Saturday, July 31, 2004
Here is one of the many pictures I have from my vacation. This is my three year old niece (and buddy) Kaylee. We had a lot of fun together in Minnesota. See how cool she looks in her dad's shades? It was fun to watch her as she tried constantly to mimic the adults. Every phrase and action was being scrutinized, and she was constantly concered with who was doing/eating/wearing something "like me." If only she knew how many adults wish we were more like her... :)
Why I Shouldn't Neglect Blogging...
I am approaching the 1000 visit mark to my site, and I couldn't be more pleased. My only true regrets about this blog are:
1) That I do not do enough science talk anymore
2) That I tend to get long winded
3) That I do not post as regularly as I should
The reason #1 is neglected is because since this is a diary, and not a professional journal, I tend to stray into issues on my heart. Regret #2 is due to genetics I think... and #3 is plain laziness. Because of #3, I often forget blogs I have "written" in my mind throughout the day. I also find myself with too many topics, and having to choose one when I sit down to type.
Today is a great example of that. I want very bad to talk about dragonflies. I have for over a week, due to an experience I had in Minnesota. But I keep putting it off. Today was going to be the day, but then I read that Francis Crick died. I would love to eulogize Crick, and explain why his co-discovery of the DNA double helix is so important. But I can't, because the city of Omaha is debating whether or not the city's government has the right to ban smoking in public areas. I am a non-smoker, but that isn't what draws me to this issue... it's the fact that the government is once again "speaking for the people" when the people have chosen to not speak for themselves. Public shops and restaurants would ban smoking themselves is non-smokers avoided spending money there. There is a great correlation to other social matters here, but...
I can't even write about that today! There is an ever hotter subject on the table. It would seem that Planned Parenthood is selling t-shirts on their website to raise money and support for their services. Now I don't want to get into a abortion/pro-life discussion, so don't worry if that's what you think is coming.
The problem is with what the shirt says. The red t-shirt says "I had an abortion." The shirt is meant to help erase the shame and stigma of having an abortion by people displaying the logo. I feel that this is a very bad approach, for two reasons.
1) Planned Parenthood has long been the easy target of the pro-life movement. In the never ceasing debates, Planned Parenthood is quick to remind opponents that their clinics are not drive-thru abortion clinics, but a service that helps prevent, counsel, and educate women on their options of how to handle an unwanted pregnancy. Planned Parenthood is Pro-Choice. By displaying the t-shirt I mentioned above, it has crossed the line from offering choices to supporting a particular choice. I feel that as a charity, it has strongly allied itself with an image that will only hurt other good it may serve by doing this.
2) The second grievance I have is that as I understand it, women are not proud of their abortions. It isn't always because of the social stigma. It has to do with the biological intrusion, the biochemical residue that can heighten negative emotions, and above all, the shame usually is linked to the situation that led to the unwanted pregnancy to begin with. I would assume that the majority of abortions are not made by successful, married yuppies who just do not want a child at this time in their lives. These Planned Parenthood clinics help women who have been raped (to one degree or another), who have been sucked into a world of bar-and-bed relationships, and teenagers who simply failed to take the proper precautions. We are talking about women who have followed their hearts to poor decisions and unfortunate conclusions. Women who maybe lacked a proper education of sex's consequences. Abortion, right or wrong, rarely springs from a woman who is proud to have exercised her choice. I think celebrating this choice on a t-shirt demeans and belittles the gravity of the situation that forced a choice to be made in the first place.
Planned Parenthood has played directly into the hands of its opponents. They will point and say that this organization has finally revealed itself as an agent for abortion, rather than a an agent for education and options. Planned Parenthood, by taking this bold step, has polarized the debate; forever alienating the opposing camp. The t-shirt comes off brash and confrontational. Rather than launching a softer campaign (such as commercials with prominent women willing to explain that they had an abortion and why), or a more ambiguous logo (such as "I made a choice."), Planned Parenthood chose to go on an offensive that may hurt its mission.
There is a segment of us out here who does not like the idea of abortion, but agrees to some degree that a woman needs to make the choice herself. This segment of the population is also likely to support an organization that will offer information about all the choices, and not favor once particular outcome. A clinic where compassion and education are given to a woman in need is something noble.
Those of us who feel this way would not feel that a woman should feel bad for using this resource. But if this resource suddenly aligns itself with a particular slant, whether it is guilting a woman into keeping the baby herself in any situation, or proudly offering abortion as the top option, this resource is no longer objective. And subjectivity does not easily lend itself to nobility.
I hope I was able to convey my feelings without mispeaking. This "abortion" is such a hot topic, and frankly it invokes so much passion that I do not foresee the debate ever ending. I do not wish to sit here and drag out this debate. I merely wanted to express my disappointment of the Planned Parenthood t-shirt. I think it lacks taste, was poorly conceived (no pun intended), and is insensitive to ladies who have made the serious and emotional decision have an abortion.
I too hope that society will grow to a point that we quit affixing levels of severity to particular "sins" and start trying to love one another rather than judge. I wish there was a lack of stigma for many actions, and that it would be replaced with honest and loving compassion for our fellow humans. But I do not think this t-shirt will help this to come about.
For my Christian friends, just remember that Jesus himself showed us that you can condemn a sin and lovingly accept the sinner. If you want an example, turn to the ever-popular story where he utters "he that is without sin cast the first stone. (paraphrased)" Replace the adulterous woman with a woman who has had an abortion, and think about how Christians need to approach such issues.
See ya! Kerry/Edwards 2004.
1) That I do not do enough science talk anymore
2) That I tend to get long winded
3) That I do not post as regularly as I should
The reason #1 is neglected is because since this is a diary, and not a professional journal, I tend to stray into issues on my heart. Regret #2 is due to genetics I think... and #3 is plain laziness. Because of #3, I often forget blogs I have "written" in my mind throughout the day. I also find myself with too many topics, and having to choose one when I sit down to type.
Today is a great example of that. I want very bad to talk about dragonflies. I have for over a week, due to an experience I had in Minnesota. But I keep putting it off. Today was going to be the day, but then I read that Francis Crick died. I would love to eulogize Crick, and explain why his co-discovery of the DNA double helix is so important. But I can't, because the city of Omaha is debating whether or not the city's government has the right to ban smoking in public areas. I am a non-smoker, but that isn't what draws me to this issue... it's the fact that the government is once again "speaking for the people" when the people have chosen to not speak for themselves. Public shops and restaurants would ban smoking themselves is non-smokers avoided spending money there. There is a great correlation to other social matters here, but...
I can't even write about that today! There is an ever hotter subject on the table. It would seem that Planned Parenthood is selling t-shirts on their website to raise money and support for their services. Now I don't want to get into a abortion/pro-life discussion, so don't worry if that's what you think is coming.
The problem is with what the shirt says. The red t-shirt says "I had an abortion." The shirt is meant to help erase the shame and stigma of having an abortion by people displaying the logo. I feel that this is a very bad approach, for two reasons.
1) Planned Parenthood has long been the easy target of the pro-life movement. In the never ceasing debates, Planned Parenthood is quick to remind opponents that their clinics are not drive-thru abortion clinics, but a service that helps prevent, counsel, and educate women on their options of how to handle an unwanted pregnancy. Planned Parenthood is Pro-Choice. By displaying the t-shirt I mentioned above, it has crossed the line from offering choices to supporting a particular choice. I feel that as a charity, it has strongly allied itself with an image that will only hurt other good it may serve by doing this.
2) The second grievance I have is that as I understand it, women are not proud of their abortions. It isn't always because of the social stigma. It has to do with the biological intrusion, the biochemical residue that can heighten negative emotions, and above all, the shame usually is linked to the situation that led to the unwanted pregnancy to begin with. I would assume that the majority of abortions are not made by successful, married yuppies who just do not want a child at this time in their lives. These Planned Parenthood clinics help women who have been raped (to one degree or another), who have been sucked into a world of bar-and-bed relationships, and teenagers who simply failed to take the proper precautions. We are talking about women who have followed their hearts to poor decisions and unfortunate conclusions. Women who maybe lacked a proper education of sex's consequences. Abortion, right or wrong, rarely springs from a woman who is proud to have exercised her choice. I think celebrating this choice on a t-shirt demeans and belittles the gravity of the situation that forced a choice to be made in the first place.
Planned Parenthood has played directly into the hands of its opponents. They will point and say that this organization has finally revealed itself as an agent for abortion, rather than a an agent for education and options. Planned Parenthood, by taking this bold step, has polarized the debate; forever alienating the opposing camp. The t-shirt comes off brash and confrontational. Rather than launching a softer campaign (such as commercials with prominent women willing to explain that they had an abortion and why), or a more ambiguous logo (such as "I made a choice."), Planned Parenthood chose to go on an offensive that may hurt its mission.
