I led discussion for the Burn this past Sunday morning and brought up the difficult question of suffering. I was hoping for a Theodicean discussion in some form, but sometimes the kids don't have anything to say for one reason or another. I don't blame them. Suffering is a tough thing to respond to, and the question of God being good in the face of all the suffering in the world is an even more difficult question that gives some expert scholars pause. In any case, I wasn't expecting perfection, just some thoughts/questions. I did my best to make the questions as friendly to highschoolers as possible. I don't really expect them to be as brilliant as me, after all.
I'm working on a blog post on Job at the moment, but It's a little more research intensive than my normal blog posts, so I thought I would discuss some similar ideas for now. I also thought I would blog my notes because I thought they were blog worthy.
I started out by posing the question: "What is Suffering?"
I was hoping for students to describe and define suffering. At least question whether or not there are different forms of suffering. I myself thought a discussion regarding whether or not there is a difference between suffering and punishment would be very good. It's something I've thought of myself. I tend to believe there is a difference. (I'll get to that later.)
I also asked "What causes suffering?" I was hoping for some good questions and answers. All I got were blank stares. In addition to the rest of the questions, I thought this one was particularly important to consider. Is God the cause of our suffering? Does he visit hardship upon us, or does it just happen naturally as a result of life. Does suffering happen because the world is imperfect, or is it a natural part of the world, totally inseparable from it. Is all suffering a result of evil? Does suffering happen because of our sin? All good questions to consider.
I tend to believe suffering happens. Sometimes it's just a result of the way the world works. Sometimes earthquakes happen. Sometimes natural disasters happen. It sucks, but it happens. I don't think it means that some people or country deserved the wrath of God that was visited upon them. I also believe that sometimes suffering is a result of evil. By the evil of actions of an individual or a group of people. Evil does cause suffering. I think that point is rather undeniable. I have a problem believing God causes suffering though. (I'll get to that in a minute too.)
This brings me to the Theodicean discussion. "If God is good, why does suffering happen?" furthermore: "Why do bad things happen to good people?" It's an awful difficult question to ask. There are usually two feel-good Christian answers that one is bound to encounter when asking the question. The first being "God's in control." The second is different by stating "God allows us to suffer so that we can learn." Now I believe they are both theologically sound, I just think they ought to be unpacked instead of taken at face value.
With the first answer, I can think of a few few verses that can attest to this right off the bat. My favorite to use would have to be Ecclesiastes 7:13-14, which states: "Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future." I love this passage as much as I love Ecclesiastes. Both are responding to this question of suffering in the world. People tend to use this first answer as well as this passage to say that "we can't possibly comprehend what God has in store for us, so let's leave it at that and not pursue the question any further. Just know that God is in control" I disagree. I like the answer, but I don't think that's how it's supposed to be used. I believe the author is commenting on the difficulty inherent in the question. The Author is not suggesting we disregard the question, they are merely suggesting we not allow suffering to bog us down and restrain us from living life to the full. At least that is where the book of Ecclesiastes seems to be going. (As I interpret it.) To say we shouldn't bother to ask why suffering happens because we couldn't possibly comprehend the reason, seems ridiculous to me. Even if it were true (which it probably is) that we as humans couldn't possibly understand why suffering happens, I think it's still very important for us to ask the question. I think we can learn from just asking that question. (I want to elaborate in my blog post on Job, so I'm being quite brief.)
This second answer is obviously attractive, so you are bound to hear it a lot. "Suffering happens so we can learn" or "God allows us to suffer to enrich our lives." At this point, I would like to make the distinction between suffering and punishment. I believe they are totally different things. I'm going to straight out say that I have a problem believing God makes me or anyone else suffer just so I can learn. I think that's bull. I don't think God kills people or hurts people to cause other people to learn or enrich other people's lives. I believe that the second answer is more of a brilliant "cop-out" than the first answer. It gives no consideration to the Just and Good character of God. How just is it for our creator to eliminate his creation for the betterment of the rest of his creation. It sure does wrap the whole problem up neatly though. I don't have a problem believing we can learn and better ourselves from our suffering. I think we all can learn from suffering. It can provide us with valuable insight and life lessons sometimes. I just don't think God causes us to suffer for that very reason. I think by using this answer, we are confusing suffering for punishment.
Punishment gets a bad rep. That's probably because as children we despised it. We didn't want it. We still don't. I do believe God punishes us, just as our parents punished us (or should have) when we were younger. It's not because they hated us. It's actually quite the opposite. Our parents and God are concerned for our well being. They want us to develop and live good/righteous lives. They punish us in order to teach us how to do just that. God punishes us in order to lead us to a life worth living. He, like our parents, knows how we should live. I suppose Punishment can then be a form of suffering, although more personal in nature. Our punishment has nothing to do with other people. It's our business. We bring it upon ourselves. I'm not saying punishment is any easier to deal with though. I just think there's a difference between punishment and suffering.
