Actually, this is really weird for me. Since I gave up video games for lent, I've realized how much time I wasted with them. Actually, no. That's not true. I've noticed how much time I sit in front of my computer waiting for the end of lent so I'll allow myself to play video games. I sit there trying to figure out what to do, and then end up doing nothing useful.
Now as lent comes to a close, I actually sort of fear the end of lent. Instead of feeling as though I'd be free to play video games. I feel as though I'd be entering into a form of imprisonment. I really just wonder if I can go back to normal life and not overdo video games after lent.
Of course, the first three weeks I didn't even play video games on Sunday though I could have. More recently though, in an attempt to make another sort of change in my life, I've tried to quit studying on Sunday and just enjoy God's day of rest. So, this last Sunday I probably played video games for about eight hours and watched at least three if not four movies. It seems contradictory to me too.
And because of all this time freed by not doing video games, I wonder why I can't seem to focus this semester. Before it was never an issue. I'd study and study and study based on whatever I needed to do well on. Then I'd just go home and sleep or do my own thing. This semester though, I have senioritis, I guess. However, a large part of it is that I've realized a lot of things this semester and have become disillusioned. It's probably because I have to take a huge step out into the world in the near future and I'm over thinking things again.
Go and Set the World Ablaze
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Prayer in Japan
My goal is for this to not turn into a rant, but if it does, forgive me.
I don't get why Japanese people pray. Well, let me rephrase that. I don't get why the typical Japanese person, especially those who are non-christian, pray. Especially when they pray to a vague "Kami-sama," I don't get it.
I understand the need that a person has to pray. Some people try to get by that need through things like meditation or scientific/psychological explanations of how the mind works. In the end though, prayer, specifically prayer directed at the one true God, is the only thing that works. So, with that understanding in mind, who/what do Japanese people call to mind when they are praying?
Is it a buddha, a seemingly fat enlightened one? Is it a Shinto god that is as fickle as the Greek ones of the past? Is it a distant kami-sama? Is it simply a force? Is it a spiritual energy grounded or stuck fast to an area? Or is it somehow the personal Christian God and they just haven't realized it yet? Or, worse-case scenario, are they imagining nothing except a way to manifest their own desires?
The fact is: I don't know. I need to ask people to find out. The problem is, if you thought religion and politics were practically taboo to talk about in America, they are way more so in Japan. I guess it is time for curiosity to kill the cat again.
Go and set the world Ablaze.
I don't get why Japanese people pray. Well, let me rephrase that. I don't get why the typical Japanese person, especially those who are non-christian, pray. Especially when they pray to a vague "Kami-sama," I don't get it.
I understand the need that a person has to pray. Some people try to get by that need through things like meditation or scientific/psychological explanations of how the mind works. In the end though, prayer, specifically prayer directed at the one true God, is the only thing that works. So, with that understanding in mind, who/what do Japanese people call to mind when they are praying?
Is it a buddha, a seemingly fat enlightened one? Is it a Shinto god that is as fickle as the Greek ones of the past? Is it a distant kami-sama? Is it simply a force? Is it a spiritual energy grounded or stuck fast to an area? Or is it somehow the personal Christian God and they just haven't realized it yet? Or, worse-case scenario, are they imagining nothing except a way to manifest their own desires?
The fact is: I don't know. I need to ask people to find out. The problem is, if you thought religion and politics were practically taboo to talk about in America, they are way more so in Japan. I guess it is time for curiosity to kill the cat again.
Go and set the world Ablaze.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Coincidential Providences
Free Will... I am left with the ability to choose.
Predestination... God knows where I will end up; heaven or hell.
These two concepts often get arrayed against each other. However, I've had an interesting couple days where they have been placed solidly together before me. Augustine convinced me a long time ago, but the facts were quite affirmed for me recently.
Starting off yesterday, a customer came in and was inquiring about a book with regard to these two concepts. I recommended a few books and after a short chat that revealed to me the heart of the issue, I sought out Peter Kreeft's website. I remembered that Kreeft had a short file on the concept and that he had beautifully summarized C.S. Lewis and Augustine on the matter. (see Kreeft on Free will) I, of course, passed off what I had found to the customer. This sparked a short discussion where we hit on the main points together. I rather enjoyed that.
The coincidences, or, if you will, providence, proceeded from there.
