It seems like the questions always come at the end of a semester when I am already swamped and exhausted with school work. They seep into my mind like water from a spring, and I have to address them... or else.
I was having a conversation with one of my loved ones yesterday. As usual, we were arguing about politics and religion and the Bible. I don't really have huge problems with any of those, but I have my opinions, and I think its a waste to just sit there and agree with everyone when you really don't. It's a disservice to myself. We started talking about the validity of the Bible. I am skeptical of the Bible because of a few things: who wrote it, actually, I know, a bunch of different authors, but did they all have the same idea? And if you say it was ordained by God, that's circular, and no one is going to believe you in academia. Second question, who decided what was to go in the Bible? Who took a look at all those dead sea scrolls and said, "yes, take this one, but no, don't put that one in there?" How did the stories of the Bible get passed down? And what about the translation. Can we be sure it is correct? Can we be sure an author really meant one thing when we know words have so many meanings?
The person I was talking with eventually got frustrated with me and said, "Look, Callie, you're just going to have to believe some things without question. If you don't, you'll be all sorts of messed up and everytime someone says something that is contradicting to the Bible, you'll be confused." First of all, I can't believe anything without question. Isn't that what God made us to do? If he didn't want us to question and reason and discover who He is, he would have made us clones, or computers, aimlessly doing things for His good. But he didn't. I don't believe you should fear the not knowing. If you fear not knowing something concretely, the fear will eat you a live a lot quicker than the doubt will. You have to embrace it, to turn it over and over and look at it, to discover what it is that you don't know so you can think about it and open your mind to bigger things. That's what leads to knowing and certainty... It seems ironic that doubt could lead to certainty, but, I guess life is ironic and it doesn't always turn out in a logical way, according to our plans.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Summation of semester
As the final fall of my time at SFA comes to a close, I have to reflect on a few things.
First of all is friends. With nineteen hours, it was so hard to maintain relationships with even some of my best friends. I feel as though I am in a different realm than most of them, which makes it hard to communicate.
My relationship with Shawn has really improved. Not that it was ever bad, but we have learned to communicate and work together at new levels. We try to be considerate of each other and work as a team. When I say, try, that's what I mean. We're not perfect. I feel as thought my love for him becomes more real every day. I am now looking forward to our wedding. It was once a thing of tremendous stress, but I am starting to get excited.
My education at SFA is finally getting interesting. I feel as though I have actually learned (wow a novel thought) something from my classes this semester. I want to research and get in to the material, not just take notes and come back to it the next class period. Especially philosophy. I never knew it could be that challenging and entertaining. It has challenged me to look at all aspects of my life in a new way and surprisingly enough, enabled me to think more critically and do better in my other classes. It's funny how every single subject I'm studying this semester seems to overlap with the others.
First of all is friends. With nineteen hours, it was so hard to maintain relationships with even some of my best friends. I feel as though I am in a different realm than most of them, which makes it hard to communicate.
My relationship with Shawn has really improved. Not that it was ever bad, but we have learned to communicate and work together at new levels. We try to be considerate of each other and work as a team. When I say, try, that's what I mean. We're not perfect. I feel as thought my love for him becomes more real every day. I am now looking forward to our wedding. It was once a thing of tremendous stress, but I am starting to get excited.
My education at SFA is finally getting interesting. I feel as though I have actually learned (wow a novel thought) something from my classes this semester. I want to research and get in to the material, not just take notes and come back to it the next class period. Especially philosophy. I never knew it could be that challenging and entertaining. It has challenged me to look at all aspects of my life in a new way and surprisingly enough, enabled me to think more critically and do better in my other classes. It's funny how every single subject I'm studying this semester seems to overlap with the others.
Some thought on ethics and social justice
This is a paper I wrote for my Intro to philosophy class:
Callie Pool
Intro to Philosophy
November 27, 2007
Philosophy
Ethics: Chapters 11 and 12
I think these two chapters have been the most interesting by far, and the most challenging. When I think of ethics, I think of social justice, something that I am very passionate about. I’ve never thought about why I do it. I admit, at times I get caught up the crowd, but mostly, it just seemed like the right thing to do: alleviate pain and hunger from children, clothe and shoe needy Africans, show love to people of all backgrounds and walks of life. Leaving God out of it, isn’t this what we’re supposed to do as human beings? For the greater good?