There is a segment of us out here who does not like the idea of abortion, but agrees to some degree that a woman needs to make the choice herself. This segment of the population is also likely to support an organization that will offer information about all the choices, and not favor once particular outcome. A clinic where compassion and education are given to a woman in need is something noble.
Those of us who feel this way would not feel that a woman should feel bad for using this resource. But if this resource suddenly aligns itself with a particular slant, whether it is guilting a woman into keeping the baby herself in any situation, or proudly offering abortion as the top option, this resource is no longer objective. And subjectivity does not easily lend itself to nobility.
I hope I was able to convey my feelings without mispeaking. This "abortion" is such a hot topic, and frankly it invokes so much passion that I do not foresee the debate ever ending. I do not wish to sit here and drag out this debate. I merely wanted to express my disappointment of the Planned Parenthood t-shirt. I think it lacks taste, was poorly conceived (no pun intended), and is insensitive to ladies who have made the serious and emotional decision have an abortion.
I too hope that society will grow to a point that we quit affixing levels of severity to particular "sins" and start trying to love one another rather than judge. I wish there was a lack of stigma for many actions, and that it would be replaced with honest and loving compassion for our fellow humans. But I do not think this t-shirt will help this to come about.
For my Christian friends, just remember that Jesus himself showed us that you can condemn a sin and lovingly accept the sinner. If you want an example, turn to the ever-popular story where he utters "he that is without sin cast the first stone. (paraphrased)" Replace the adulterous woman with a woman who has had an abortion, and think about how Christians need to approach such issues.
See ya! Kerry/Edwards 2004.
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Freedom: Taken for granted because we don't know what oppression means.
It is true. America today is obsessed with the idea of freedom. The word comes up constantly in advertising, political speeches, religious rallies, and in song. But I think that here in the Land of the Free we have a poor grasp of what true freedom is.
We have a poor idea of what true oppression is. We feel that we are entitled to unfettered freedoms of all sorts. Many of us even go so far as to say, as Paul McCartney sang is that awful post 9/11 song "It is our right, our right given by God, to live in Freedom..."
We have very few rights given to us "by God." We are victims (in a loose sense of the word) of circumstance that are called to live as moral as we can in whatever situation we end up being born into. We are not guaranteed freedom. We are not even guaranteed health. There is no level playing field, and there is no parity in real life.
Therefore, freedom is an ideal that man strives for, but understands little about. It is my philosophy that homo sapiens is not designed to live in freedom. The species needs stress to be productive. We are at our best when we live a noble life in spite of pressures upon us. Mankind was born for adversity. This fact alludes most Americans, even our Christian populace.
Look at the trends in America. Look at the low turn-out for voting. Look at the lax way American Christians conduct themselves. Why is the American church not "on fire" as in the days of the Book of Acts? Because there are no external pressures. The body of Christ is not being tempered by fire, and we are allowed to ride fences. We leisurely dart in and out of moral living.
Americans in general have the same problems. We are financially irresponsible, and waste much of our lives on leisure. We rarely look for opportunities to improve our selves, our towns, or the lives of others. Instead we look for convenience. we cherish good times. We don't want judged; that would impose on our freedom. We don't want laws, that interrupts our freedom. We don't want discretion. We don't want self-control. We don't want moderation. We don't want sacrifice.
The freedom the average America desires has one foot in anarchy, and another in lethargy.
True freedom is earned by working under adversity, under restrictions and still being productive and moral. David Byrne once said, "If you allow them to do anything, most people will just waffle about." And it is the truth. I agree with Byrne's further sentiments, that uniformity and restriction do not have to be debilitating or degrading. They are empowering. The pressure causes us to act with purpose. The stress makes us choose our steps wisely, and spend our time carefully. We cherish our good days, and bear down to weather the bad ones.
The American life of freedom is nice. I am thankful constantly for the fact that I was born in such a great country, and that I did not have to suffer in ways that many people do around our world. I did not have to face ethnic cleansing. I did not have to live in fear under a dictator. I did not have to suffer through plague and famine. But I do not want my love for American freedom to feed my sloth. I want to remember that freedom is a costly thing, and that there is a big difference between being free and being without accountability.
As we look forward to this election year, and to the rest of our lives, lets reflect on how we are wasting our freedoms, and do what we can to better this planet by our actions and words. Let us not take for granted what we have, and lets use what we have to help others, in some way...
"What message can I send through the pen if I am not sending any through the life I am living?" - Gandhi
See ya! Kerry/Edwards 2004
We have a poor idea of what true oppression is. We feel that we are entitled to unfettered freedoms of all sorts. Many of us even go so far as to say, as Paul McCartney sang is that awful post 9/11 song "It is our right, our right given by God, to live in Freedom..."
We have very few rights given to us "by God." We are victims (in a loose sense of the word) of circumstance that are called to live as moral as we can in whatever situation we end up being born into. We are not guaranteed freedom. We are not even guaranteed health. There is no level playing field, and there is no parity in real life.
Therefore, freedom is an ideal that man strives for, but understands little about. It is my philosophy that homo sapiens is not designed to live in freedom. The species needs stress to be productive. We are at our best when we live a noble life in spite of pressures upon us. Mankind was born for adversity. This fact alludes most Americans, even our Christian populace.
Look at the trends in America. Look at the low turn-out for voting. Look at the lax way American Christians conduct themselves. Why is the American church not "on fire" as in the days of the Book of Acts? Because there are no external pressures. The body of Christ is not being tempered by fire, and we are allowed to ride fences. We leisurely dart in and out of moral living.
Americans in general have the same problems. We are financially irresponsible, and waste much of our lives on leisure. We rarely look for opportunities to improve our selves, our towns, or the lives of others. Instead we look for convenience. we cherish good times. We don't want judged; that would impose on our freedom. We don't want laws, that interrupts our freedom. We don't want discretion. We don't want self-control. We don't want moderation. We don't want sacrifice.
The freedom the average America desires has one foot in anarchy, and another in lethargy.
True freedom is earned by working under adversity, under restrictions and still being productive and moral. David Byrne once said, "If you allow them to do anything, most people will just waffle about." And it is the truth. I agree with Byrne's further sentiments, that uniformity and restriction do not have to be debilitating or degrading. They are empowering. The pressure causes us to act with purpose. The stress makes us choose our steps wisely, and spend our time carefully. We cherish our good days, and bear down to weather the bad ones.
The American life of freedom is nice. I am thankful constantly for the fact that I was born in such a great country, and that I did not have to suffer in ways that many people do around our world. I did not have to face ethnic cleansing. I did not have to live in fear under a dictator. I did not have to suffer through plague and famine. But I do not want my love for American freedom to feed my sloth. I want to remember that freedom is a costly thing, and that there is a big difference between being free and being without accountability.
As we look forward to this election year, and to the rest of our lives, lets reflect on how we are wasting our freedoms, and do what we can to better this planet by our actions and words. Let us not take for granted what we have, and lets use what we have to help others, in some way...
"What message can I send through the pen if I am not sending any through the life I am living?" - Gandhi
See ya! Kerry/Edwards 2004
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Escape from the land of 10,000 lakes...
Hello everyone! I am so back! It was a nice week, but like a true city boy, I missed my computer, my treated water, my fool-proof plumbing, and my spider-free bed. As many of you know, I go to Minnesota every year with my wife's family. We stay in the same cabin on Rose Lake (near Vergas), every year. If you know anything about me, you know I do not look forward to this trip, but every year I manage to have a little fun and relax a lot.
I also use my week away to do some soul searching. Every year it is a different dilemma. It is a nice opportunity to do meditation because I can go out to the lake and just enjoy nature. It usually takes a few days to quiet not only my mind, but my heart, then I get productive. I jog a lot also, which is a nice break from my usual lethargic lifestyle. It's a personal experience amongst a week lacking in privacy. My decisions I made this year, and my lake resolutions may be my strongest yet. We'll have to wait and see. The best feature of being gone for 9 days is that people have a fighting chance of forgetting what a jerk I can be, and when I come back hopefully I will have a chance to make a few new impressions. Or, I'll screw it up as usual. :)
Regardless, the week was not awful. I spent a lot of time playing with my 3 year old niece, who is a silly little monkey. I read 15 manga books, and studied Japanese a total of 28 hours. I also played golf twice (which gets expensive), but did well each time. The second game was my best ever by far. I shot a 58 on a par 35 9-hole course. That is still awful, but for me it is great! Last but not least, I am down to 216 pounds (14 lower than when this blog started), and my skin is about 4 shades of tan.