Last night I went to Alice in Wonderland, and saw a beautiful Hollywood depiction of the relationship between fate and free will. Alice, despite knowing exactly what was in the future, still tangled with and ultimately had to make the decisions herself. A fact that killed the suspense in the movie a bit, but it worked. I loved how it closely reflected the discussion concerning how knowledge of something, whether its God who knows or not, doesn't make you do it. We still are free, by which I mean capable, to make a decision.
Then this morning (well, 2am or so), I was reading in scripture and I ran across Sirach chapter 15. Sirach Verses 11-20 are explicitly about free will and what God's relation to it is. Ironic that I ran into this chapter? I think not. Besides I think the first half of the chapter is just plain relevant for students anyway. Seek ye wisdom.
Go and Set the World Ablaze
Predestination... God knows where I will end up; heaven or hell.
These two concepts often get arrayed against each other. However, I've had an interesting couple days where they have been placed solidly together before me. Augustine convinced me a long time ago, but the facts were quite affirmed for me recently.
Starting off yesterday, a customer came in and was inquiring about a book with regard to these two concepts. I recommended a few books and after a short chat that revealed to me the heart of the issue, I sought out Peter Kreeft's website. I remembered that Kreeft had a short file on the concept and that he had beautifully summarized C.S. Lewis and Augustine on the matter. (see Kreeft on Free will) I, of course, passed off what I had found to the customer. This sparked a short discussion where we hit on the main points together. I rather enjoyed that.
The coincidences, or, if you will, providence, proceeded from there.
Last night I went to Alice in Wonderland, and saw a beautiful Hollywood depiction of the relationship between fate and free will. Alice, despite knowing exactly what was in the future, still tangled with and ultimately had to make the decisions herself. A fact that killed the suspense in the movie a bit, but it worked. I loved how it closely reflected the discussion concerning how knowledge of something, whether its God who knows or not, doesn't make you do it. We still are free, by which I mean capable, to make a decision.
Then this morning (well, 2am or so), I was reading in scripture and I ran across Sirach chapter 15. Sirach Verses 11-20 are explicitly about free will and what God's relation to it is. Ironic that I ran into this chapter? I think not. Besides I think the first half of the chapter is just plain relevant for students anyway. Seek ye wisdom.
Go and Set the World Ablaze
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
The Box
The Box.... yes, I am speaking of the movie. I just finished watching it, so what follows is my cut and dry opinion of the movie.
*Spoilers*
Suffice to say, I didn't like the movie. The movie trailer's get you hooked with promises of a sort of moral dilemma movie. For the first 45 minutes of the movie or so, they even leave you with the sort of misguided impression that is exactly what it is about. Then with the audacity of a rug being swept out from under your feet, the movie drops into heavy sci-fi mode, even bringing in the plot element that aliens from Mars are coming to take over earth.
You find out quickly the deliverer of the box is in contact with a mysterious "them." Because of an infusion of "them" through a lightning bolt, he has been charged with limited capabilities to control our minds. With his CIA, FBI and NASA knowledge and this new power, he is called to "test" humanity to find whether it is deserving of extinction or not. I believe this movie's plot, however, has much to learn from Walker Percy's "Space Odyssey" chapters in his book Lost in the Cosmos.
Assuming you know anything about the movie, then you know that humanity's test is concerned with a box and a choice. The problem, though, is that the last thirty minutes drags you through some promising philosophical questioning only to totally disappoint you with no answers. Humanity is just plain screwed because of a hedonistic drive to press buttons in order to attain money. Altogether as an ending designed to drop you into a temporary state of despair, the movie wouldn't be half-bad, especially considering it is in the vein of the classic Twilight Zone. However, God is in the details... and I do mean God.
The cuss words in this movie were extremely limited, but with a few misuses of "Jesus Christ" the majority were aberrations of "God." Secondarily, just as you approach closer and closer to the despairing end of the movie there are two scenes of significance. In an unexplained scene, Arther comes walking out of a blinding light which aligns perfectly with the windows behind it, and then pauses just long enough to leave him standing in a cross of light. The second scene is the final one where we see Steward. He walks out of the house whose inhabitants were the latest to fail humanity, and guess what? They have a Nativity outside in their front yard.
A subtle message I believe, but the conclusion? There is no hope for humanity and that means you Christians too. A very bleak view of humanity. In the end, I'm glad this movie is just some twisted director's view of humanity and not reality.