According to Rachels, in Thrasymachus’s time, the definition of justice was something real and important. Thrasymachus had to convince his acquaintances and colleagues of his idea that people believe in right and wrong only to obey the rules of their society. He wanted objective truth. Herein lies the challenge: Is ethics nothing more than human invention?
It is true that different cultures have different ideas on what is right and wrong. More definitively, I think they have customs that are debatable to us as Americans. Think of the war between us and the Iraqis. Do they really think they are doing anything wrong? And who are we to tell them that they are? They have been doing things (relating to women, government, etc) that way for centuries. Not to say that we can’t accept or formulate change, but who are we to tell them that their women should not wear full body scarves? As Rachels says, “Respecting a culture does not mean that we must regard everything in it as acceptable.” Rights of women is another subject that is close to my heart, but for this matter, we’ll leave it be. Nevertheless, the right and wrong culture seems inbred in all of us. Even if our cultural customs are different, one long standing fact remains. It’s not whether or not the social issues are bad for us, or we agree with them or don’t but if they are bad for the people who are the victims. Rachels, however, goes as far as to say that there is no such thing as objective right and wrong. Who decides? Who has the answer? This could lead to all sorts of discussions about good and evil, free will or determinism, or God. My mind wants to go there, but I’ll steer it back to Ethics.
A final thing I noticed was the similarities and differences between ethics and science. Who would have thought that something as calculated as science could be compared to something as emotional and passionate as ethics? They are both alike in the number of disagreements that exist. But, they are different in terms of value. It could be argued that decisions about science could determine life or death, but ethical arguments, though they may not solve anything, most decidedly do so. But what is value? Does it exist objectively? Rachels says that, “values do not exist, at least not in the same way as rocks and rivers.” What this tells me, then, pessimistically, is that according to the way different cultures interpret right and wrong, and the values that do no exist objectively, there is no logical reason why we pursue social justice. Is it because it is consciously right? Are we really sure that even if we do donate to a “good cause” that it will be recognized and used for what it was intended? Consider this: What if a social justice organization gave $1,000 to be put towards the rights of women in Iraq? Would they understand or appreciate it at all? Is this really communicable across cultures?
I have to conclude, for my own sanity, that I will still support social justice causes, whether the money or time I give is used appropriately or not. Call it conscious thought, reason or whatever. It’s a decision from passion, and that’s what ethics is all about, right?
Callie Pool
Intro to Philosophy
November 27, 2007
Philosophy
Ethics: Chapters 11 and 12
I think these two chapters have been the most interesting by far, and the most challenging. When I think of ethics, I think of social justice, something that I am very passionate about. I’ve never thought about why I do it. I admit, at times I get caught up the crowd, but mostly, it just seemed like the right thing to do: alleviate pain and hunger from children, clothe and shoe needy Africans, show love to people of all backgrounds and walks of life. Leaving God out of it, isn’t this what we’re supposed to do as human beings? For the greater good?
According to Rachels, in Thrasymachus’s time, the definition of justice was something real and important. Thrasymachus had to convince his acquaintances and colleagues of his idea that people believe in right and wrong only to obey the rules of their society. He wanted objective truth. Herein lies the challenge: Is ethics nothing more than human invention?
