you know how to write your own if you need to. What Is a Letter of Continued Interest? If you’ve been waitlisted or deferred from a college, you may feel sad or confused. But a waitlist or deferment isn’t always a bad thing - it means that the college thinks that you could be a strong candidate. However, they have some reservations about your application, or else they would have accepted you already. A letter of continued interest lets the admissions committee know that you’re still excited about the prospect of attending that school. More than that, a continued interest letter is a way to update the admissions committee on your achievements, which may in turn push them over the edge and decide to admit you. What Should You Include in a Letter of Continued Interest? Colleges want to make sure that they have the best and brightest freshmen class possible. Your continued interest letter should prove that you belong among the admitted applicants. You should include: An indication that you still want to attend the school. Updates on your recent accomplishments (academic, extracurricular, and personal). Basically, you want to show the admissions committee that you’re still working hard and still interested in attending their school. As with any college essay, you should make the letter personal and specific - treat your continued interest letter as a chance to give the admissions committee greater insight into who you are as a person. The types of updates you include will be specific to school you’re applying to. If you’re applying somewhere that doesn’t accept SAT scores, for instance, it doesn’t make sense to include your SAT scores. Do your research on what your school looks at and make sure to only include updates that are relevant to what you require. What Should You Not Include in a Letter of Continued Interest? It’s normal to be disappointed if you’re deferred or waitlisted - but don’t show that in your letter of continued interest. Don’t express any frustration or negative feelings. Your letter should be positive and focused on your accomplishments, not your anger that the admissions committee hasn’t realized your merits. You want to highlight positive personality traits, like perseverance, not ones like jealousy or anger. Letter of Continued Interest Samples Your letter of continued interest will be different if you’re deferred or if you’re waitlisted. If you’re deferred from an early decision pool to the regular candidate pool, you’ll want to indicate that the college is still your first choice, even though you may not have heard from anyone else yet. If you’ve been waitlisted, you’ll likely have heard from other colleges, so you can be more specific about why the waitlisted school is your top choice. Let’s take a look at a letter of continued interest sample for each scenario. Letter of Continued Interest Sample - Waitlist Dear Mr. Admissions, I was recently waitlisted for the 2018 school year. I am writing to express my continued interest in ABC University. I am particularly drawn to the school's Music Education program - the amazing faculty, including Professor 123, and state of the art facilities are what specifically make ABC University my top choice. I also wanted to update you on some exciting news. Since I first submitted my application, I have been awarded the Rockstar Prize for Excellence in Music. This award is given to a high school senior in my state every year. I think winning the award shows my dedication and continued passion in music. I've included an updated resume reflecting this honor. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. If you have any further questions, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Student #1 This letter of continued interest sample is perfect for a student on the waitlist. First, it details the student’s continued interest in the university. Next, it tells the admissions committee about a new honor, showing that the student is still working hard, even late into his or her senior year. It also provides an updated resume of accomplishments for the committee to review. Letter of Continued Interest Sample - Deferred Dear Ms. Admissions, Thank you for taking the time to read my application. I know that DEF University is incredibly competitive and I’m glad that I am still being considered a candidate for admission. I'm writing to express my continued interest in attending, and to include some new information to add to my application. Since I applied to DEF University, I have retaken the SAT to improve my score. My math score is now 770 and my reading score is 740. I’m proud of myself for this achievement and am sending an official score report to the school. I understand that this new information may not impact my admissions, as the candidate pool is so talented, but I wanted to share it with you anyways. I'm still very excited about the prospect of getting my acceptance letter to DEF University and joining the history department this fall. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Student #2 This letter of continued interest sample gives concrete updates on the student’s SAT scores. Since the student has been deferred, sending along an updated score report is a wise choice. The same goes for transcripts - if your work continues to be stellar or even improve, you should send updates along to the school as you’re considered as a candidate for regular admission. 