Admittedly this could be a stretch, however, I have but one final parting observation, but to understand it, you must know that it was Norma that pushes the button. Arthur (Adam) yet again fails in his task to protect Norma (Eve). Even more so, you can see the Genesis parallel drawn out further when Arthur and Norma are separated in the library, and Norma is separated to meet Mr. Steward (Serpent?). I think this is just a classic example of how God has the last laugh.
Go and set the world Ablaze.
*Spoilers*
Suffice to say, I didn't like the movie. The movie trailer's get you hooked with promises of a sort of moral dilemma movie. For the first 45 minutes of the movie or so, they even leave you with the sort of misguided impression that is exactly what it is about. Then with the audacity of a rug being swept out from under your feet, the movie drops into heavy sci-fi mode, even bringing in the plot element that aliens from Mars are coming to take over earth.
You find out quickly the deliverer of the box is in contact with a mysterious "them." Because of an infusion of "them" through a lightning bolt, he has been charged with limited capabilities to control our minds. With his CIA, FBI and NASA knowledge and this new power, he is called to "test" humanity to find whether it is deserving of extinction or not. I believe this movie's plot, however, has much to learn from Walker Percy's "Space Odyssey" chapters in his book Lost in the Cosmos.
Assuming you know anything about the movie, then you know that humanity's test is concerned with a box and a choice. The problem, though, is that the last thirty minutes drags you through some promising philosophical questioning only to totally disappoint you with no answers. Humanity is just plain screwed because of a hedonistic drive to press buttons in order to attain money. Altogether as an ending designed to drop you into a temporary state of despair, the movie wouldn't be half-bad, especially considering it is in the vein of the classic Twilight Zone. However, God is in the details... and I do mean God.
The cuss words in this movie were extremely limited, but with a few misuses of "Jesus Christ" the majority were aberrations of "God." Secondarily, just as you approach closer and closer to the despairing end of the movie there are two scenes of significance. In an unexplained scene, Arther comes walking out of a blinding light which aligns perfectly with the windows behind it, and then pauses just long enough to leave him standing in a cross of light. The second scene is the final one where we see Steward. He walks out of the house whose inhabitants were the latest to fail humanity, and guess what? They have a Nativity outside in their front yard.
A subtle message I believe, but the conclusion? There is no hope for humanity and that means you Christians too. A very bleak view of humanity. In the end, I'm glad this movie is just some twisted director's view of humanity and not reality.
Admittedly this could be a stretch, however, I have but one final parting observation, but to understand it, you must know that it was Norma that pushes the button. Arthur (Adam) yet again fails in his task to protect Norma (Eve). Even more so, you can see the Genesis parallel drawn out further when Arthur and Norma are separated in the library, and Norma is separated to meet Mr. Steward (Serpent?). I think this is just a classic example of how God has the last laugh.
Go and set the world Ablaze.
Monday, March 01, 2010
March already?
When did this happen? I've been planning all sorts of things to fill blog pages but they are mostly started and unfinished. I'll get there eventually, but life comes first, blogging next, and God above all.
Snippet:
We are not people of the Book. We, Catholics, are people of the Word. The Word which is Jesus Christ, living and Lord of all history. (Thanks Fr. Hoesing.)
It really makes you wonder doesn't it? I mean, Muslims consider us People of the Book because they believe there are links and seqways between the Tanakh, Old Testament, New Testament, and the Koran that all point to a greater, true, book in Heaven. That's how they look at our beliefs, and sorry to say, but I can't agree with them. After all, I believe in Jesus, God and Man, not in Jesus as they see him in the simple role of prophet. If I did, I wouldn't be Catholic, now would I?
Just some food for thought.
Go and set the world Ablaze
Snippet:
We are not people of the Book. We, Catholics, are people of the Word. The Word which is Jesus Christ, living and Lord of all history. (Thanks Fr. Hoesing.)
It really makes you wonder doesn't it? I mean, Muslims consider us People of the Book because they believe there are links and seqways between the Tanakh, Old Testament, New Testament, and the Koran that all point to a greater, true, book in Heaven. That's how they look at our beliefs, and sorry to say, but I can't agree with them. After all, I believe in Jesus, God and Man, not in Jesus as they see him in the simple role of prophet. If I did, I wouldn't be Catholic, now would I?
Just some food for thought.
Go and set the world Ablaze
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