This brings me to another point I made: "Why do we suffer?" Is our suffering a result of our sins? Do bad things then happen to everyone as a result of the wrong they do? I believe suffering does happen sometimes as a result of our sins. In this sense, by doing evil, we can cause suffering. Hitler caused suffering due to his hatred towards the Jews, among other people. Suffering can definitely come about as a result of our actions. Sometimes we are punished as a result of our actions though. This is for our betterment, and would be a result of God trying to steer us clear. This doesn't mean that suffering always happens as a result of our actions or the actions of another person. Consider John 9:1-7: "As he went along, he (Jesus) saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man;s eyes. "Go," he told him, "was in the Pool of Siloam." So the man went and washed, and came home seeing." I like to think Jesus is saying this guy just happened to be born blind. Christ used his blindness though. This brings me to my next point.
I think Christ is showing us that as Christians, it is our duty to respond to the suffering in the world. I believe our response is more important than any answer. More importantly, I believe God responds to suffering through our response to suffering. We are called to do his work. It's important to understand that we aren't alone in the world. There are other people going through the exact same thing. We are in it together, I guess. Jesus tells his disciples that they will continue to suffer even after he dies. John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things , so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." In the end, it's important to remember that Christ is bigger than this world and all the suffering that happens. Christ suffered for us so that we would have relief for our suffering. It's nice to know that we aren't alone in our suffering. That Christ suffers with us. Perhaps Christ's sacrifice and suffering also illustrates that we are supposed to be with those who suffer so that they, like us, don't have to be alone in their suffering.
It's late, and I pretty sure I missed a ton of stuff, but I plan on addressing a lot in blog post on Job so I'll call this one done. In any case, I like to think about this stuff. I think we all ought to give it some thought too.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
The Warrior Cat of Battle Street.
I was digging through my drawer full of notebooks and things the other day when I came across some old stories I had written back in the day. (it probably wasn't that long ago.) I recognized some that I had blogged, but I found some good ones that I didn't. I thought I would share them with you. I'm spreading them both out into two separate blog posts though. I'm lazy. sue me.
This one is called the "Warrior Cat of Battle Street." I guess this requires some back story. There is this street in my neighbored that is literally named Battle. It's the coolest thing ever. Tom's been threatening to steal that sign for years now. In any case, I thought it was cool enough to write a weird story about it.
The soft and steady cadence of rain on pavement seemed to lull the residents of Battle Street into lethargy. Nothing exciting ever happened on the small street running perpendicular to Brink. This was from a human's perspective, of course. To the animals of the neighborhood, the street was as it was named: a battle street. It was nothing impressive by itself; spanning only a few houses in length at most. It was lore and tradition that made this street legendary.
Since the street was first paved, it has been the site of struggles of the most epic proportions. Surely, no one can forget the conquest of the Cat Lords of Lakeland over the Gutter-Rats of Kenney. Since those heralded days, Battle Street has been the proving grounds for only the toughest of warriors. Among those few, the protectors of Battle Street have stood as symbols of the greatest of warriors in the whole neighborhood. Their reputation has spread far and wide, penetrating even the dark depths of Downey.
Leonard the Warrior cat sat on the porch as he recalled the history of his most hallowed stalking grounds. After the Great Canine Exodus, he had moved in to fill the power vacuum. He was not a cat of astounding stature; the raggedy Siamese was rather small for his breed. None of his features dictated he was especially ferocious. The scar running across the bridge of his nose was the only indication of his experience in battle.
Leonard shook himself from his stupor to track a trio of tabbies casually walking down the street. From the get-go, the tribe of striped alley cats had encroached on his territory without care. This did not stand well with Leonard. He had never been one for unwarranted violence. He wanted to be feared and respected, but not hated. With a yawn and a stretch; Leonard was on his feet and cautiously easing into the pouring rain from under the stoop. It was time for an example.
Hearing his approach; the trio stopped and turned towards the slow-coming warrior. Leonard could tell by their looks that these cats occupied the top-most tiers of the tabby tribe. Being half their size, and wanting to display respect, Leonard eased forward slowly. Being amused by his diminutive behavior, the trio recognized him with a low hiss. Leonard kept his cool the whole time. He needed to have his wits about him if he wanted to walk away from this encounter.
The Tabbies became a little more gutsy as the minutes passed, darting forward at Leonard sporadically to taunt him. It didn't work. Leonard stood there and soaked up the humiliation like a sponge. Their darting drew closer and closer, tensing Leonard's muscles with each approach. But Leonard still took his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. He didn't have to wait long. The larger of the three tabbies darted in too close, giving Leonard the perfect opportunity. With razor sharp reflexes coming to bear, He brought his paw down on the Tabby's head like a hammer.
The pounding stunned the cocky tabby, giving Leonard the opening he needed. He leaped upon the next closest cat, tearing into its side with his deadly sharp claws. He easily transitioned into a strike to the front legs, causing the cat to lose and fall forward. Taking hold with his fangs, Leonard lifted the tabby and flung his unconscious form across the slick asphalt. No sooner did he do that then he was bull-rushed by the other tabby. Leonard was sent sprawling from the powerful strike. The surprise assault gave the larger cat time to get back on its feet and join the other tabby already engaging Leonard. Trying to regain his footing while fighting at the same time, Leonard swung his paw at the face of the oncoming cat, sending it rearing backward. The precious seconds he gained gave him just enough time to side step the large and ferocious feline charging him headlong.