Now I am ready to get back to work, try to stick to my resolutions, start reading about the coming NFL season, and see my friends. And best of all, prepare for the coming start of Pharmacy School.
See ya! Kerry - Edwards 2004.
I also use my week away to do some soul searching. Every year it is a different dilemma. It is a nice opportunity to do meditation because I can go out to the lake and just enjoy nature. It usually takes a few days to quiet not only my mind, but my heart, then I get productive. I jog a lot also, which is a nice break from my usual lethargic lifestyle. It's a personal experience amongst a week lacking in privacy. My decisions I made this year, and my lake resolutions may be my strongest yet. We'll have to wait and see. The best feature of being gone for 9 days is that people have a fighting chance of forgetting what a jerk I can be, and when I come back hopefully I will have a chance to make a few new impressions. Or, I'll screw it up as usual. :)
Regardless, the week was not awful. I spent a lot of time playing with my 3 year old niece, who is a silly little monkey. I read 15 manga books, and studied Japanese a total of 28 hours. I also played golf twice (which gets expensive), but did well each time. The second game was my best ever by far. I shot a 58 on a par 35 9-hole course. That is still awful, but for me it is great! Last but not least, I am down to 216 pounds (14 lower than when this blog started), and my skin is about 4 shades of tan.
Now I am ready to get back to work, try to stick to my resolutions, start reading about the coming NFL season, and see my friends. And best of all, prepare for the coming start of Pharmacy School.
See ya! Kerry - Edwards 2004.
Friday, July 16, 2004
A Vacation Coming Up, and some stuff about manga
Hey everybody! I am going to leave for vacation on Sunday, and I will be away from computers until the next Sunday. So this means no blogs or email for a week. Please be sure to come back on the 25th!
I wanted to say a little about manga. For those of you who don't know, manga are small paperback books that house Japanese comics. These comics, unlike what you would expect, have deep and moving stories (sometimes) and gorgeous art (usually). These are not your typical Spiderman, Superman, or Archie.
The manager at the Council Bluffs Waldenbooks store told me that manga is the hottest item in her store lately. The books are becoming more and more popular. In the past, fans of manga had to order the books from overseas and translate them into English. Now there are domestic publishing houses that are racing to snatch up properties, and localize the text. It is a great time to be a manga fan in the USA.
My favorite title is Rurouni Kenshin, which is about a samurai (actually a hitokiri) who has retired from violence. I spend every month waiting for the last week to come around so that I may pick up the next volume. I read through it in less than an hour, then set my sights on the next month... it is a sad existence. There are 28 volumes in all, and in the US we are on number 5.
Just today I filled in my Dragonball collection. This is the third time I have bought these. The copies I had before were in Japanese, which I sold when Viz started printing them in American comic book form. I soon grew frustrated with the comic format, and sold them. Then Viz began printing them as oversized (and over-priced) graphic novels. I skipped this phase. Now, as Shonen Jump has been a smash hit (a monthly magazine with serialized manga titles), proper manga of Dragonball have been released. There are 16 volumes, and I now have 1-15. 16 will not be out for another month.
There are many other titles worth noting. The reason I bring this topic up is because on my vacation, I intended on reading as much manga as I can. I will be sitting in a cabin, bored out of my mind. I do not like to fish, and that is pretty much all there is to do. Every year I read and play video games between shopping trips (yuck), meals, and bed time.
As pharmacy school grows nearer, my mind grows less inclined to read "hard" books for fun. In years past I have read text books on chemistry, studied theology, and even worked on my biology. This year, I have dumbed down my reading, and am sticking to manga. :) I need to conserve some brain power for school.
I am starting to get anxious for school; hoping that I can handle all the school work, afraid to meet new people, and feeling the stress that comes with such a major change in my life. For me, manga is my escape into something fantastic and fun.
So, if you miss me and want to connect with me in some cosmic way, just go to your local books store and browse through the manga section. My reading list (tentatively) looks like this...
1) Dragonball 1-15
2) Rurouni Kenshin 1-5
3) Evangelion 1-4
4) Dragonball Z 1-14
5) Gunslinger Girl 1-3 (I need to translate these as they are in Japanese)
See ya! Kerry/Edwards '04.
I wanted to say a little about manga. For those of you who don't know, manga are small paperback books that house Japanese comics. These comics, unlike what you would expect, have deep and moving stories (sometimes) and gorgeous art (usually). These are not your typical Spiderman, Superman, or Archie.
The manager at the Council Bluffs Waldenbooks store told me that manga is the hottest item in her store lately. The books are becoming more and more popular. In the past, fans of manga had to order the books from overseas and translate them into English. Now there are domestic publishing houses that are racing to snatch up properties, and localize the text. It is a great time to be a manga fan in the USA.
My favorite title is Rurouni Kenshin, which is about a samurai (actually a hitokiri) who has retired from violence. I spend every month waiting for the last week to come around so that I may pick up the next volume. I read through it in less than an hour, then set my sights on the next month... it is a sad existence. There are 28 volumes in all, and in the US we are on number 5.
Just today I filled in my Dragonball collection. This is the third time I have bought these. The copies I had before were in Japanese, which I sold when Viz started printing them in American comic book form. I soon grew frustrated with the comic format, and sold them. Then Viz began printing them as oversized (and over-priced) graphic novels. I skipped this phase. Now, as Shonen Jump has been a smash hit (a monthly magazine with serialized manga titles), proper manga of Dragonball have been released. There are 16 volumes, and I now have 1-15. 16 will not be out for another month.
There are many other titles worth noting. The reason I bring this topic up is because on my vacation, I intended on reading as much manga as I can. I will be sitting in a cabin, bored out of my mind. I do not like to fish, and that is pretty much all there is to do. Every year I read and play video games between shopping trips (yuck), meals, and bed time.
As pharmacy school grows nearer, my mind grows less inclined to read "hard" books for fun. In years past I have read text books on chemistry, studied theology, and even worked on my biology. This year, I have dumbed down my reading, and am sticking to manga. :) I need to conserve some brain power for school.
I am starting to get anxious for school; hoping that I can handle all the school work, afraid to meet new people, and feeling the stress that comes with such a major change in my life. For me, manga is my escape into something fantastic and fun.
So, if you miss me and want to connect with me in some cosmic way, just go to your local books store and browse through the manga section. My reading list (tentatively) looks like this...
1) Dragonball 1-15
2) Rurouni Kenshin 1-5
3) Evangelion 1-4
4) Dragonball Z 1-14
5) Gunslinger Girl 1-3 (I need to translate these as they are in Japanese)
See ya! Kerry/Edwards '04.
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Good news/bad news time. I despise politics, and hate that I have wasted so much time on it on my blog. But this needs to be addressed, as it is a pressing issue of humanity versus imposition of religious ideals. From Yahoo: "The Senate scuttled a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on Wednesday, handing a defeat to President Bush, yet assuring the issue renewed prominence in the fall campaign for the White House and control of Congress. Forty-eight senators voted to advance the measure 12 short of the 60 needed and 50 voted to block it. Defeat came at the hands of dozens of Democrats joined by six Republicans." -------- (All this really means is that there were still 48 people in the vote who do not understand how Christ himself wants morality to be taught. Not by law, but by relationship. These so-called Christian politicians should know better. God didn't want a kingdom in OT days, but he let the people establish one. He didn't send Christ to establish a physical nation, but people still expected Him to set one up. Christians are notorious for missing God's point. If the Chirstian God exists, based on the Bible itself, we know that God wants a body of people bound together through love and willing obedience. Not forced obedience, and not spiteful gradation of sins. The American Right are the new Pharisees)
Am I Hard to Know?
Hello! I have had so much fun playing in my free time that I have neglected to write blogs frequently. I am sure that you are adequately busy enough to not miss them. :) Well, maybe a little missing wouldn't hurt...
This coming Sunday I am leaving for one week. I am vacationing in Minnesota. It is my yearly trip to the cabin with my wife and her family. So I will not be blogging in that time. Please adjust your blog viewing accordingly, and please come back after the hiatus. :) If I lose "viewers" I will be sad. :_(
This week I had to take a psychological test called Briggs-Meyer. I hate taking these sort of tests, because I find myself constantly trying to outthink the evaluation, overthinking my answers, and not finding responses that adequately express my answers. This test was required for my entry into Creighton University. It is supposed to give an idea of my learning habits and point out areas I can work on to enhance my study habits.
