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..."

Jesus is described as the messiah, but one who showed utmost humility and grace toward humanity. Despite being the son of God, Jesus never sought power or worship from his followers, he simply preached lessons of love and forgiveness; to accept and embrace those around you as fellow human beings. He was a teacher of the human condition and ultimately sacrificed his life to atone for our sins and transgressions.

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 carol verse describes the actual birth of Jesus, stating "With the dawn of redeeming grace" as the sacrifice that Jesus offers for our sins, and the Christian concept of repentance.

Mary had to believe that she was bearing the son of God and had to stand steadfast at the accusations and rumors around her, while weathering a trip to Jerusalem while pregnant. Joseph had to protect and care for someone who he had only met briefly, someone who was also pregnant with a child that wasn't his, and had to put his faith into trusting Mary and God. The shepards and the astrologers had to simply put their trust and faith in the night star, and assume that God had a plan in the works.

Jesus is depicted as someone who is utterly humble and that is reflected in his arrival to Earth as a baby. As opposed to being summoned or spontaneously exploding into existence, he chooses to enter the world as vulnerable and defenseless; dependent entirely on the kindness and care of strangers to nurture him. This is a god that chooses to embrace a mortal existence, and as a result not be corrupted by the power of being a deity. God would choose this method of coming to his creation as it reflects his own humility; that all are equal before the lord, the rich and poor, the sick and healthy. He would not choose to enter our world in any way but the same way we enter our human existence.

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #8 Islam: Two Perspectives

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #8 Islam: Two Perspectives: "Find where Islamic religious beliefs intersect with current events. Research a Western news source on the story and summarize the artic..."

http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/11/30/ok-election-board-seeks-appeal-shariah-law-ruling

Oklahoma set forth a new ban on the implementation of Shariah Law within the state. This preliminary injunction will mean that courts are only to be in accordance with US federal and state laws, to prevent the usage of Shariah Law in courthouses in Oklahoma.

However this is seen by the Muslim community as a hostile government message toward religious beliefs, and can be seen as an infringement on the First Amendment (allowing right to freedom of religion). Shariah Law is the Muslim law system set forth in the Koran and Muslims are expected to abide by it and to be judged in courthouses under Shariah Law.

http://arabnews.com/world/article198359.ece

One week after the preliminary injunction on the use of Shariah Law in Oklahoman courthouses, a hearing on the preliminary injunction was called. This brought in Muslim scholars and Imams to clarify that Shariah Law is not meant to be literally interpreted as a law system, but rather is comprised more of guiding principles (similar to the ten commandments of Christianity). This is done to prevent the fearmongering and the usage of extreme examples (I.e the Taliban's medieval interpretation of Shariah Law) that the state is using to pass the preliminary injunction.

The two articles both discussed the banning of Shariah Law in Oklahoma state, with the article from Fox News focuses on the justification for passing the injunction and the Islamic article stating how the American perspective on Islam is only that of extremism. Islam played a different role in both articles. In the Western article it acted as a potential legal concern, having a different legal system operating in the same state (especially one that contains values that are alien to the US). While in the Muslim article Islam is something that is being generalized and associated with terrorism and as such the majority of Muslims are attempting to dispel that notion.

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 ..."

Exodus Day December 16

A commemoration of the day my family moved from Korea to New Zealand and also my return to Korea two years ago. It is important because my family's decision to move to New Zealand is the pivotal moment of my entire life. All that I am and all that I will ever be is as a result of the move, it shaped my TCK perspective, it enabled me to become fluent in English, et cetera. Not only that my return to Korea, and my enrollment at SFS also shaped who I am and since both events occurred roughly within the same timeframe (December 11/16) it should commemorate both.

The commemoration will last till Christmas (9 days) and during this time in memory of all that I have left behind; friends, family, loved ones, I will write letters (or emails mind) to those that I miss back home and to those here right now who I am grateful to have. As well as this I will listen to the last few songs I heard on the radio before leaving NZ (ironically one of them being called Home).