The two attackers regrouped and began to slowly stalk around Leonard with clearly malicious intent. The fact that it was hard to get his footing on the wet black-top was only icing on the cake. Once more, his tactic of "Separate and Annihilate" would be useless now, since the tabbies had witnessed it first hand; the tabbies were stuck together like glue. Leonard did not express his distress, however. He knew half the battle was psychological. His calm composure would be unusual to the alley cats since they were used to seeing the fear in the eyes of their victims. This strange behavior would unnerve them, which led Leonard to do something even more unexpected.
The best defense is a good offense after all. With all the speed he could muster, Leonard charged the two cats. The speed and the growling made the tabbies hesitate, which was their fatal mistake. He was between the two cats in the blink of an eye, slashing the front inner leg of the larger one; knock it over. The other cat had jumped in surprise, and was back-pedaling away from the sudden assault. Leonard leaped as high as he could, bridging the gap and coming down like a furry lightning bolt on to the cat's back. Fur flew, as Leonard began to hack and slash away at his opponent. The cat tried to shake the small bundle of feline fury off his back but to no avail. Eventually, the cat succumbed to wounds delivered from the furious melee and fell over unconscious. He would live, but the scars and bald patches he carried would be a constant reminder of the consequences of reckless stupidity.
Leonard stood upon the wounded cat triumphantly, sighing deeply just before air was knocked out of his lungs. The massive paw of the large cat sent Leonard flying off the back of his wounded tabby comrade. Leonard lay in a heap several feet away hacking and coughing. "Some cats never give up." he supposed, as he regained his composure and prepared for a fresh assault. He should know; he wouldn't be around if it wasn't so.
Leonard's brilliant blue eyes stared intently as the large tabby lumbered over. He hissed defiantly in the face of his attacker, savoring the fair fight that had been denied him earlier, that had finally arrived. The large tabby didn't hesitate for a second. He rushed forward at Leonard; a tactic that would have worked, and had worked before when Leonard was distracted by another cat. Leonard easily dodged the attack choosing to use it to his advantage and bit his attacker's tail. The large cat screeched in pain and reared back on its hind legs. Leonard didn't skip a beat; he was instantly around the cat. With a great burst of strength, he threw himself at the cat, slamming it back off its hind legs and onto its back.
His attacker could not figure out what was going on. One second he was charging, the next he was on his back. Leonard put a paw on the cat's chest to pin it before it regained its senses. With his paw raised high and claws extended; he was prepared to deliver the Coup de Grace to the Tabby's unprotected throat. Just before the killing blow was struck, Leonard retracted his claws. He didn't think killing the cat was necessary. He was a warrior after all, not a cold-blooded killer. The rain came down heavy as the small Siamese stepped off the battle-field, leaving three dumbfounded cats licking their wounds. The warrior stepped out of the downpour and into the cover of the porch overhang. he laid down to rest once again, at ease knowing Battle Street was safe for another day.
This one is called the "Warrior Cat of Battle Street." I guess this requires some back story. There is this street in my neighbored that is literally named Battle. It's the coolest thing ever. Tom's been threatening to steal that sign for years now. In any case, I thought it was cool enough to write a weird story about it.
The soft and steady cadence of rain on pavement seemed to lull the residents of Battle Street into lethargy. Nothing exciting ever happened on the small street running perpendicular to Brink. This was from a human's perspective, of course. To the animals of the neighborhood, the street was as it was named: a battle street. It was nothing impressive by itself; spanning only a few houses in length at most. It was lore and tradition that made this street legendary.
Since the street was first paved, it has been the site of struggles of the most epic proportions. Surely, no one can forget the conquest of the Cat Lords of Lakeland over the Gutter-Rats of Kenney. Since those heralded days, Battle Street has been the proving grounds for only the toughest of warriors. Among those few, the protectors of Battle Street have stood as symbols of the greatest of warriors in the whole neighborhood. Their reputation has spread far and wide, penetrating even the dark depths of Downey.
Leonard the Warrior cat sat on the porch as he recalled the history of his most hallowed stalking grounds. After the Great Canine Exodus, he had moved in to fill the power vacuum. He was not a cat of astounding stature; the raggedy Siamese was rather small for his breed. None of his features dictated he was especially ferocious. The scar running across the bridge of his nose was the only indication of his experience in battle.
Leonard shook himself from his stupor to track a trio of tabbies casually walking down the street. From the get-go, the tribe of striped alley cats had encroached on his territory without care. This did not stand well with Leonard. He had never been one for unwarranted violence. He wanted to be feared and respected, but not hated. With a yawn and a stretch; Leonard was on his feet and cautiously easing into the pouring rain from under the stoop. It was time for an example.
Hearing his approach; the trio stopped and turned towards the slow-coming warrior. Leonard could tell by their looks that these cats occupied the top-most tiers of the tabby tribe. Being half their size, and wanting to display respect, Leonard eased forward slowly. Being amused by his diminutive behavior, the trio recognized him with a low hiss. Leonard kept his cool the whole time. He needed to have his wits about him if he wanted to walk away from this encounter.
