Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #9: The Incarnation of God

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #9: The Incarnation of God: "After viewing 'The Nativity Story', analyzing your chosen Christmas carol, and reading Philippians 2:1-7, reflect on the meaning of Christma..."
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Jesus being the messiah and an incarnation of god himself, humbly came down in the form of a human child. It is humbling that god would appear in the form of a human when it was possible for him to come as anything he wished. As shown in "The Nativity Story" even Joseph is appalled saying how he wonders what it will be like raising God, since God could have came as anything. In Philippians 2:6-7 it states " Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage7 rather,he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness", this further stresses God's acceptance of man since Jesus is a human. Yet even though he comes in the form of a human, it is clear that Jesus is of a pure heavenly origin due to the radiance around him. This is shown in the last stanza of "Silent Night":

Silent night, holy night

Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

This stanza talks about the holiness of Jesus, and how it was evident that Jesus was the messiah due to the heavenly light that surrounded Jesus, due to the alignment of Venus, Jupiter, and the star. Yet it was obvious that Jesus had a celestial purpose even before his birth. All the actions taken by numerous people assisted God in the birth and survival of Jesus as a child. Mary obviously had the burden of having to carry Jesus, but also for having to deal with the feelings of suspicion and all the bad connotations she felt from others, when they realized that she was pregnant but that she had never engaged herself sexually with her husband. Joseph was responsible for caring for Mary during her pregnancy, and raising Jesus even though he wasn't Joseph's actual son. The shepherds constantly helped Mary and Joseph during their travels, and the astrologers decided not to tell Herod about the birth of Jesus.

As already stated above, the most admirable feelings that Christians cherish  the the fact that Jesus came to world as a human, which was extremely flattering knowing that God, had the choice of anything imaginable, but decided that a human was the best. To further emphasize this point Jesus was born and raised like a normal human, growing from an infant till he was a man. I believe that God chose this approach to reinforce his people's idea that he embracing the human faith by appearing as one. I think he also wanted to serve as a symbol of the ideal human life, and was representing how every human can be spiritual and live in a correct manner from birth till death. By coming to Earth as a child, god reinforced the thought that Jesus had chosen to be a human, and how Jesus could relate to humans by growing up the same way they did.

Islam: Two Perspectives: Oklahoma and Sharia Law

The Western Viewpoint: NY Times Article
In this NY Times article, James C. McKinley discusses and informs the gerneal public about the controversy relating to Shariah law abd SQ 755. He starts by describing how this heated debate has become a critical political issue, which has affected the vote in many states, which could posibly have been a  factor in the Rpublicans newly gained majority in both the Senate and the House. Although there are many other heated topcs that led to this occuring, the controversy surrounding Shariah law was definately the most culturally and ethnically involved. McKinley points out how Mr. Duncan a key supporter of SQ 755, points outs several instances in which Shariah law has been gaining power, such as in New Jersey and in England, and is beleives that any further allowance of Mulim influence could severely affect American society.

McKinley states how even many law professionals are re-thinking this new amendment, since it does pose unconstitutional ideals, such as banning certain law codes, while adhering to others. Yet not adhering to the other codes could be detrimental to many social, and business realted communications with international groups. Due to the deliberate targetnig of the Islamic law-code many predominant muslims in Oklahoma are rasing their voices believing that this action represents a public resentment of the Islamic community. McKinley partially backs up this claim due to the rise in hateful email being sent to mosques in Oklahoma City.

Islamic Viewpoint: Arab News Article
In Ali Khan's and Jasmine Abou Kassem's article they focus on pin-pointing the various implications that this law creates and the different unconstutional repercutions of such as law. Khan ans Kassemprovided multiple exaples wher this could b very detrimentyal to the life of muslims. For exmaple, many muslims that are in prison have received halal food because of their faith, but if muslims were to ask for halal food in Oklahoma it would be eined because to provide halal food would be following or pertaniing to the Shariah law. Shariah law can alos benefit non-muslim businessmen, because when dealing with foreign relations Americans can opt to follow Shariah law, which in many cases would be beneficial to them but under this law, even non-muislims ' lives would be tampered. Even the sacred threshod of marriage would be ibstructed since marriages that were created in foreign states such as Egypt, Palestine, and Pakistan would be nullified since their validity would not be recognized. The overall issue s that Muslims rights have been neglected and overlooked, ever since a radical bombing in 1995, and that many muslims hope that governemnt and law officials will realize that this law impairs many citizens rights, Muslim or not.