One of the questions asked "Are you an easy person to get to know?" It was a hard question to answer. I mean, I am a pretty straightforward and honest person. I like to think of myself as an open book. And I talk too much, so there isn't an issue of shyness involved.
But do people really know me? It is a hard question to answer. How well do we even know ourselves? There are so many Carl's. Inside each of your minds is Carl Smith. One Carl overlaps with another person's Carl smith, but each one of you probably has slightly different opinions about him, and have been privy to select experiences that others have not.
There are hundreds of Carl's out there. So how well do they represent the real me? They say that the best way to know a really person to is catch them in an uncharacteristic situation, and see how they deal with it. This has intrigued me. The idea that our moments of trial and weakness say more about us than the facade we present normally is probably pretty accurate.
So in both a spirit of introspection and fun, I present...
A Few Things You May Not Know About Carl
1) Carl loves old R&B, Soul, and Motown. To me, nothing beats the honesty and passion of soul music. Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and Al Green are all idols of mine. The soul vibe extends into my other secret favorites, such as Prince, De La Soul, Jamiroquai, Steely Dan, and, as recently ridiculed at work, Hall and Oates.
2) Carl secretly loves being alone. And at the same time I desperately long to spend time with close friends. I can sit in silence for hours and be content. I can play .Hack on my PS2, watch a Kurosawa movie, or read. Often, the appearance of another person ruins my day. At other times, I pace the house wishing I had the courage to call one of my friends and ask them to do something. I spend a lot of time waiting for offers that never come.
3) Carl loves to learn. I love to discover, to test, and to experiment. I have taught myself many things, at least to some minor level, only to move on to something else. I taught myself how to play bass guitar, program in Basic (a long time ago, kids), about evolution, to cook, the rules of soccer, how to fix my mountain bike, how to make techno music on my PC, general chemistry, Tai Chi, and most recently Japanese (which I am far from proficient at). I love researching the backgrounds of bands, movies, and novels. I like to know about an artists before enjoying their works. And I like to know the how and why, and I love to make up my own opinions based on this knowledge. Yet with all this curiousity and desire to learn, my knowledge of American History and Geography are very poor. I care about coelocanths, Stephen Hawking, kanji, The Doors, miso soup, trilobites, Miyamoto Musashi, and natural selection all more than I do the American Civil War.
4) Carl loves to love. This is funny, since my humor can be so bitter and mean spirited. In actuality I love people, and try to see the best in everyone. In practice, I tend to relate to people as characters of themselves. This leads people to think that there are many people I do not like. The truth is, I'd do about anything for anyone. I think. I love getting to know someone and knowing in my heart that there a special connection somewhere. I love that rush of good feeling you get when you receive a note from someone you love, or spends some time with someone you really care for. It kills me not to be totally upfront with my feelings sometimes, but that's life.
That's four things anyway, I will try to think of more. Have a good day! By the way, the new Polyphonic Spree CD is out. It is their second, and they are a remarkable band. Thanks to my friend Carlin, I was introduced to these guys a couple summers ago. The new CD is called "Together We're Heavy" and it is unlike anything you have ever heard. They aren't a band, as much as they are a choir. The band is over 20 members, and they dress in gospel style robes, and sing uplifting songs about love and hope. As all-music guide says, they are more of a happening than a band. Check them out! Their new CD even comes with a live DVD!
See ya! Kerry/Edwards 2004.
Carl
PS - Here's a bonus item you can ask me about if you are curious. I'll spare you any in depth details. I once owned (co-owned) my own business while I was in Bible College. It was called Fellowtronix.
This coming Sunday I am leaving for one week. I am vacationing in Minnesota. It is my yearly trip to the cabin with my wife and her family. So I will not be blogging in that time. Please adjust your blog viewing accordingly, and please come back after the hiatus. :) If I lose "viewers" I will be sad. :_(
This week I had to take a psychological test called Briggs-Meyer. I hate taking these sort of tests, because I find myself constantly trying to outthink the evaluation, overthinking my answers, and not finding responses that adequately express my answers. This test was required for my entry into Creighton University. It is supposed to give an idea of my learning habits and point out areas I can work on to enhance my study habits.
One of the questions asked "Are you an easy person to get to know?" It was a hard question to answer. I mean, I am a pretty straightforward and honest person. I like to think of myself as an open book. And I talk too much, so there isn't an issue of shyness involved.
But do people really know me? It is a hard question to answer. How well do we even know ourselves? There are so many Carl's. Inside each of your minds is Carl Smith. One Carl overlaps with another person's Carl smith, but each one of you probably has slightly different opinions about him, and have been privy to select experiences that others have not.
There are hundreds of Carl's out there. So how well do they represent the real me? They say that the best way to know a really person to is catch them in an uncharacteristic situation, and see how they deal with it. This has intrigued me. The idea that our moments of trial and weakness say more about us than the facade we present normally is probably pretty accurate.
So in both a spirit of introspection and fun, I present...
A Few Things You May Not Know About Carl
1) Carl loves old R&B, Soul, and Motown. To me, nothing beats the honesty and passion of soul music. Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and Al Green are all idols of mine. The soul vibe extends into my other secret favorites, such as Prince, De La Soul, Jamiroquai, Steely Dan, and, as recently ridiculed at work, Hall and Oates.
2) Carl secretly loves being alone. And at the same time I desperately long to spend time with close friends. I can sit in silence for hours and be content. I can play .Hack on my PS2, watch a Kurosawa movie, or read. Often, the appearance of another person ruins my day. At other times, I pace the house wishing I had the courage to call one of my friends and ask them to do something. I spend a lot of time waiting for offers that never come.
3) Carl loves to learn. I love to discover, to test, and to experiment. I have taught myself many things, at least to some minor level, only to move on to something else. I taught myself how to play bass guitar, program in Basic (a long time ago, kids), about evolution, to cook, the rules of soccer, how to fix my mountain bike, how to make techno music on my PC, general chemistry, Tai Chi, and most recently Japanese (which I am far from proficient at). I love researching the backgrounds of bands, movies, and novels. I like to know about an artists before enjoying their works. And I like to know the how and why, and I love to make up my own opinions based on this knowledge. Yet with all this curiousity and desire to learn, my knowledge of American History and Geography are very poor. I care about coelocanths, Stephen Hawking, kanji, The Doors, miso soup, trilobites, Miyamoto Musashi, and natural selection all more than I do the American Civil War.
4) Carl loves to love. This is funny, since my humor can be so bitter and mean spirited. In actuality I love people, and try to see the best in everyone. In practice, I tend to relate to people as characters of themselves. This leads people to think that there are many people I do not like. The truth is, I'd do about anything for anyone. I think. I love getting to know someone and knowing in my heart that there a special connection somewhere. I love that rush of good feeling you get when you receive a note from someone you love, or spends some time with someone you really care for. It kills me not to be totally upfront with my feelings sometimes, but that's life.
That's four things anyway, I will try to think of more. Have a good day! By the way, the new Polyphonic Spree CD is out. It is their second, and they are a remarkable band. Thanks to my friend Carlin, I was introduced to these guys a couple summers ago. The new CD is called "Together We're Heavy" and it is unlike anything you have ever heard. They aren't a band, as much as they are a choir. The band is over 20 members, and they dress in gospel style robes, and sing uplifting songs about love and hope. As all-music guide says, they are more of a happening than a band. Check them out! Their new CD even comes with a live DVD!
See ya! Kerry/Edwards 2004.
Carl
PS - Here's a bonus item you can ask me about if you are curious. I'll spare you any in depth details. I once owned (co-owned) my own business while I was in Bible College. It was called Fellowtronix.
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Not What I Wanted To Blog About Today...
I had a few hundred things I wanted to blog about, but something has happened in the United States that has forced me to change my topic.
On a radio address, President Bush has proposed to amend the nation's constitution to ban all homosexual marriages. He wants to do this to protect "values" in America, to protect the "family," and because the constitution cannot be overturned by a court ruling.
This is very bad for many reasons. Not only is it motivated by hatred and bigotry, it is hypocritical. Below I will try to explain why I feel this way.
To select one group of people to deny marriage is unfair, and un-American. It is an extreme prejudice. In America, the so-called "family" is under attack by many things.
- Parents who both work so many hours that the children are neglected and end up being raised by TV, strangers, or themselves.
- Heterosexual infidelity. Newsweek just released a story about the ever increasing extramarital affairs that occur in America... and its our women who are initiating them.
- Parents who are overly permissive and under responsible. We have developed such a gross sense of entitlement that many families simply perpetuate ignorance and unhealthy lifestyles from generation to generation. Parents refuse to discipline their children, or to teach them how to behave properly... then refuse to take responsibility themselves for their children's wrong doings. This often ends up as a law suit against a teacher or school system.