The Tabbies became a little more gutsy as the minutes passed, darting forward at Leonard sporadically to taunt him. It didn't work. Leonard stood there and soaked up the humiliation like a sponge. Their darting drew closer and closer, tensing Leonard's muscles with each approach. But Leonard still took his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. He didn't have to wait long. The larger of the three tabbies darted in too close, giving Leonard the perfect opportunity. With razor sharp reflexes coming to bear, He brought his paw down on the Tabby's head like a hammer.
The pounding stunned the cocky tabby, giving Leonard the opening he needed. He leaped upon the next closest cat, tearing into its side with his deadly sharp claws. He easily transitioned into a strike to the front legs, causing the cat to lose and fall forward. Taking hold with his fangs, Leonard lifted the tabby and flung his unconscious form across the slick asphalt. No sooner did he do that then he was bull-rushed by the other tabby. Leonard was sent sprawling from the powerful strike. The surprise assault gave the larger cat time to get back on its feet and join the other tabby already engaging Leonard. Trying to regain his footing while fighting at the same time, Leonard swung his paw at the face of the oncoming cat, sending it rearing backward. The precious seconds he gained gave him just enough time to side step the large and ferocious feline charging him headlong.
The two attackers regrouped and began to slowly stalk around Leonard with clearly malicious intent. The fact that it was hard to get his footing on the wet black-top was only icing on the cake. Once more, his tactic of "Separate and Annihilate" would be useless now, since the tabbies had witnessed it first hand; the tabbies were stuck together like glue. Leonard did not express his distress, however. He knew half the battle was psychological. His calm composure would be unusual to the alley cats since they were used to seeing the fear in the eyes of their victims. This strange behavior would unnerve them, which led Leonard to do something even more unexpected.
The best defense is a good offense after all. With all the speed he could muster, Leonard charged the two cats. The speed and the growling made the tabbies hesitate, which was their fatal mistake. He was between the two cats in the blink of an eye, slashing the front inner leg of the larger one; knock it over. The other cat had jumped in surprise, and was back-pedaling away from the sudden assault. Leonard leaped as high as he could, bridging the gap and coming down like a furry lightning bolt on to the cat's back. Fur flew, as Leonard began to hack and slash away at his opponent. The cat tried to shake the small bundle of feline fury off his back but to no avail. Eventually, the cat succumbed to wounds delivered from the furious melee and fell over unconscious. He would live, but the scars and bald patches he carried would be a constant reminder of the consequences of reckless stupidity.
Leonard stood upon the wounded cat triumphantly, sighing deeply just before air was knocked out of his lungs. The massive paw of the large cat sent Leonard flying off the back of his wounded tabby comrade. Leonard lay in a heap several feet away hacking and coughing. "Some cats never give up." he supposed, as he regained his composure and prepared for a fresh assault. He should know; he wouldn't be around if it wasn't so.
Leonard's brilliant blue eyes stared intently as the large tabby lumbered over. He hissed defiantly in the face of his attacker, savoring the fair fight that had been denied him earlier, that had finally arrived. The large tabby didn't hesitate for a second. He rushed forward at Leonard; a tactic that would have worked, and had worked before when Leonard was distracted by another cat. Leonard easily dodged the attack choosing to use it to his advantage and bit his attacker's tail. The large cat screeched in pain and reared back on its hind legs. Leonard didn't skip a beat; he was instantly around the cat. With a great burst of strength, he threw himself at the cat, slamming it back off its hind legs and onto its back.
His attacker could not figure out what was going on. One second he was charging, the next he was on his back. Leonard put a paw on the cat's chest to pin it before it regained its senses. With his paw raised high and claws extended; he was prepared to deliver the Coup de Grace to the Tabby's unprotected throat. Just before the killing blow was struck, Leonard retracted his claws. He didn't think killing the cat was necessary. He was a warrior after all, not a cold-blooded killer. The rain came down heavy as the small Siamese stepped off the battle-field, leaving three dumbfounded cats licking their wounds. The warrior stepped out of the downpour and into the cover of the porch overhang. he laid down to rest once again, at ease knowing Battle Street was safe for another day.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Should we forget?
I understand that this blog will most likely be finished in early hours of the 12th, but I started on the 11th, so I'm sticking by that.
I don't think I need to remind anyone what day it is today. I'm sure most of us remember what we were doing today, back then. Thinking about that day still gets me all shook up. Not nearly as shook up as it has now though.
As some may know, I am a comparative religions major. I would be remiss in my duties as a student if I didn't have some sort of an appreciation for the religions. You could understand then that I would be deeply disturbed by what's been going on lately. If you haven't heard about any of what's been going on, I'll fill you in real quick.
- Some Pastor in Florida said he would burn some copies of the Qur'an on 9/11. He got his 5 seconds of fame. He backed down.
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/11/florida-pastor-in-new-york-on-9-11-mission-accomplished-we-wi/
-Plans to build a Muslim interfaith community a couple blocks away are met with outrage. People are calling it a "ground zero mosque" and think it should be no where near ground zero. People went as far as to protest for and against it today. Like they couldn't find a better time to do it...