Compare and Contrast
This was actually somewhat surprising, I went into this reflection thinking that I would find very haeful, strong opinins of the other viewpoint. Yet, both articles rather used a more factual approach relying more on the actaul concrete evidence instead of developed emotions on the subject. It was clear that although they provided evidence for their debate that the arabd news article had a clear stance on the subject, that they wanted SQ 755 to be repealed. What surprised me was that their evidence and examples were spot on, and seemed to match those of the CNN article while proving their point. The CNN article was tough to deermine which side they were taking; the article overall seemed to just describe the situation and what ws going without providing their opinions on the subject (good journalism).This being said I still felt that at certain parts of the article, the American feelings towards Muslims showed a little. Due to CNN's policy of providing the cold hard information allowing thereader to form their own opinion, their approach to Islam was wwith respect but just as another critical part fo the new story. On the other hadn, it is clear that the Arab News chose this article to publish because it had a strong them of pursuit for equality for all muslims, and even though it was not as opinonateed as other article's it clearly felt that Islam was a sacred religion and that any ojection towards Islam would not be taken lightly. I feel as if the article had the right amount of compassion, mixed in with the right amount of facts that made the article so ompelling. The drive and emotion thatthe athors put into their articel, shows the Islamic pride for their relgion, and culture from the Koran, to Shariah law to the rest of their beliefs.

Modern Religious Experience: Personal Commemoration- Reflection #7

Modern Religious Experience: Personal Commemoration- Reflection #7: "Think of an event in your life- past, present or future. You are going to create a commemorative ritual for this event. First, describe the ..."

One of the most important events in my life was my surgery. I feel my surgery has really defined who I am. It has left a physical presence, such as my scar, my inability to play sports that produce stress on my neck and back, and the inability to engage in activities such as jumping on a trampoline, or riding on a rollercoaster. It has also left an mental scar, I no longer view myself as just like everyone else, even though I look it from outside. I'm not sad about my life, but feels awkward whenever I actually think about the fact that I can't do things that most everyone else can. I still enjoy life, and I do not plan to let this haunt me for the rest of my life, but I do know that this single event has not only changed my life, but helped define who I truly am.

If I were to commemorate any part of my surgery I would have to commemorate my rehabilitation afterwards, since that is what I am thankful for. The commemoration would be for one week, since that was how long I was in the hospital after my surgery. The phrase that would best remember my rehabilition would be, " I know I can. Others have gone before, through much worse situations. They have done much better things than I will ever do. If they can overcome, I can overcome. I know I can.", since it was basically what I was thinking while I was in the hospital. During the entire week, whoever was participating would eat nothing but mashed potatoes, water, jello, and foodthat didn't require chewing, since I couldn't chew after losing control over my muscles. Lastly everyone that was participating would not be able to do any physical work, and would have to either ly in bed or sit in a chair. My actions would be like the actions that Jews do during Sukkot, and Passover, where they try to re-create what it was like, and commemorate what happenend by acting out what the Jews did during their sacred moments in history.

Zeus & The Tale of Bellerophon & Pegasus

This tale describes the life of a prince named Bellerophon, and all the misfortune he encounters. It starts with the accidental killing of his brother, then his noble resistence to Queen Anteia's sexual actions, and finally with the King Iobates sending him too a sure death against the Chimaera. Eventually he overcomes all the odds, and happily lives in Lycia with the daughter of King Iobates, due to his good morals and the help of the winged horse, Pegasus. Yet one day his own ego overcomes him, and he attempts to reach the heavens, although he is easily exiled by Jupitor and lives the rest of his life in shame.

Many key values are portrayd in this story as wel as some less appealing characteristics. The first and probably most important is honesty. Although he suffered many maltreatments from his people, Anteia, Iobates, and many others, Bellerophon never forgets his ideals and constantly preserves his pure way of living. For example, he does not conform with Antiea's requests, and he never reads the letter he was informed to give to King Iobates. In the end, it was because of these virtues that Goddes Minerva presented him Pegasus, wihtout whom it woukd have been impossible to have defeated the Chimaera. A key character to Bellerophon's tale is Jupitor. Although Jupitor is supposedly a perfect god, he still has feeling of hatred when he knows that Bellerophon feels he is worthy of living in the heavens. This was a representation of human-like characteristics of gods in Greek texts. This also explained how lightning was created. The science of that day could not explaine electricity let alone lightning, therefore this was how the Greeks explained this natural phenomenon. The story also teaches readers or listeners that humility is critical, and that even after you accomplish something great you must still be humble and respect your surroundings. Bellerophon became caught up in his own success that he felt he could live at Mt. Olympus, yet his misjudgemnt lead to him living the rest of his life in a much lower light than when he began.