It is true that different cultures have different ideas on what is right and wrong. More definitively, I think they have customs that are debatable to us as Americans. Think of the war between us and the Iraqis. Do they really think they are doing anything wrong? And who are we to tell them that they are? They have been doing things (relating to women, government, etc) that way for centuries. Not to say that we can’t accept or formulate change, but who are we to tell them that their women should not wear full body scarves? As Rachels says, “Respecting a culture does not mean that we must regard everything in it as acceptable.” Rights of women is another subject that is close to my heart, but for this matter, we’ll leave it be. Nevertheless, the right and wrong culture seems inbred in all of us. Even if our cultural customs are different, one long standing fact remains. It’s not whether or not the social issues are bad for us, or we agree with them or don’t but if they are bad for the people who are the victims. Rachels, however, goes as far as to say that there is no such thing as objective right and wrong. Who decides? Who has the answer? This could lead to all sorts of discussions about good and evil, free will or determinism, or God. My mind wants to go there, but I’ll steer it back to Ethics.
A final thing I noticed was the similarities and differences between ethics and science. Who would have thought that something as calculated as science could be compared to something as emotional and passionate as ethics? They are both alike in the number of disagreements that exist. But, they are different in terms of value. It could be argued that decisions about science could determine life or death, but ethical arguments, though they may not solve anything, most decidedly do so. But what is value? Does it exist objectively? Rachels says that, “values do not exist, at least not in the same way as rocks and rivers.” What this tells me, then, pessimistically, is that according to the way different cultures interpret right and wrong, and the values that do no exist objectively, there is no logical reason why we pursue social justice. Is it because it is consciously right? Are we really sure that even if we do donate to a “good cause” that it will be recognized and used for what it was intended? Consider this: What if a social justice organization gave $1,000 to be put towards the rights of women in Iraq? Would they understand or appreciate it at all? Is this really communicable across cultures?
I have to conclude, for my own sanity, that I will still support social justice causes, whether the money or time I give is used appropriately or not. Call it conscious thought, reason or whatever. It’s a decision from passion, and that’s what ethics is all about, right?
Thursday, November 15, 2007
God and church
Question: is God a man or a woman?
I've had several instances lately where I've heard God referred to as a woman. I've just finished reading a book about the feminine face of God, and today one of my friends told me about a song that goes, "tell me all your thoughts on God... cause I really want to meet her...?" I also read another thing today in a book by anne Lamott... she also referred to God as Her. Something you'd never really realize until they refer to God in third person, she, her, ect. Explaining God or recalling mystical experiences about God doesn't really change his/her identity. But really, does it matter whether God is a he or a she? Or is He, (a reason I think we call him He worldwide, and all superior entitities are referred to is he is because we have become a world of patriarical socieities-thanks Holley-if we weren't a patriarical socieity would we call God he?) an entitiy that deserves/requires no gender? Would that be labeling God, lessening his power to an extent, referring to a philosophical ontological argument that say if we knew who God was, he wouldn't really be God? Just an interesting thought...
Also I've been thinking about churches lately, and what God really called us to do. What does disciple mean? What did he mean when he said go and disciple all nations? Stand on a street corner and yell? Probably not. Do we really know what a true church consists of? Community, yes, discipleship, yes, fellowships, probably... and a lot more things( I would not even try to say I knew all of them). The church has been getting such a bad rap lately. We need to open our eyes and see the church for what other see it as. Not get lost in some individualistic dogma and reject everything else. People look to the church for something good, something hopeful...and its sad that hope gets lost in so many political means and monitary endeavors. Remember the priest just this week who went to a soldier's funeral and said that he was glad he died because he's a homosexual???? sorry to be cliche, but would Jesus do that? I think not. When I think of how Jesus responded to everyone this comes to mind: a person that loved everyone for who they were, regardless if they were smart, dumb or whatever, a person who knew people's histories and factored that into how he spoke to them, a person who was wise, asked meaningful questions and who guided people in their journey towards him. That's what we should strive to be...
I've had several instances lately where I've heard God referred to as a woman. I've just finished reading a book about the feminine face of God, and today one of my friends told me about a song that goes, "tell me all your thoughts on God... cause I really want to meet her...?" I also read another thing today in a book by anne Lamott... she also referred to God as Her. Something you'd never really realize until they refer to God in third person, she, her, ect. Explaining God or recalling mystical experiences about God doesn't really change his/her identity. But really, does it matter whether God is a he or a she? Or is He, (a reason I think we call him He worldwide, and all superior entitities are referred to is he is because we have become a world of patriarical socieities-thanks Holley-if we weren't a patriarical socieity would we call God he?) an entitiy that deserves/requires no gender? Would that be labeling God, lessening his power to an extent, referring to a philosophical ontological argument that say if we knew who God was, he wouldn't really be God? Just an interesting thought...