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/11/on-9-11-anniversary-enduring-grief-and-sharp-division/
http://www.aolnews.com/article/mosque-protests-overshadow-ninth-anniversary-of-911/19629863?icid=main|aim|dl1|sec1_lnk3|170002
One of the big slogans about September 11th is "never forget." Based on what I've been seeing and feeling, I dare say: should we "forget?" I'm not saying we pretend it never happened. I'm not saying we forget about the sacrifices. I'm not saying we shouldn't appreciate those sacrifices. Quite the opposite, actually. I'm saying we shouldn't besmirch the sacrifices that were made on that day.
9/11 was a momentous tragedy in the history of our great country. There's no denying that. It served to unite the country in our time of need as well. I believe that time has come and gone. 9/11 has transformed from a symbol of unity and fidelity to a symbol of division. The Anti-Muslim sentiments that have spawned as a result truly disturbs me. What disturbs me even more is that Christians are openly fanning this disaster into flames!
Take for example the Florida Pastor. This guy decided he would publicize the fact that he was planning to burn copies of the Quran on 9/11. Small time Pastor from a small church decides to spark all of this unnecessary controversy. Of course he gets all kinds of flak from it, which he should. That doesn't mean he ought to have sparked such controversy to begin with. He goes on to claim he never intended to burn copies of the Qur'an, but instead wanted to bring to light the radical elements of Islam. He even flew out to New York to meet with the Imam of the project to build an interfaith center in New York, probably to help convince him that it was wrong to build such a thing. There's a ton of kickers here.
First and foremost, what ever happened to "Love your neighbor as yourself?" Have we as Christians forgotten? Christ wasn't just talking about fellow Christians here, guys. Are we not all human beings, created by God, in his image? Does he not love us all as his creation? What ever happened to us being the light of the world? Now, I understand this guy has as much right as any one to say whatever he feels like. That doesn't make him right though. As a Christian, I don't think we should be sitting around, twiddling our thumbs, letting the rest of us get a bad reputation for what this guy does. Actions speak louder than words, after all, and I think it's about time we started combating ignorance instead of going along with it.
Another thing I'd like to dismiss; that same Florida Pastor went on to compare his current struggles with that of Abraham. Going as far as saying God stopped him from burning the Qur'an just as he stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son. There is a tragic irony about this. Let me serve to educate those who care about it. Abraham isn't known as the Patriarch for nothing. Abraham is seen as the Patriarch of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. All three! He is revered by all three! He is the father of Isaac, who would have a son named Jacob, who would have his name changed by God to Israel, who would continue to spawn the Israelite nation, who would give birth to Judaism, which would evolve into the Judaism that we know today. Without Judaism, there would be no Christianity. We can't really get around that fact. We read the same Old Testament which they call the Tanakh. It is the exact same thing. We seem to forget, or just ignore the fact that Abraham had Ishmael first, who would come to be the father of Islam.
Abraham has come to be a unifying factor in interfaith talks. As he should! Did you know that the Qur'an speaks highly of Abraham? The Qur'an even has it's own version of Abraham's potential sacrifice, this one involving Ishmael of course. The same point is made. Did you know that both the Bible and the Qur'an record that Isaac AND Ishmael buried their father together? That speaks volumes. The prophets of the Old Testament, as well as other outstanding Biblical heroes, are viewed as prophets within the Qur'an. They also view Jesus as a prophet. Christians would, of course, disagree, but that's not the point here. Even Allah (basically meaning God) is the same God of the Jews and the Christians. The same God of the Bible who created everything. This is not something new and unheard of. This is not some well guarded secret! In short: Islam isn't evil. Islam is not of the devil. Islam should not be hated. Islam should be understood.
As Christians and Americans, should we really be upset that Muslims want to build an interfaith center blocks away from ground zero? I think it should be quite the opposite. I think Islam was injured on 9/11 as much as, if not more than the American pride. Not to mention it isn't as if they are building on the site of ground zero itself. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think we're allowed to keep them from building an Interfaith center blocks away, let alone a Mosque. Instead of getting in the way of its construction, I think we, as Americans and as Christians, should get behind it. It's an Interfaith center. What better way to dispel ignorance. Not to mention this would be long strides toward peace in the middle east. I really doubt that radical Muslims are going to use this interfaith center as a forward base of operations to the downfall of the Americas, or whatever far-fetched claims people care to make about it.
We all want to see stability in that part of the world. We all want to see our soldiers home. The fight starts here. The fight starts where it all began. If we want to see change, it ought to begin with us. We should stop treating ground zero, and 9/11 by extension, as some kind of an open wound. Let it heal. We need to let it heal. Nobody wants to see conflict over here either. As Christians and Americans we need to forgive and forget. Should Christ be the only one to provide Grace, Forgiveness, and Love to all? Should we allow such a tragic event in U.S. history become synonymous with hatred and intolerance, or, like the survivors and surviving family members of the tragedy, heal and recover? Should we let 9/11, in its current form, drag us down, or should we as a nation grow from it? 9/11 should continue to change the way we all think, but for better, not for worse.
So much of these issues are about pride. We got sucker-punched by a group of people. Get over it, America. Islam did not do this to us. They were radicals. We have our fair share. 9/11 does not justify such hatred against Islam.
I think it's about time we "forgot" about 9/11 and remembered the principles which this nation was founded on, and as Christians, we should remember the sacrifice our Savior made for humanity. Remember that all human beings were created in God's image and should be respected as such wonderfully made creations.