- Pollution, waste, and laziness. We are obese, inactive, unproductive, and uneducated. A study released last week shows that leisure reading in the USA is at an all time low. And this is with compulsory education, so many Americans SHOULD be able to read. They just choose not to. DVD's and video games, TV and internet all detract from learning and enrichment. We eat what we want based to taste and ease of preparation regardless of what it does to our bodies. We smoke and drink to excess, and drive giant vehicles to near-by destinations. This causes pollution that chokes our plants and animals, and poisons our water.
The list goes on. In America, it is legal to be a total whore (for the lack of a better word), as long as you are heterosexual. You can get married multiple times, and have children out of wedlock. You can have a loveless marriage, and take on lovers. None of this is being addressed by the President.
Not to mention that homosexual marriages are already illegal in many states. The bigotry of our nation's white Christian European slave-master past is still on the books. Why does the President feel that this particular vice needs addressed; especially since we have brave men and women dying in Iraq in the name of poor information, lies, the lust for oil, a thirst for vengeance, war mongering, great amounts of money, and the extreme paranoia and xenophobia of President Bush.
To list homosexual marriage as a constitutional amendment red-flag's it as s "sin" of extreme severity. This means that being gay, and seeking to marry the person you love is worse than just about all other sins. Here is a list of things that have not been targeted by the constitution... some of which are illegal already, but haven't grown into topics so hot as allowing people who are in love to marry one another.
1) You can have sex with children
2) You can knowingly have AIDS and choose to not use protection when having sex with a stranger, who you did not tell about your AIDS
3) You can have abortions
4) You can raise puppies on a concentration camp-like farm, and sell them to pet stores that treat the animals with likewise cruelty
5) You can view and distribute pornography containing people under the age of 18
6) You can buy, sell, and use drugs like cocaine, marijuana, and heroin. Not to mention crack, meth, X, and numerous other recreational drugs
7) You can injure, even murder, someone based on the color of their skin
8) You can smoke around non-smokers, forcing them to breathe in your cancer-causing chemicals
9) You can impregnate a woman and never intend to take any responsibility for the child
10) You can steal money from those who are frail, confused, elderly, and trusting in the name of charities, religions, and businesses
11) You can physicaly abuse your spouse, family, lover, and children
12) You can force someone into having sex with you against their will, even taking their innocence and purity
13) You can steal money from retirement funds, spend it, and leave them without money to live on... money the desperately depended upon
I am sure you get the point.
President Bush has officially crossed a line. He is quite possibly the worst President America has had for a very long time. I will do my part to make sure that he does not get re-elected.
As a side note, my own minister, in our weekly newsletter from our church, stated his support for the amendment, and asked the congregation to rally around it as well. I have to do some real soul searching, but if this becomes an issue at our church, I will withhold my attendance and tithing from First Christian Church. I will not fund hate and ignorance masquerading as love. I have a feeling that there are not many at my church that feel the same as I do, so my protest may be a waste... but I will carry through with it the same. I need to see what direction this goes, and how much of a feature of our church it becomes.
I cannot stand by and see the name of Christ be used as a platform to launch a wave of misguided and unloving rhetoric.
Making laws that enforce Christian behavior and values does not make those under those laws Christians. This is why Christians believe God has given us free will. What these sort of laws do is create a Christian state, which the USA is not. The church should instead mimic the actions of Christ and change hearts through love, teaching, and friendship rather than legislation.
Lastly, does Bush really think that this move will end homosexual behavior anyway? Homosexuality has been somewhat taboo through man's history, and yet it exists still. God himself couldn't stop it by destroying Sodom and Gamorah. Even though the capital cities for sexual immorality no longer stand, the behavior exists still today. Maybe this tells us a little something about both God and Christians. At least, it shows us that there is an individual component that needs to be addressed.
Kerry/Edwards '04. See ya!
On a radio address, President Bush has proposed to amend the nation's constitution to ban all homosexual marriages. He wants to do this to protect "values" in America, to protect the "family," and because the constitution cannot be overturned by a court ruling.
This is very bad for many reasons. Not only is it motivated by hatred and bigotry, it is hypocritical. Below I will try to explain why I feel this way.
To select one group of people to deny marriage is unfair, and un-American. It is an extreme prejudice. In America, the so-called "family" is under attack by many things.
- Parents who both work so many hours that the children are neglected and end up being raised by TV, strangers, or themselves.
- Heterosexual infidelity. Newsweek just released a story about the ever increasing extramarital affairs that occur in America... and its our women who are initiating them.
- Parents who are overly permissive and under responsible. We have developed such a gross sense of entitlement that many families simply perpetuate ignorance and unhealthy lifestyles from generation to generation. Parents refuse to discipline their children, or to teach them how to behave properly... then refuse to take responsibility themselves for their children's wrong doings. This often ends up as a law suit against a teacher or school system.
- Pollution, waste, and laziness. We are obese, inactive, unproductive, and uneducated. A study released last week shows that leisure reading in the USA is at an all time low. And this is with compulsory education, so many Americans SHOULD be able to read. They just choose not to. DVD's and video games, TV and internet all detract from learning and enrichment. We eat what we want based to taste and ease of preparation regardless of what it does to our bodies. We smoke and drink to excess, and drive giant vehicles to near-by destinations. This causes pollution that chokes our plants and animals, and poisons our water.
The list goes on. In America, it is legal to be a total whore (for the lack of a better word), as long as you are heterosexual. You can get married multiple times, and have children out of wedlock. You can have a loveless marriage, and take on lovers. None of this is being addressed by the President.
Not to mention that homosexual marriages are already illegal in many states. The bigotry of our nation's white Christian European slave-master past is still on the books. Why does the President feel that this particular vice needs addressed; especially since we have brave men and women dying in Iraq in the name of poor information, lies, the lust for oil, a thirst for vengeance, war mongering, great amounts of money, and the extreme paranoia and xenophobia of President Bush.
To list homosexual marriage as a constitutional amendment red-flag's it as s "sin" of extreme severity. This means that being gay, and seeking to marry the person you love is worse than just about all other sins. Here is a list of things that have not been targeted by the constitution... some of which are illegal already, but haven't grown into topics so hot as allowing people who are in love to marry one another.
1) You can have sex with children
2) You can knowingly have AIDS and choose to not use protection when having sex with a stranger, who you did not tell about your AIDS
3) You can have abortions
4) You can raise puppies on a concentration camp-like farm, and sell them to pet stores that treat the animals with likewise cruelty
5) You can view and distribute pornography containing people under the age of 18
6) You can buy, sell, and use drugs like cocaine, marijuana, and heroin. Not to mention crack, meth, X, and numerous other recreational drugs
7) You can injure, even murder, someone based on the color of their skin
8) You can smoke around non-smokers, forcing them to breathe in your cancer-causing chemicals
9) You can impregnate a woman and never intend to take any responsibility for the child
10) You can steal money from those who are frail, confused, elderly, and trusting in the name of charities, religions, and businesses
11) You can physicaly abuse your spouse, family, lover, and children
12) You can force someone into having sex with you against their will, even taking their innocence and purity
13) You can steal money from retirement funds, spend it, and leave them without money to live on... money the desperately depended upon
I am sure you get the point.
President Bush has officially crossed a line. He is quite possibly the worst President America has had for a very long time. I will do my part to make sure that he does not get re-elected.
As a side note, my own minister, in our weekly newsletter from our church, stated his support for the amendment, and asked the congregation to rally around it as well. I have to do some real soul searching, but if this becomes an issue at our church, I will withhold my attendance and tithing from First Christian Church. I will not fund hate and ignorance masquerading as love. I have a feeling that there are not many at my church that feel the same as I do, so my protest may be a waste... but I will carry through with it the same. I need to see what direction this goes, and how much of a feature of our church it becomes.
I cannot stand by and see the name of Christ be used as a platform to launch a wave of misguided and unloving rhetoric.
Making laws that enforce Christian behavior and values does not make those under those laws Christians. This is why Christians believe God has given us free will. What these sort of laws do is create a Christian state, which the USA is not. The church should instead mimic the actions of Christ and change hearts through love, teaching, and friendship rather than legislation.
Lastly, does Bush really think that this move will end homosexual behavior anyway? Homosexuality has been somewhat taboo through man's history, and yet it exists still. God himself couldn't stop it by destroying Sodom and Gamorah. Even though the capital cities for sexual immorality no longer stand, the behavior exists still today. Maybe this tells us a little something about both God and Christians. At least, it shows us that there is an individual component that needs to be addressed.
