Demiurge and Alice, Texas: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox City |

[[la:demiurgus]][[de:demiurg]][[sv:demiurg]][[fr:démiurge]]

official_name = City of Alice |

The term '''Demiurge''' or '''Ialdaboth''' ('''Yaltabaoth''' and several other variants) is a name given within some [[belief system]]s to a [[deity]] responsible for the creation of the [[physical universe]] and the physical aspect of [[humanity]]. The word is derived from the ancient [[greek language|Greek]] δημιουργός (''démiourgos''), meaning an artisan or craftsman. (This word in turn comes from δήμιος "official" which in turn comes from δῆμος "people" and έργον meaning "creation" or "piece of work".) Although the term is used in a number of different religious and philosophical systems (most notably [[Platonism]] and [[Gnosticism]]) the precise nature and character of the Demiurge varies considerably, from being the benign architect of matter in some systems, to the personification of evil in others.

nickname = The Hub City |

image_skyline = Alice_towers.jpg |

image_caption = |

image_flag = |

image_seal = |

image_map = |

map_caption = |

|subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]]

|subdivision_type1 = [[Political divisions of the United States|State]]

|subdivision_type2 = [[Counties of the United States|County]]

|subdivision_name = [[United States]]

|subdivision_name1 = [[Texas]]

|subdivision_name2 = [[Jim Wells County, Texas|Jim Wells County]] |

leader_title = [[Mayor]] |

leader_name = Grace Saenz-Lopez |

area_note = |

area_magnitude = |

area_total = |

area_land = |

area_water = |

population_as_of = [[2000 U.S. Census]]|

population_note = |

|population_total = 19,010|

|population_urban = |

|population_metro = |

timezone = [[Central Standard Time|CST]] |

utc_offset = |

timezone_DST = |

utc_offset_DST = |

latitude = |

longitude = |

website = [http://www.alicetx.org/] |

footnotes = |

}}

'''Alice''' is a city in [[Jim Wells County, Texas|Jim Wells County]], [[Texas]], [[United States]]. The population was 19,010 at the 2000 census. It is the [[county seat]] of [[Jim Wells County, Texas|Jim Wells County]]{{GR|6}}. Alice was established in [[1888]]. First it was called ''Bandana'', then ''Kleberg'' and finally Alice after ''Alice Gertrudis King'' the daughter of [[Richard King (Texas)|Richard King]], who established the [[King Ranch]].

[[Plato]] refers to the Demiurge frequently in the ''[[Timaeus]]'' as the entity who "fashioned and shaped" the material world. Plato descibes the Demiurge as unreservedly good and hence desirous that the world should be as good as possible. The reason why the world is imperfect is that the Demiurge had to work on pre-existing chaotic matter.

==Culture==

Gnosticism also presents this distinction between the overall "creator" and the Demiurge. However, in contrast to Plato, many systems of Gnostic thought present the Demiurge as being antagonistic to the will of the Supreme Creator, the Demiurge being focused solely on material reality and the "sensuous soul". In this context the Demiurge can be characterised as the "Satan" of Gnostic thought. In the Apocrypphon of John (in the [[Nag Hammadi]] collection), the Demiurge is characterised as "Yaltabaoth", who proclaims himself as God:

Alice has long been recognized as [http://www.tejanorootshalloffame.org/birthplace.html "The Birthplace of Tejano"] dating back to the mid 1940's when Armando Marroquin, Sr. of Alice and partner Paco Bentacourt of San Benito, Texas launched what was to be the first home based recording company to record [[Tejano]] artists exclusively. Ideal Records, which was based in Alice, the heart of South Texas and under the direction of Marroquin became the perfect vehicle for Tejano groups and artists to get their music to the public. Marroquin, who also owned and operated a jukebox company, insured that Ideal recordings would be distributed throughout South Texas. The songs recorded, which were contributed by Tejano and Mexican composers became very popular through jukeboxes placed in restaurants, cantinas or any other establishment that would have them, and the then very scarce Spanish language radio programs.

==Geography==

:''"Now the [[archon]] who is weak has three names. The first name is Yaltabaoth, the second is Saklas, and the third is Samael. And he is impious in his arrogance which is in him. For he said, 'I am God and there is no other God beside me,' for he is ignorant of his strength, the place from which he had come."''

[[Image:TXMap-doton-Alice.PNG|right|Location of Alice, Texas]]

Alice is located at {{coor dms|27|45|2|N|98|4|14|W|city}} (27.750652, -98.070460){{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 31.9 [[km²]] (12.3 [[square mile|mi²]]). 30.8 km² (11.9 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (3.25%) is water. The largest body of water in the city limits is [[Lake Findley]], a [[reservoir (water)|reservoir]] north of the city center.

Some Gnostic philosophers (notably [[Marcion of Sinope]]) characterise the Demiurge as being [[Jehovah]], the God of the [[Old Testament]], in opposition and contrast to the God of the [[New Testament]].

==Demographics==

The concept of the Demiurge does not reconcile easily with [[Christianity|Christian]] philosophy. The Platonic interpretation seems to presuppose the pre-existence of matter (in a chaotic form) and this conflicts with the Judeo-Christian concept of an all-powerful creator who fashioned the universe out of nothingness (''ex nihilo''). While the concept of [[Satan]] is well-defined in Christian literature, most theologians reject the notion that Satan (or an equivalent being) could also be the creator of the physical universe, this being the achievement of the Supreme God.

As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 19,010 people, 6,400 households, and 4,915 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 616.8/km² (1,597.4/mi²). There were 6,998 housing units at an average density of 227.1/km² (588.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.44% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.86% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.53% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.75% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.08% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 17.92% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.41% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 78.05% of the population.

There were 6,400 households out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.39.

==See Also==

*[[Gnosticism]]

*[[Platonism]]

*[[Archon]]

In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

==References:==

*[http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/nhl.htm The Nag Hammadi Library]

The median income for a household in the city was $30,365, and the median income for a family was $34,276. Males had a median income of $32,409 versus $17,101 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,118. About 17.9% of families and 21.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==

The City of Alice is served by the [[Alice Independent School District]].

==Alice Notable People==

Nobel Prize Winner [[Robert F. Curl Jr.]] was born on August 23, 1933 in Alice, Texas.

[[Canadian Football League]](CFL) Player [[Chris Brazzell]] played on the Alice Coyotes Football team. He was drafted to the NFL in 1998 to the New York Jets and was the 174th overall pick in the 6th round. He was released from the Jets and was picked up by the [[Dallas Cowboys]]. He played for the Cowboys 1999-2000 but was released August 2001. He has since played for CFL teams such as the [[Edmonton Eskimos]], [[B.C. Lions]], [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]], and currently plays for the [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]].

==External links==

*'''[http://www.aliceechonews.com The Alice Echo News Journal - Pulitzer-Prize winning newspaper serving Jim Wells County for over 100 years]'''

{{Mapit-US-cityscale|27.750652|-98.07046}}

{{Texas}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]

[[Category:Jim Wells County, Texas]]

[[Category:County seats in Texas]]

[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Texas]]

[[de:Alice (Texas)]]

[[lmo:Alice, Texas]]