I don't think I need to remind anyone what day it is today. I'm sure most of us remember what we were doing today, back then. Thinking about that day still gets me all shook up. Not nearly as shook up as it has now though.
As some may know, I am a comparative religions major. I would be remiss in my duties as a student if I didn't have some sort of an appreciation for the religions. You could understand then that I would be deeply disturbed by what's been going on lately. If you haven't heard about any of what's been going on, I'll fill you in real quick.
- Some Pastor in Florida said he would burn some copies of the Qur'an on 9/11. He got his 5 seconds of fame. He backed down.
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/11/florida-pastor-in-new-york-on-9-11-mission-accomplished-we-wi/
-Plans to build a Muslim interfaith community a couple blocks away are met with outrage. People are calling it a "ground zero mosque" and think it should be no where near ground zero. People went as far as to protest for and against it today. Like they couldn't find a better time to do it...
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/11/on-9-11-anniversary-enduring-grief-and-sharp-division/
http://www.aolnews.com/article/mosque-protests-overshadow-ninth-anniversary-of-911/19629863?icid=main|aim|dl1|sec1_lnk3|170002
One of the big slogans about September 11th is "never forget." Based on what I've been seeing and feeling, I dare say: should we "forget?" I'm not saying we pretend it never happened. I'm not saying we forget about the sacrifices. I'm not saying we shouldn't appreciate those sacrifices. Quite the opposite, actually. I'm saying we shouldn't besmirch the sacrifices that were made on that day.
9/11 was a momentous tragedy in the history of our great country. There's no denying that. It served to unite the country in our time of need as well. I believe that time has come and gone. 9/11 has transformed from a symbol of unity and fidelity to a symbol of division. The Anti-Muslim sentiments that have spawned as a result truly disturbs me. What disturbs me even more is that Christians are openly fanning this disaster into flames!
Take for example the Florida Pastor. This guy decided he would publicize the fact that he was planning to burn copies of the Quran on 9/11. Small time Pastor from a small church decides to spark all of this unnecessary controversy. Of course he gets all kinds of flak from it, which he should. That doesn't mean he ought to have sparked such controversy to begin with. He goes on to claim he never intended to burn copies of the Qur'an, but instead wanted to bring to light the radical elements of Islam. He even flew out to New York to meet with the Imam of the project to build an interfaith center in New York, probably to help convince him that it was wrong to build such a thing. There's a ton of kickers here.
First and foremost, what ever happened to "Love your neighbor as yourself?" Have we as Christians forgotten? Christ wasn't just talking about fellow Christians here, guys. Are we not all human beings, created by God, in his image? Does he not love us all as his creation? What ever happened to us being the light of the world? Now, I understand this guy has as much right as any one to say whatever he feels like. That doesn't make him right though. As a Christian, I don't think we should be sitting around, twiddling our thumbs, letting the rest of us get a bad reputation for what this guy does. Actions speak louder than words, after all, and I think it's about time we started combating ignorance instead of going along with it.
Another thing I'd like to dismiss; that same Florida Pastor went on to compare his current struggles with that of Abraham. Going as far as saying God stopped him from burning the Qur'an just as he stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son. There is a tragic irony about this. Let me serve to educate those who care about it. Abraham isn't known as the Patriarch for nothing. Abraham is seen as the Patriarch of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. All three! He is revered by all three! He is the father of Isaac, who would have a son named Jacob, who would have his name changed by God to Israel, who would continue to spawn the Israelite nation, who would give birth to Judaism, which would evolve into the Judaism that we know today. Without Judaism, there would be no Christianity. We can't really get around that fact. We read the same Old Testament which they call the Tanakh. It is the exact same thing. We seem to forget, or just ignore the fact that Abraham had Ishmael first, who would come to be the father of Islam.
Abraham has come to be a unifying factor in interfaith talks. As he should! Did you know that the Qur'an speaks highly of Abraham? The Qur'an even has it's own version of Abraham's potential sacrifice, this one involving Ishmael of course. The same point is made. Did you know that both the Bible and the Qur'an record that Isaac AND Ishmael buried their father together? That speaks volumes. The prophets of the Old Testament, as well as other outstanding Biblical heroes, are viewed as prophets within the Qur'an. They also view Jesus as a prophet. Christians would, of course, disagree, but that's not the point here. Even Allah (basically meaning God) is the same God of the Jews and the Christians. The same God of the Bible who created everything. This is not something new and unheard of. This is not some well guarded secret! In short: Islam isn't evil. Islam is not of the devil. Islam should not be hated. Islam should be understood.
As Christians and Americans, should we really be upset that Muslims want to build an interfaith center blocks away from ground zero? I think it should be quite the opposite. I think Islam was injured on 9/11 as much as, if not more than the American pride. Not to mention it isn't as if they are building on the site of ground zero itself. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think we're allowed to keep them from building an Interfaith center blocks away, let alone a Mosque. Instead of getting in the way of its construction, I think we, as Americans and as Christians, should get behind it. It's an Interfaith center. What better way to dispel ignorance. Not to mention this would be long strides toward peace in the middle east. I really doubt that radical Muslims are going to use this interfaith center as a forward base of operations to the downfall of the Americas, or whatever far-fetched claims people care to make about it.