Kerry/Edwards '04. See ya!
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Bright, Shiny Distraction
Today when I woke up, like many days I turned immediately to the Internet. My main goal is to check my email, then take care of any business I need to attend to. But as usual, I ended up wasting an hour or more surfing the net.
The Internet is a tool with amazing potential, yet succeeds only in being a huge distraction. The amount of wholesome fun and helpful applications is drowned completely in a flood of porn, shopping, and dead ends.
In many Buddhist traditions, we are taught that the world itself is vanity. Life here is nothing but a continual string of distractions that draw us from the Way. This is a universal truth, whether you are a Buddhist, Christian, or Atheist. In short, it has to do with thermodynamics. We tend to go with the gradient, which is towards entropy. It takes energy (sometimes a very high amount) to be productive.
I often worry how easy it is for me to slip into a world of anonymity; mindlessly bouncing from spending sprees I cannot afford to the viewing of images I do not need to see. I am likewise haunted by the specter of curiosity that beckons users to peek at pornography. The best way to avoid the wastefulness and destructiveness of the Internet is not to have it.
But I feel that I do a good job, mostly, in using it as a tool for good. At least for some good. I use it to maintain relationships with friends I wouldn't normally have. I get to learn about Japanese culture and accelerate my learning of the Japanese language. I also get to have access to educational sites that have allowed me to explore the world of science and nature. Right now, the "killer-app" of the net is Blogs (slang for web-logs in case you were wondering). This Blog has served as a fun creative outlet as well as a way for me to open up a bit to others. And, I hope maybe along the way I have given someone something to think about.
So as the Buddhists warn, let's be careful not to follow the will'o'wisp-like distractions of the world, and take care to always remember the Way. Let's remember that there is a lot of good "out there" that needs doing, and we shouldn't squander our time on fruitless endeavors.
See ya!
The Internet is a tool with amazing potential, yet succeeds only in being a huge distraction. The amount of wholesome fun and helpful applications is drowned completely in a flood of porn, shopping, and dead ends.
In many Buddhist traditions, we are taught that the world itself is vanity. Life here is nothing but a continual string of distractions that draw us from the Way. This is a universal truth, whether you are a Buddhist, Christian, or Atheist. In short, it has to do with thermodynamics. We tend to go with the gradient, which is towards entropy. It takes energy (sometimes a very high amount) to be productive.
I often worry how easy it is for me to slip into a world of anonymity; mindlessly bouncing from spending sprees I cannot afford to the viewing of images I do not need to see. I am likewise haunted by the specter of curiosity that beckons users to peek at pornography. The best way to avoid the wastefulness and destructiveness of the Internet is not to have it.
But I feel that I do a good job, mostly, in using it as a tool for good. At least for some good. I use it to maintain relationships with friends I wouldn't normally have. I get to learn about Japanese culture and accelerate my learning of the Japanese language. I also get to have access to educational sites that have allowed me to explore the world of science and nature. Right now, the "killer-app" of the net is Blogs (slang for web-logs in case you were wondering). This Blog has served as a fun creative outlet as well as a way for me to open up a bit to others. And, I hope maybe along the way I have given someone something to think about.
So as the Buddhists warn, let's be careful not to follow the will'o'wisp-like distractions of the world, and take care to always remember the Way. Let's remember that there is a lot of good "out there" that needs doing, and we shouldn't squander our time on fruitless endeavors.
See ya!
Monday, July 05, 2004
Sorry about the long blog today. As much as science is my frist love, my training as a minister makes me long to preach about religion. Here is a nice break for your eyes (since you had to read that large entry). It is a sunflower field only a mile from the cabin I will be staying at in two weeks. I go to Minnesota once a summer with my wife and her family. Isn't it beautiful?
Catholicism versus Protestantism: Finally Settled (a long blog)
This Saturday I attended a wedding of my friend Adrienne. It was a Catholic wedding in a very beautiful church (which is good, since the bride was beautiful as well... we wouldn't want the church to upstage the bride!). The church is called St. John's, and it is a very old Catholic church, on the campus of Creighton University.
I attended the wedding as a friend of the bride's, but also as an anthropologist. I am very interested in religion, and was curious to observe a wedding mass. As I sat and watched the priest and his actions, I also tried to fully appreciate the meaning behind every movement, the selection of verses and songs, and the flow of the ceremony. I also spent a great deal of time examining the stained glass, the statues, and the emblems behind the altar.
As I watched the mass, and the people participating in it, I had a bit of an epiphany. I have finally reconciled the major difference between Protestant faiths and Catholic faiths. Both claim to be Christians, and both use the Bible as their foundation. Both place a great deal of weight on the words and teachings of Jesus Christ, and both believe he was God's son. And sadly enough, both have their fair share of practitioners who worship blindly at the cue of family and cultural expectations, and not out of a true heartfilled understanding and longing for religion. That is a nice way to say both camps have a huge population of fakes and wannabe's.
Where they differ is more interesting. For so long there has been a bit of mudslinging in both directions. Protestants think that Catholics are mindless robots, and place too much importance on rites instead of true soulful belief. Catholics see Protestants as rebellious splinter-groups who cheapen the religion, and place little sanctity in the act of worship. The list on differences goes on and on.
But I think I have settled, in my own mind at least, the major difference in these two groups of Christians. The churches I am most familiar with, the so-called non-denominational "Christian" churches (the uber-Protestants) practice a Christianity that is driven largely by philosophy. The Catholic church, by my best assumptions, is driven by liturgy, tradition, and rites. That is to say Protestantism is a movement, and Catholicism is a religion.
In Catholicism, you have elaborate training for formal ministry. There are rites to learn, long standing traditions to respect, and a hierarchy to be accountable to. When you worship in a Catholic setting, there is no doubt that you are partaking in religion. From the scripture readings, to the building itself, everything is done with purpose and ritual. Regardless of what a Protestant minister may tell you, you feel as if you were a part of something greater than yourself, as if the actions and words were called down from God Himself. Much like the Judaism of the Old Testament, Catholicism has many rites that may not even make sense to the viewer at first, but each is carried out as it always has been... with reverence and precision. In my opinion, a Catholic mass has little to do with making sure you understand Jesus' plan for your individual life, but instead the focus is on the fact that for a brief moment each week, you are in His presence. Since the religion is what is most important, it is unchanging and solemn.
In Protestantism, you have a real spirit of democracy and freedom. Anyone can become a minister, if they love the Lord (or can convince you that they do). The heart plays a large role in Protestantism. And so does action. Protestants are aggressive in their recruiting and ministry, and are experts at using the already timeless Gospel to new ends. God may be changeless, but the approach to ministry is in constant flux. Themes and buzzwords are as common as they are in the world of business. The setting does not matter, as is evidences by the many Christian churches that operate in theaters, homes, and even tents. The Protestant service is focused on making sure the participants understand how the Gospel is relevant to their lives. The sermon often sounds like one side of a debate, seeking to convince (and convict) the hearer. Since the philosophy is what matters most, the rest is up for grabs.
In a humorous way, both versions of Christianity are cultish. Protestantism mimics a cult where there is an aggressive recruitment, and an ever-changing presentation of the Way. Catholicism mirrors a cult where practitioners are born into membership, or come as seekers. These followers practice age old rites. It's Heaven's Gate versus the Druids.
The art of the sermon is wielded much more fiercely in Protestant services I have attended, while the few Catholic masses I have been to seem to focus more on illuminating the Gospel. I often wonder if Catholic priests use the elaborate illustration manuals and books that Protestant ministers use. I would guess not.
Being rooted in philosophy, the Protestant aims to convert and to ignite the parishioners to action. Protestant ministers try their hardest to bring God to the people. The Catholic service instead realizes that the rites are God ordained, and that there needs to be little apology. It is the parishioner that needs to come to God.
There are a few great ways to see this difference.
1) Communion. Protestant churches I am familiar with have streamlined communion to fit the needs of attention spans. This means speedy delivery, minimal confusion, and quick disbursement of the emblems. They use individual cups with grape juice, and small pellets of unleavened bread. It usually is served by volunteers (laymen) or the elders/deacons. It is prepared by volunteers as well. Catholic communion has a great deal of rite involved with it. There are devices that are used only for this purpose, and it has little to do with convenience, and a lot to do with tradition. Great care is taken with delivery of the Eucharist. The Protestant has adapted communion to the needs of the people (made it culturally relevant/accessible), where he Catholic presents a religious ceremony, as old as the church itself.