Reflection #5: Bongwangsa Temple

Walk: "After visiting the Zen Buddhist Temple, and attempting to see nature as a Taoist, answer this question: What is it about creation,..."

Since the beginning of time, mankind has attempted to answer the "mystery of life". Part of this mystery is our surroudings and how they have come to be formed. It is unfortunate that many people do not appreciate the beauty of nature around them, and do not awknowledge how priviledged they are to be encompassed with it. Yet many of the Eastern scholars did ponder this subject. I believe that they analyzed nature, and were drawn to the pattern in which it survives. There is no money, social hierarchy, economy, politics, or war; nature just continues to flow, and inderectly affect its surroundings. This is probably why Taoists believe in being one with nature, and that a person must not interfere with the world's wuwei. They probably understand the purity of nature and how it could be related to mankind.

Another key contribution of nature to the foundation of religions, is it created another question to be asked that modern day science could not answer. How did all these trees, plants, flowers, cliffs, mountains, valleys, prairies, etc form, and why are they here? Unable to solve this mystery, many schoars probably looked towards a divine source, from which nature formed. They probably thought that something must have placed all these visually appealing objects on the Earth and that there must be some meaning beind it. Nature has always been a key factor in the lifestyle of mankind, and not only has it affected the way we live, but it has also affected our philosophies and our outlook on the world.

Reflection #4: Buddhist Meditation

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #4: Buddhist Meditation: "Spend 20 mintues in a silent meditation; a place you won't be disturbed, your own 'fig tree' as was Buddha's inspiration. In those 20 mintue..."

Unlike many others, I felt very relaxed inside my room, instead of being outdoors. While sitting on a couch cushion in the corner I was easily able to concentrate, due to the lack of noise. While not even on the level of "Right Thought", I felt that I was able to relieve myself from my daily stress, and focus on things much clearer. Although, I tried to think of "life's truths" I continuously became distracted, not physically, but my mind constantly wandered away. This was probably because "life's truths" is a vague and broad concept. When I decided to think about something in particular it felt natural and easy, yet when I thought of open-ended subjects I had trouble focusing in one direction. Either way it felt extremely calming and comforting to be free from the stress and thoughts of daily life. I understand why Buddhists partake in meditation now. It helps them calm down, and channel their energy into non-worldy things. Although I don't believe in all their philosophies, I appreciate their idea of not worrying about everything, and focusing on the more important parts of life.

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #3- Gandhi: Hindu and Activist

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #3- Gandhi: Hindu and Activist: "In class, your small groups went over movie questions about the content in Gandhi. You should know who each of the main characters are and t..."

I believe Gandhi felt that a true Hindu acted in a way that was intertwined with nature, and very simplistic in its form. I always perceived that Gandhi thought that to be a idealistic Hindu, you must be as close to nature, and as pure as nature as possible. For example, everyone knew that Gandhi lived a very simple life, living in ashrams and dressing in simple clothes, although these did help fight  for the cause of Indian independence, I beleived that it also helped Gandhi feel as if he was living a low maintenance lifestyle and that he was becoming closer to Brahman by living in a non-materialistic way. Gandhi also made a vow of chastity. He only broke this vow four times, each leading to the birth of one of his four sons. Gandhi believed that sexual relationships were disgraceful acts, and that these actions should only be performed with the purest intentions, the intention of bringing life onto this earth. I felt that it made him feel more natural to only undertake in these activities when it was to done with the motive for which it was created in nature, to create life, not what it has become today, a form of pleasure. Since Gandhi lived with this mindset, he probably never really fel that he was attaining moksha fo all the luxuries he received in life, such as trains, mansions(prison), and cars.

Gandhi once said, "A vow is a purely religious act which cannot be taken in a fit of passion. It can be taken only with a mind purified and composed and with God as a witness." Many people find it hard to understand how Gandhi could be so indifferent about how he treated his family, compared to how he treated others. An example of this is when he forces his own wife to clean the toilets, when that was a job of people from lower classes. Yet, in Hindu culture the final stage of life is sannyasin, this is the stage where the person is relieved of all worldy possessions. Gandhi must have been trying to dig close to this level early on in life, and trying to seperate himself from his materialistic views. Therefore when he made his vow of chastity it was without any emotion, or feeling, which was what he beleived was the path of ultimately obtaining moksha. He tried to distance himself from all things that were unnecessary in an attempt to move farther from the world, and closer to god.