We all want to see stability in that part of the world. We all want to see our soldiers home. The fight starts here. The fight starts where it all began. If we want to see change, it ought to begin with us. We should stop treating ground zero, and 9/11 by extension, as some kind of an open wound. Let it heal. We need to let it heal. Nobody wants to see conflict over here either. As Christians and Americans we need to forgive and forget. Should Christ be the only one to provide Grace, Forgiveness, and Love to all? Should we allow such a tragic event in U.S. history become synonymous with hatred and intolerance, or, like the survivors and surviving family members of the tragedy, heal and recover? Should we let 9/11, in its current form, drag us down, or should we as a nation grow from it? 9/11 should continue to change the way we all think, but for better, not for worse.
So much of these issues are about pride. We got sucker-punched by a group of people. Get over it, America. Islam did not do this to us. They were radicals. We have our fair share. 9/11 does not justify such hatred against Islam.
I think it's about time we "forgot" about 9/11 and remembered the principles which this nation was founded on, and as Christians, we should remember the sacrifice our Savior made for humanity. Remember that all human beings were created in God's image and should be respected as such wonderfully made creations.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Shanah Tovah!
Today marks the first day (starting at sun down of today) of the Jewish high holiday, Rosh Hashanah(heb.:head of the year) I'm pretty interested in Jewish tradition (I guess that explains why I'm minoring in Jewish studies) so I figured I would blog about it. Rosh Hashanah is a celebration of the birth of the world. It's supposed to be a happy time, but begins a 10 day period of self-examination ending with Yom Kippur, the Day of atonement. It is a time for renewal, where one looks back on the past year and figures what they can do better on. I've always relished the prospect of self-examination, so I figured this would be right up my alley.
Lord knows this last year was pretty crazy. There are plenty of things I screwed up on that I wish I hadn't. There are even some things I wish I could go back and change. I can't say that I say that often about anything because I believe there is a lesson to be learned from everything, regardless of how tough and terrible it was. Rosh Hashanah isn't about that though. It's about starting over and approaching the new year as a blank slate. It's time to celebrate! This upcoming year has all new surprises in store for all of us!
It's hard to step back sometimes and realize living is a gift in and of itself. Just being able to see the coming of a new year should be cause for celebration. To reflect on your life this past year, regardless of how crummy it could've been is a blessing. Personally, its just understanding and realizing how I've encountered my Creator and what I can do better in the year to come.
I love setting goals for myself. This past year, I said I would go on more adventures. I can safely say I got a good number of adventures under my belt, especially this summer! I think this year it will be less about adventure and more about slowing down and appreciating what God has given me. Also, understanding how I have been blessed with great friends and family, regardless if the former may be in shorter supply than usual.
It's going to be fun injecting a little more Jewishness into my life with this period of self-examination. I'm not really going to go and practice any dietary laws though...In any case, Shanah Tovah! A good year to everybody!
Lord knows this last year was pretty crazy. There are plenty of things I screwed up on that I wish I hadn't. There are even some things I wish I could go back and change. I can't say that I say that often about anything because I believe there is a lesson to be learned from everything, regardless of how tough and terrible it was. Rosh Hashanah isn't about that though. It's about starting over and approaching the new year as a blank slate. It's time to celebrate! This upcoming year has all new surprises in store for all of us!
It's hard to step back sometimes and realize living is a gift in and of itself. Just being able to see the coming of a new year should be cause for celebration. To reflect on your life this past year, regardless of how crummy it could've been is a blessing. Personally, its just understanding and realizing how I've encountered my Creator and what I can do better in the year to come.
I love setting goals for myself. This past year, I said I would go on more adventures. I can safely say I got a good number of adventures under my belt, especially this summer! I think this year it will be less about adventure and more about slowing down and appreciating what God has given me. Also, understanding how I have been blessed with great friends and family, regardless if the former may be in shorter supply than usual.
It's going to be fun injecting a little more Jewishness into my life with this period of self-examination. I'm not really going to go and practice any dietary laws though...In any case, Shanah Tovah! A good year to everybody!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Jackie's first range trip.
I took my new handgun (Jackie) to the range last Sunday with my good buddy Andrew. Man do I suck. This is no fault of the hardware, of course, I just need a ton of practice. I think I'm starting to get the feel for gripping the gun right with both hands. I never thought using guns properly would be this difficult in order to get the results I want, but it isn't that bad. It's encouraging me to do some major work! Here's some pics from the range trip:
As you can see; I was all over the freaking place.
Andrew did that with my gun. So I'm obviously the guy with the problem.
My shots are all the bottom left going up towards the center. I was walking it up. At least I was consistent...
In any case, I am still determined to master my firearms. All I need is some practice!
I figure I ought to get a list going, because lists are magical. I need to work on the following:
-Grip
-Stance
-Breathing
-Holding
-Aiming
I think I'm going to start practicing all of this with all of my guns. It's nuts how fast you get tired pointing a gun at a target, so practice should really help me at the range. It's good to have goals!
As you can see; I was all over the freaking place.
Andrew did that with my gun. So I'm obviously the guy with the problem.