Also I've been thinking about churches lately, and what God really called us to do. What does disciple mean? What did he mean when he said go and disciple all nations? Stand on a street corner and yell? Probably not. Do we really know what a true church consists of? Community, yes, discipleship, yes, fellowships, probably... and a lot more things( I would not even try to say I knew all of them). The church has been getting such a bad rap lately. We need to open our eyes and see the church for what other see it as. Not get lost in some individualistic dogma and reject everything else. People look to the church for something good, something hopeful...and its sad that hope gets lost in so many political means and monitary endeavors. Remember the priest just this week who went to a soldier's funeral and said that he was glad he died because he's a homosexual???? sorry to be cliche, but would Jesus do that? I think not. When I think of how Jesus responded to everyone this comes to mind: a person that loved everyone for who they were, regardless if they were smart, dumb or whatever, a person who knew people's histories and factored that into how he spoke to them, a person who was wise, asked meaningful questions and who guided people in their journey towards him. That's what we should strive to be...
Thursday, November 8, 2007
And God created women for???
I have found that I am without friends, yet again, not so much friends as in people I hang out and do things with and talk about shoes with, but friends who "get me" understand me. Call me to see how I'm doing. Friends who I know I can call out but love me just the same. So... I resort to my good ole friend writing... my outlet, bearer of my aggression...
There are so many things to balance this semester. I find myself engaged, enjoying it, loving it actually... I find myself more in love with my fiance daily. He's teaching me about love, being patient with me when i go searching for myself... which is about once a week, nowadays. I'm a firm believer that you can't be happy with anyone else if you are not happy with yourself. And I don't mean just surface stuff. I mean digging deep and seeing all the crap you're made of an pulling it out an looking at it and deciding who you are and what you're made of and what you stand for. this is not a process that is to be taken lightly. Its something I've struggled with for the better part of four years. Who am I? I used to dread these moments, these moments of insecurity...when I thought it was wrong to not know all the answers. But now I revel in it... that is why I live, to pursue truth and meaning and purpose. The grand existence of life. I digress with self realization, but back to engagement... I love it but it puts me in a strange position. Alone, to be exact. None of my friends I see daily are experiencing this life change, and the ones who are are with thier significant other daily. Now as I said I'm a firm believer in finding yourself, and I think that can happen when you spend time alone or when you find yourself with other people. You can learn a lot about yourself through your actions with others. I feel like I'm a lone on an island. Like everyone else is in a different part of the country. I like where I'm at, but I can't find anyone else on my island, so I spend the better part of the day to myself or with my best friend now, my fiance. If I was a normal person, this would be fine. But no, I find myself daily caught between what I want and what I think I should do. I think I should be around people and not seclude myself. but my efforts to do so seem to be continually thwarted.
For instance tonight. I went to a community group to see people and talk and be civilized and social. not things I do often, but hey. I had a good time until we started listening to the speaker. She was talking about women's roles in reference to men and the Bible. Now there is a right way to go about it and a wrong way. I don't think women can be compared to cars and have this taken lightly. A woman is a complex human being!I also find offense in the statement that we were made to be with men, that we should always serve men, that we can't be complete without a husband. what happened to a woman being herself who she is and INDEPENDENT! A woman and a man both can be themselves, complete with out anyone else. True, I love my fiance and he makes me a better person and I wouldn't want to be without him, but if worse came to worse, I could. I wouldn't be incapable or unable to survive. I've found myself and I am secure in who I am inside of myself and I don't need someone else to make me be that way. I think this is such a problem with the way church presents marriage and women and men, especially to young people. Why do you think teenage girls want to be with a guy so badly, so badly they'll do anything for love? And here the church members are, wringing their hands, wondering why their girls are pregnant??? Its the message... there is no sense of self, no message of confidence of telling these girls that they are beautiful they are capable, they don't need to take crap from anyone and that God is ok with that!! True he made women as a "helper" but men can also be a helper. They can be equal!!! I love my relationship with my fiance because he lets me be who I am and I let him be who he is. We love being together, but we can be apart too. I know that if I ever lost myself and got caught up in just doing stuff...or just living my life to please other people, my real self would wither and die. Women need to be ALIVE! to seize the moment and not be so worried about what guys think of them or others think of them! Have deep conversation, don't let a conversation about shoes be your deep conversation of the day. Explore, take office, take lead roles, read literature, do math, be a physics major, be a surgeon, fire fighter, whatever! Know that you are a capable human being and that God made you that way. All we have to do now is teach everyone else...