2) Advertising. On television, it is not uncommon to see commercials for churches. Churches are spending more and more money to promote their campus, and to attract new members. They often have lively music and use hip editing techniques, and clever illustrative pitches. And all of these are Protestant (in my area at least). The philosophy of Protestantism moves within and throughout the culture in all ways. In its promotion, Protestantism seems to say "stay where you are, we'll bring God to you." In its lack of participation of ballyhoo, the religion of Catholicism seems to foster the view "God is here, come to Him."
3) The setting. Nothing is more exhilarating than a beautiful Catholic church. You feel as if it really is God's house. There is little doubt that you are within a place meant to serve for worship. Protestant churches vary greatly, but many seem to have a contemporary feel. In Catholicism the building is but one of the devices of the religion. In Protestantism, the building is meaningless... it is the message that matters. For this end, Protestants often meet in large venues that are used for other purposes at other times (such as movie theaters, gymnasiums, and the new trend of sporting arenas See here!). As I remarked to my friend on Saturday, I have always felts as if a church should look exactly like St. John's, not like a Holiday Inn convention hall, which many Protestant churches do.
The list goes on and on, but I had better end this. I was very happy to have this idea come through my mind, as it reconciled a great debate I constantly think about. What it comes down to for Christians is defining what they are looking for. And as always, there are choices. If you want to be a part of a religion, I would go Catholic. It is very rewarding to be a part of a Mass. If you are instead into ideology and philosophy, then go Protestant. Protestantism is a great place for a thinker and debater, as well as someone who likes to see change, and culture and religion intertwine.
The important part of the debate that often is lost is that all people above are Christians. The important thing is to study the teachings of Christ and to live like Him. You need to investigate if you believe that He existed, and if the things written in the Bible are real. You need to decide how these things apply to your life, and what your life should say about your beliefs. Are you convicted that Christ is real? You actions should then show it. And in the end, it won;t matter much where you worship, or how you do it.
As for me, I wish that I could attend mass more often. The problem is that so much of our religion is tied up in other trappings that are hard to escape. Family expectations, the problem of disagreeing with certain theology (I am pleasantly unconvinced that Mary is so important, and that babies need baptized), and the ever presence need to stay where you are familiar and comfortable.
While I own a true faith, I do still have a ton of doubt and questions about the whole "god" issue: so to me I just need to avoid one more variable (that is, which church to attend). So I will stay a member of First Christian Church, with my family and friends, and continue to seek Truth in my own daily life; whether it is in the writings of the Gospel, the functions of physics and chemistry, the words of Steinbeck and Gandhi, or works such as the Tao Te Ching or Confucius' analects.
Sound like I am trying to be philosophical? Guess what, I have been exposed to Protestantism training (I was a minister) and churches for my entire life as a Christian (since 1990 consequently). Even an amateur anthropologist is succeptable to subjectivity. We are, after all, formed by our environments.
But if you ever want to invite me to mass, I'd be glad to go. :)
See ya!
I attended the wedding as a friend of the bride's, but also as an anthropologist. I am very interested in religion, and was curious to observe a wedding mass. As I sat and watched the priest and his actions, I also tried to fully appreciate the meaning behind every movement, the selection of verses and songs, and the flow of the ceremony. I also spent a great deal of time examining the stained glass, the statues, and the emblems behind the altar.
As I watched the mass, and the people participating in it, I had a bit of an epiphany. I have finally reconciled the major difference between Protestant faiths and Catholic faiths. Both claim to be Christians, and both use the Bible as their foundation. Both place a great deal of weight on the words and teachings of Jesus Christ, and both believe he was God's son. And sadly enough, both have their fair share of practitioners who worship blindly at the cue of family and cultural expectations, and not out of a true heartfilled understanding and longing for religion. That is a nice way to say both camps have a huge population of fakes and wannabe's.
Where they differ is more interesting. For so long there has been a bit of mudslinging in both directions. Protestants think that Catholics are mindless robots, and place too much importance on rites instead of true soulful belief. Catholics see Protestants as rebellious splinter-groups who cheapen the religion, and place little sanctity in the act of worship. The list on differences goes on and on.
But I think I have settled, in my own mind at least, the major difference in these two groups of Christians. The churches I am most familiar with, the so-called non-denominational "Christian" churches (the uber-Protestants) practice a Christianity that is driven largely by philosophy. The Catholic church, by my best assumptions, is driven by liturgy, tradition, and rites. That is to say Protestantism is a movement, and Catholicism is a religion.
In Catholicism, you have elaborate training for formal ministry. There are rites to learn, long standing traditions to respect, and a hierarchy to be accountable to. When you worship in a Catholic setting, there is no doubt that you are partaking in religion. From the scripture readings, to the building itself, everything is done with purpose and ritual. Regardless of what a Protestant minister may tell you, you feel as if you were a part of something greater than yourself, as if the actions and words were called down from God Himself. Much like the Judaism of the Old Testament, Catholicism has many rites that may not even make sense to the viewer at first, but each is carried out as it always has been... with reverence and precision. In my opinion, a Catholic mass has little to do with making sure you understand Jesus' plan for your individual life, but instead the focus is on the fact that for a brief moment each week, you are in His presence. Since the religion is what is most important, it is unchanging and solemn.
In Protestantism, you have a real spirit of democracy and freedom. Anyone can become a minister, if they love the Lord (or can convince you that they do). The heart plays a large role in Protestantism. And so does action. Protestants are aggressive in their recruiting and ministry, and are experts at using the already timeless Gospel to new ends. God may be changeless, but the approach to ministry is in constant flux. Themes and buzzwords are as common as they are in the world of business. The setting does not matter, as is evidences by the many Christian churches that operate in theaters, homes, and even tents. The Protestant service is focused on making sure the participants understand how the Gospel is relevant to their lives. The sermon often sounds like one side of a debate, seeking to convince (and convict) the hearer. Since the philosophy is what matters most, the rest is up for grabs.
In a humorous way, both versions of Christianity are cultish. Protestantism mimics a cult where there is an aggressive recruitment, and an ever-changing presentation of the Way. Catholicism mirrors a cult where practitioners are born into membership, or come as seekers. These followers practice age old rites. It's Heaven's Gate versus the Druids.
The art of the sermon is wielded much more fiercely in Protestant services I have attended, while the few Catholic masses I have been to seem to focus more on illuminating the Gospel. I often wonder if Catholic priests use the elaborate illustration manuals and books that Protestant ministers use. I would guess not.
Being rooted in philosophy, the Protestant aims to convert and to ignite the parishioners to action. Protestant ministers try their hardest to bring God to the people. The Catholic service instead realizes that the rites are God ordained, and that there needs to be little apology. It is the parishioner that needs to come to God.
There are a few great ways to see this difference.
1) Communion. Protestant churches I am familiar with have streamlined communion to fit the needs of attention spans. This means speedy delivery, minimal confusion, and quick disbursement of the emblems. They use individual cups with grape juice, and small pellets of unleavened bread. It usually is served by volunteers (laymen) or the elders/deacons. It is prepared by volunteers as well. Catholic communion has a great deal of rite involved with it. There are devices that are used only for this purpose, and it has little to do with convenience, and a lot to do with tradition. Great care is taken with delivery of the Eucharist. The Protestant has adapted communion to the needs of the people (made it culturally relevant/accessible), where he Catholic presents a religious ceremony, as old as the church itself.
2) Advertising. On television, it is not uncommon to see commercials for churches. Churches are spending more and more money to promote their campus, and to attract new members. They often have lively music and use hip editing techniques, and clever illustrative pitches. And all of these are Protestant (in my area at least). The philosophy of Protestantism moves within and throughout the culture in all ways. In its promotion, Protestantism seems to say "stay where you are, we'll bring God to you." In its lack of participation of ballyhoo, the religion of Catholicism seems to foster the view "God is here, come to Him."
3) The setting. Nothing is more exhilarating than a beautiful Catholic church. You feel as if it really is God's house. There is little doubt that you are within a place meant to serve for worship. Protestant churches vary greatly, but many seem to have a contemporary feel. In Catholicism the building is but one of the devices of the religion. In Protestantism, the building is meaningless... it is the message that matters. For this end, Protestants often meet in large venues that are used for other purposes at other times (such as movie theaters, gymnasiums, and the new trend of sporting arenas See here!). As I remarked to my friend on Saturday, I have always felts as if a church should look exactly like St. John's, not like a Holiday Inn convention hall, which many Protestant churches do.