Wherever I go, wherever I roam

Whatever place I make my home

Home isn't near or far away

Home is constant in night and day

Because home is where the heart is

The Morality of Greek Myths- Reflection #6

Greek Myth: Cupid and Psyche

The Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche is where a mortal is born who is considered to be more beautiful than Aphrodite. In her jealous rage, Aphrodite sends Cupid to pierce her with his arrow so that she may fall in love with a hideous monster or a cruel man in order to cause her pain and suffering. However Cupid accidentally stabs himself with the same arrow and falls in love with her, taking her as his wife. When Psyche discovers who her husband is she is startled and Cupid is heartbroken. However seeking redemption Psyche goes through the three trials and descends into the underworld. She is eventually reunited with Cupid and made immortal.

The moral of the story is one of curiosity killing that cat. Earlier in the myth Psyche has everything she can dream of, with the only condition being that she love her mysterious husband. Her sisters plant the idea that she must know and from there her perfect world shatters. So obedience and redemption are virtues which the Greeks hold in high esteem as Psyche's journey to redeem herself from her mistake eventually lets her become one with the gods.

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #5: Bongwonsa Temple and Nature Walk

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #5: Bongwonsa Temple and Nature Walk: "After visiting the Zen Buddhist Temple, Bongwonsa and attempting to see nature as a Taoist, answer this question: What is it about creation,..."

There is something intrinsic in human beings that makes us want to understand the world around us. Since the dawn of man before the evolution of science religion has appealed to our innate spirituality to explain the unexplainable and to name the unknown. When we are confronted with that we cannot explain we look to the heavens to find a creator. Of course in Eastern Religions we look to the unseen around us as spirits, an intellectual step up from ancestor worship.

Buddhists seek knowledge within themselves, they seek to understand the innate spirituality within us and try to unlock that through meditation. As they sit zazen in meditation they are unraveling the layers of the human form to reveal the universal truth within us, as if in communion with god.They are trying to understand what it is that makes us human, the spirituality of our human condition

Modern Religious Experience: 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..."

Time... strange how quickly it disappears in the slipstream of one's thoughts. Deprived from sight and kinesthesis which drive our senses it leaves only sound; sharpened at first until it fades to background noise.

Emptying my mind easier than anticipated but once it was empty the emptiness filled with new thoughts. A constant cycle of ideas and philosophies meant that while I could remain focused and calm, I would never be able to truly 'empty' my mind.

The new stream of ideas and thoughts drew from other philosophies. The absurdism of Meursault as he contemplates the indifference of the world, Nietzsche describing the abyss that gazes into us, John Maynard Keenan's depiction of our Jungian shadow and our spiritual evolution. The absence of thought for me simply created thought on the dualism of our reality.

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..."

Gandhi's idea of Hinduism was that of compassion and equity for all human beings, regardless of race, color or creed as well as that of peace at all costs. This is exemplified throughout the movie (particularly the March to the Sea Salt Mine protest) where his followers willingly walked up to be severely beaten without raising a finger in response. Gandhi's ideas of peace showed his own interpretation of Hinduism, which by nature is peaceful. As well as this Gandhi's compassion toward all regardless of what religion they were or what ethnicity can be shown when he is trying to intervene amongst the rioters. There he responds with, "I am a Hindu and a Christian and a Muslim" because Hinduism is by nature pantheistic and is the most accepting of all religions, Gandhi shows tolerance and compassion to all.

"A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the greater good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act."

When the Indians finally gained their independence and began their descent toward civil violence, Gandhi felt powerless to stop the savage nature of intolerance. As he watched the cities he fought so hard to free become overwhelmed by a pulsating tide of violence Gandhi began to fast. He offered himself as a sacrifice to stop the violence that was sweeping across the nation because to him, all religions were the same and all people were the same. The murder of one person is still murder whether he was a Hindu or a Muslim, so he attempted to pacify the violence by fasting.