There are so many things to balance this semester. I find myself engaged, enjoying it, loving it actually... I find myself more in love with my fiance daily. He's teaching me about love, being patient with me when i go searching for myself... which is about once a week, nowadays. I'm a firm believer that you can't be happy with anyone else if you are not happy with yourself. And I don't mean just surface stuff. I mean digging deep and seeing all the crap you're made of an pulling it out an looking at it and deciding who you are and what you're made of and what you stand for. this is not a process that is to be taken lightly. Its something I've struggled with for the better part of four years. Who am I? I used to dread these moments, these moments of insecurity...when I thought it was wrong to not know all the answers. But now I revel in it... that is why I live, to pursue truth and meaning and purpose. The grand existence of life. I digress with self realization, but back to engagement... I love it but it puts me in a strange position. Alone, to be exact. None of my friends I see daily are experiencing this life change, and the ones who are are with thier significant other daily. Now as I said I'm a firm believer in finding yourself, and I think that can happen when you spend time alone or when you find yourself with other people. You can learn a lot about yourself through your actions with others. I feel like I'm a lone on an island. Like everyone else is in a different part of the country. I like where I'm at, but I can't find anyone else on my island, so I spend the better part of the day to myself or with my best friend now, my fiance. If I was a normal person, this would be fine. But no, I find myself daily caught between what I want and what I think I should do. I think I should be around people and not seclude myself. but my efforts to do so seem to be continually thwarted.
For instance tonight. I went to a community group to see people and talk and be civilized and social. not things I do often, but hey. I had a good time until we started listening to the speaker. She was talking about women's roles in reference to men and the Bible. Now there is a right way to go about it and a wrong way. I don't think women can be compared to cars and have this taken lightly. A woman is a complex human being!I also find offense in the statement that we were made to be with men, that we should always serve men, that we can't be complete without a husband. what happened to a woman being herself who she is and INDEPENDENT! A woman and a man both can be themselves, complete with out anyone else. True, I love my fiance and he makes me a better person and I wouldn't want to be without him, but if worse came to worse, I could. I wouldn't be incapable or unable to survive. I've found myself and I am secure in who I am inside of myself and I don't need someone else to make me be that way. I think this is such a problem with the way church presents marriage and women and men, especially to young people. Why do you think teenage girls want to be with a guy so badly, so badly they'll do anything for love? And here the church members are, wringing their hands, wondering why their girls are pregnant??? Its the message... there is no sense of self, no message of confidence of telling these girls that they are beautiful they are capable, they don't need to take crap from anyone and that God is ok with that!! True he made women as a "helper" but men can also be a helper. They can be equal!!! I love my relationship with my fiance because he lets me be who I am and I let him be who he is. We love being together, but we can be apart too. I know that if I ever lost myself and got caught up in just doing stuff...or just living my life to please other people, my real self would wither and die. Women need to be ALIVE! to seize the moment and not be so worried about what guys think of them or others think of them! Have deep conversation, don't let a conversation about shoes be your deep conversation of the day. Explore, take office, take lead roles, read literature, do math, be a physics major, be a surgeon, fire fighter, whatever! Know that you are a capable human being and that God made you that way. All we have to do now is teach everyone else...
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