My shots are all the bottom left going up towards the center. I was walking it up. At least I was consistent...
In any case, I am still determined to master my firearms. All I need is some practice!
I figure I ought to get a list going, because lists are magical. I need to work on the following:
-Grip
-Stance
-Breathing
-Holding
-Aiming
I think I'm going to start practicing all of this with all of my guns. It's nuts how fast you get tired pointing a gun at a target, so practice should really help me at the range. It's good to have goals!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
A new addition to the family
So I finally went through with it. I bought my handgun the day before camp. I went and picked it up a couple of days after I got back from camp. I've been meaning to puts so picks up of the beauty. I've been neglecting my blog a bit anyway. I ended up settling on (as if it were a bad thing) the HK USP Compact in 9mm.
Next to my iphone
I like the feel and the fit, which is important when picking out a handgun. It also looks pretty cool in my opinion. I haven't fired it yet, but I'm hoping to take it down to the range soon. Apparently, you're supposed to give guns girl names, so I figured I'd settle on Jackie because it's close enough to Jack Bauer and it's not Kim Bauer. I'm confident my handgun is going to have a better track record than Kim anyway. I think I've got almost all the essentials to staving off an army of the undead now!
Next to my iphone
I like the feel and the fit, which is important when picking out a handgun. It also looks pretty cool in my opinion. I haven't fired it yet, but I'm hoping to take it down to the range soon. Apparently, you're supposed to give guns girl names, so I figured I'd settle on Jackie because it's close enough to Jack Bauer and it's not Kim Bauer. I'm confident my handgun is going to have a better track record than Kim anyway. I think I've got almost all the essentials to staving off an army of the undead now!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
A Foam Philosophy
The other day, I had the opportunity to attend the 11th annual Socal nerf event named "Armageddon." It has been, and probably still is the biggest nerf war hosted within the United States. This year, we had a rough attendance of around 50 or so people. This event is pretty famous for bringing in people from around the country. This year, our Norcal brethren decided to show up once again, in addition to a new guy from Utah who made the trip by himself! This year happened to be the first year I've actually be able to attend in my 3 or so year old nerfing career. It's probably one of the best nerf wars I've ever been to.
At the war, the host said something to another player that kind of stuck in the back of my mind. He was describing "West Coast" nerfing style in comparison to "East Coast" and then went ahead and elaborated with what nerfing means to our little community in Southern California. He said something along the lines of " Socal Nerf, like Jeet Kune Do, is more of a philosophy than a style." Let me explain. The world of nerf as I know it is filled with a ton of posturing and bragging and trash-talking; regardless of the fact that we are actually playing with toys. The point the host was trying to make was that our little group isn't about showing off or being the cool kids on the block. Nerf isn't about belittling people or being the ultimate master of all things foam to us. Nerf is about having fun, making fools out of ourselves, and enjoying the company of like minded individuals who aren't afraid to look dumb and goofy while shooting darts at each other out of glorified toys.
That quote kind of got me thinking about my life. I've always been so concerned about how people see me. I'd be worried about people thinking less of me when I'd go out and interact with people and just operate in my day to day life in general. So concerned that it'd keep me from enjoying myself and actually living. In these past 3 years, I've been learning to let go and realize that sometimes I'm going to look like a complete idiot. Sometimes I'm going to be so embarassed that I'm going to want to hide under a rock until everyone forgets. Sometimes, I'm going to screw up so bad that I'm not going to want to wake up the next morning. I'm totally not just talking about nerf any more. I'm talking about putting one foot in front of the other even after screwing up because I know life keeps going and I ought to keep living it. I'd like to elaborate in the form of a blog post later, so I'll just leave you all with some goofy nerf pics.
At the war, the host said something to another player that kind of stuck in the back of my mind. He was describing "West Coast" nerfing style in comparison to "East Coast" and then went ahead and elaborated with what nerfing means to our little community in Southern California. He said something along the lines of " Socal Nerf, like Jeet Kune Do, is more of a philosophy than a style." Let me explain. The world of nerf as I know it is filled with a ton of posturing and bragging and trash-talking; regardless of the fact that we are actually playing with toys. The point the host was trying to make was that our little group isn't about showing off or being the cool kids on the block. Nerf isn't about belittling people or being the ultimate master of all things foam to us. Nerf is about having fun, making fools out of ourselves, and enjoying the company of like minded individuals who aren't afraid to look dumb and goofy while shooting darts at each other out of glorified toys.
That quote kind of got me thinking about my life. I've always been so concerned about how people see me. I'd be worried about people thinking less of me when I'd go out and interact with people and just operate in my day to day life in general. So concerned that it'd keep me from enjoying myself and actually living. In these past 3 years, I've been learning to let go and realize that sometimes I'm going to look like a complete idiot. Sometimes I'm going to be so embarassed that I'm going to want to hide under a rock until everyone forgets. Sometimes, I'm going to screw up so bad that I'm not going to want to wake up the next morning. I'm totally not just talking about nerf any more. I'm talking about putting one foot in front of the other even after screwing up because I know life keeps going and I ought to keep living it. I'd like to elaborate in the form of a blog post later, so I'll just leave you all with some goofy nerf pics.
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