The list goes on and on, but I had better end this. I was very happy to have this idea come through my mind, as it reconciled a great debate I constantly think about. What it comes down to for Christians is defining what they are looking for. And as always, there are choices. If you want to be a part of a religion, I would go Catholic. It is very rewarding to be a part of a Mass. If you are instead into ideology and philosophy, then go Protestant. Protestantism is a great place for a thinker and debater, as well as someone who likes to see change, and culture and religion intertwine.
The important part of the debate that often is lost is that all people above are Christians. The important thing is to study the teachings of Christ and to live like Him. You need to investigate if you believe that He existed, and if the things written in the Bible are real. You need to decide how these things apply to your life, and what your life should say about your beliefs. Are you convicted that Christ is real? You actions should then show it. And in the end, it won;t matter much where you worship, or how you do it.
As for me, I wish that I could attend mass more often. The problem is that so much of our religion is tied up in other trappings that are hard to escape. Family expectations, the problem of disagreeing with certain theology (I am pleasantly unconvinced that Mary is so important, and that babies need baptized), and the ever presence need to stay where you are familiar and comfortable.
While I own a true faith, I do still have a ton of doubt and questions about the whole "god" issue: so to me I just need to avoid one more variable (that is, which church to attend). So I will stay a member of First Christian Church, with my family and friends, and continue to seek Truth in my own daily life; whether it is in the writings of the Gospel, the functions of physics and chemistry, the words of Steinbeck and Gandhi, or works such as the Tao Te Ching or Confucius' analects.
Sound like I am trying to be philosophical? Guess what, I have been exposed to Protestantism training (I was a minister) and churches for my entire life as a Christian (since 1990 consequently). Even an amateur anthropologist is succeptable to subjectivity. We are, after all, formed by our environments.
But if you ever want to invite me to mass, I'd be glad to go. :)
See ya!
Friday, July 02, 2004
Some random thoughts inspired by Tanabata and independence Day
Hey everyone! Depending if you are in the USA or Japan, you are either celebrating independence Day or Tanabata this weekend. I wanted to be sure to get my blog posted before all the fun began. So here are some bite-sized thoughts on a few topics on my mind.
1) Korea. It looks like South and North Korea are marching together in the Olympic Ceremonies. This is fantastic. In a time when the world is uncertain, the Olympics (even with its flaws) still retains a special spirit of friendship and honor. I am glad that the Korean people can march as one country, aren't you?
2)Speaking of divided countries... In baseball, there are days when a team, even a very good team, just cannot perform. It is not uncommon for a team to kick a few balls in the infield, drop some easy fly balls, and walk too many batters. Yet, there are times when one team cannot be doing any worse, that the other team fails to monopolize on the opportunity. A loss of this sort is very crushing. This is what is happening to the Democratic party in the USA as our Presidential election is approaching. The Republicans are behooved to have Bush as their candidate, and Bush is a very polarizing figure. He has nothing but bad press, and people have turned on him. He himself does little to help the image of a bungling, war mongering oaf. Yet, the Democrats are not making a good push. Kerry, their champion, has all but failed to endear himself to the public. I hear a lot of people say they do not like Bush, but they can't see voting for Kerry. I am not a fan of Bush, but I too do not like Kerry. Do I waste a vote on a third candidate? Do I vote with Bush hoping he will find support in Congress for projects I care about, or do I vote anti-Bush to see if the other side can do any better with the country? It will be fun to watch it all fall into place.
3) Dodgeball. I went to see this movie a week ago, and while it is was not very good, it had some funny moments. One scene that left an unexpected impression on me was as follows; Vince Vaughn's character arrives just at the right moment to help turn away unwanted advances of Ben Stiller's character towards the film's leading lady. "Do you need any help leaving?" This is every guy's dream. It is hard to express verbally to a woman how you feel about them (especially if you do not think that the feelings are reciprocated). When you do say something to a woman, every time you face her, you get an uneasy feeling in your stomach. It is hard for a man to bare too much about his heart, and in the end we usually feel regretful that we did. But SHOWING how you feel is much easier. To show up in the nick of time to save the damsel... this is the stuff all men dream of. It was funny to me to see such a primal scene in such a cruddy movie.
4) My friends. One friend was gone for a week, then I did not get in contact with her for a week after she returned. It was like seeing her for the first time... as if we had been apart for a very long time. It is weird how that works. Before she left I felt as if we were building a good relationship, but for some reason now I have lost all bravery when it comes to conversation. It is like starting over from scratch. I am such a nerd! To make things worse, another friend is leaving for a week or so, and I will miss her as well. Then my DREADED trip to Minnesota is around the corner. I will be lucky if I have any friends in Council Bluffs by the end of July.
5)Creighton Pharmacy School... The paperwork has begun! Yuck! But I am enjoying hating every minute of it, because it is an opportunity I never thought I would get. A friend of mine expressed that she hoped all my wishes would come true (in the spirit of Tanabata). The biggest one already has. And my second wish is next to impossible. :)
6) Marlon Brando. As much as I was saddened by the death of President Ronald Reagan, I am even more so upset by the loss of Marlon Brando. He was a very unique individual. And quite by fate, he is a center character on some movies that are very dear to me. None are more powerful that The Godfather. This is a must see movie, and I have always believed that it is art. The Godfather is undeniably one of the five best movies ever made by mankind, and it is Brando who is the film's soul. While he was a bit eccentric, and reclusive, he will be missed by those of us who adored his work.
Have a safe and fun holiday weekend!
See ya!
1) Korea. It looks like South and North Korea are marching together in the Olympic Ceremonies. This is fantastic. In a time when the world is uncertain, the Olympics (even with its flaws) still retains a special spirit of friendship and honor. I am glad that the Korean people can march as one country, aren't you?
2)Speaking of divided countries... In baseball, there are days when a team, even a very good team, just cannot perform. It is not uncommon for a team to kick a few balls in the infield, drop some easy fly balls, and walk too many batters. Yet, there are times when one team cannot be doing any worse, that the other team fails to monopolize on the opportunity. A loss of this sort is very crushing. This is what is happening to the Democratic party in the USA as our Presidential election is approaching. The Republicans are behooved to have Bush as their candidate, and Bush is a very polarizing figure. He has nothing but bad press, and people have turned on him. He himself does little to help the image of a bungling, war mongering oaf. Yet, the Democrats are not making a good push. Kerry, their champion, has all but failed to endear himself to the public. I hear a lot of people say they do not like Bush, but they can't see voting for Kerry. I am not a fan of Bush, but I too do not like Kerry. Do I waste a vote on a third candidate? Do I vote with Bush hoping he will find support in Congress for projects I care about, or do I vote anti-Bush to see if the other side can do any better with the country? It will be fun to watch it all fall into place.
3) Dodgeball. I went to see this movie a week ago, and while it is was not very good, it had some funny moments. One scene that left an unexpected impression on me was as follows; Vince Vaughn's character arrives just at the right moment to help turn away unwanted advances of Ben Stiller's character towards the film's leading lady. "Do you need any help leaving?" This is every guy's dream. It is hard to express verbally to a woman how you feel about them (especially if you do not think that the feelings are reciprocated). When you do say something to a woman, every time you face her, you get an uneasy feeling in your stomach. It is hard for a man to bare too much about his heart, and in the end we usually feel regretful that we did. But SHOWING how you feel is much easier. To show up in the nick of time to save the damsel... this is the stuff all men dream of. It was funny to me to see such a primal scene in such a cruddy movie.
4) My friends. One friend was gone for a week, then I did not get in contact with her for a week after she returned. It was like seeing her for the first time... as if we had been apart for a very long time. It is weird how that works. Before she left I felt as if we were building a good relationship, but for some reason now I have lost all bravery when it comes to conversation. It is like starting over from scratch. I am such a nerd! To make things worse, another friend is leaving for a week or so, and I will miss her as well. Then my DREADED trip to Minnesota is around the corner. I will be lucky if I have any friends in Council Bluffs by the end of July.
5)Creighton Pharmacy School... The paperwork has begun! Yuck! But I am enjoying hating every minute of it, because it is an opportunity I never thought I would get. A friend of mine expressed that she hoped all my wishes would come true (in the spirit of Tanabata). The biggest one already has. And my second wish is next to impossible. :)
6) Marlon Brando. As much as I was saddened by the death of President Ronald Reagan, I am even more so upset by the loss of Marlon Brando. He was a very unique individual. And quite by fate, he is a center character on some movies that are very dear to me. None are more powerful that The Godfather. This is a must see movie, and I have always believed that it is art. The Godfather is undeniably one of the five best movies ever made by mankind, and it is Brando who is the film's soul. While he was a bit eccentric, and reclusive, he will be missed by those of us who adored his work.
Have a safe and fun holiday weekend!
See ya!