3 Tips for Writing Your Letter of Continued Interest If you need to write a letter of continued interest, keep these tips in mind. #1: Keep It Short and Sweet The admissions committee doesn’t want to read a ten-page essay on your accomplishments. Keep your letter brief, cheery, and polite. You don’t need to write more than 300 words to get your point across - you’re still interested in the school and you’ve been working hard. #2: Include Supplementary Materials (If The School Looks at Them) If you’ve had any exciting updates to your application, be sure to highlight them in the letter. If your standardized test scores have improved, send along the official reports. If your grades are up, order new transcripts. Only include these materials if they are relevant to the school you’re applying to. #3: Be Specific Since your letter shouldn’t be that long, focus on specific achievements, like an improved grade. Give the exact details of what you’ve done and how you’ve improved - don’t say that your grades are better, say that you transformed your B in Calculus to an A. Make it easy for the admissions committee to see what you’ve done. In Summary A letter of continued interest is a good way to show the admissions committee that you still want to attend their school. It probably won’t be the one factor to sway your application one way or the other, but it can’t hurt! If you’re deferred or waitlisted at your dream school, take the time to write and send a letter of continued interest. What’s Next? Grades are an important part of a successful college application.This guide to getting a 4.0 GPA will help you plan effective studying habits, giving you a better chance at getting into your dream college. Our guide to college applications will help you understand exactly what schools are looking for. Are you worried about standardized tests and their role in your college application? Read this article to find out when these tests might not matter for you.Also take a look at this list of colleges that don't require SAT scores. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Saturn's Moon Titan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Saturn's Moon Titan - Essay Example The highly successful Cassini/Huygens mission began sending data back to earth in the spring of 2005, and since that date man has documented volumes of data concerning this moon once a mystery to mankind. While Titan is uninhabitable by man, "Scientists believe that Titan's environment may be similar to that of the Earth's before life began putting oxygen into the atmosphere" (Hamilton). The image of a primordial earth has added to Titan's mystique as the Cassini orbiter continues to map and reveal the surface and composition of Saturn's moon, Titan. Understanding the geophysical characteristics of Titan begins with a picture of its chemical composition and the temperature range that it exists in. The atmosphere of Titan, the only moon in the solar system to have a dense atmosphere, is composed primarily of nitrogen and methane (Ocean May Exist). There are also trace amounts of organic chemicals in the atmosphere, though the conditions are far from ideal for the creation of life. The moon has a gravitational force of about 15 percent of earth's and the temperature hovers around a cold minus 289 degrees Fahrenheit (Britt, "Smog on Saturn's Moon"). In 2002, scientists studying Titan believed that, "High in the Titan sky, solar radiation helps fuel chemical reactions that break the nitrogen and methane down into other substances. Eventually, lower down, some of these molecules serve as seeds for clouds. Methane condenses on the seeds to form rain or hailstones that fall to the surface" (Britt, "Smog on Saturn's Moon"). Indeed, thre e years later the Huygens probe would land during a methane rain as it broke through the atmosphere on Titan. These early and initial observations of Titan created more questions than they answered. What was the source of all the methane on the planet In a solar system that is routinely impacted by objects from space, why was Titan' surface relatively smooth, as if it had escaped the force of impacts The Cassini mission and the Huygens probe would provide the data necessary to begin to answer these questions. Much of what we know about Titan came from a descent and landing on Titan's surface of the Huygens probe, a part of the European Space Agency's Cassini program. There has been a keen interest in Titan since the early days of astronomy as scientists speculated on a world that "is extraordinarily like Earth, with rivers, rain, islands, seas and mountains, but is otherwise a totally alien world where geology and chemistry are turned on their heads" (Walker). Launched in 1997, the Huygens probe separated from the Cassini orbiter and entered Titan's thick atmosphere in late 2004. Though it was not designed to be a lander, Huygens survived the descent and continued to relay data back to Earth for approximately 90 minutes. The first images sent back from Huygens were remarkable. According to Eddy, "Huygens landed at the shoreline of what appears to be large body of liquid when it ended a seven-year journey". Landing in a rain of methane, the Huygens probe landed in an area that was typical of Titan's surface. "European Space Agency scientists said at a press conference in Paris that the consistency of the surface was like icy wet mud" (Walker). The Cassini orbiter is still active and continues to survey the moon as it makes passes near Titan