I'm sorry. When I talk about religion, I can go on tangents. It just seems to me like all these works of literature we are reading--dips heavily into the religion of that time period. I'm also taking a world religions course and I am fascinated by other religions. What do they believe in? Why do they believe that? What do they follow?
I'm not trying to figure out which one is true or right. (My instructor insists that there can only be one truth--he's a pastor or something...I never know the difference between pastor/priests.) I don't want to debate on spiritual truth. I like to think that I can be open-minded and not discriminate against others with different beliefs. Anyways--who the hell knows for sure. Shit, it might play out like a South Park episode and the only people who get past the heavenly gates are Mormons.
Anyways, it seems like all religions are trying to find an escape from suffering. We all suffer here on earth. We are constantly moving towards our death. And it seems that we are not so very different from one another. We live on the hopes that we can be saved from this suffering, poverty, and unhappiness. As I've said in my other blog tonight, no one is excluded. Even if you're an atheist. You still have some thoughts about death. Some opinion about religion. Something! As much as we, here in America, would like to say that we are civilized and can separate the church and the state--we are affected by religion. Sometimes it divides us and sometimes it brings us together.
Sometimes I want to tell my world religions instructor: Stop telling me to find the 'truth.' What if I'm happy the way I am? And who cares? No one knows what's going to happen after we die. Just put yourself in my shoes. If you were to relocate in a different country and you were considered a minority, would you still be confident in proclaiming your beliefs? What if your religion was a minority, an obscurity? What if I walked up to you to preach about the good of Shamanism and told you that everything you've ever believed in were lies? Everything your parents taught you were wrong! Wrong! All of it. You whole life has been a lie. Everything you've cherished is worthless. You were living against the will of the gods. And beware!! For karma exists! Do not turn away! But look to your ancestors and know that you are reincarnations of yourself in past lives! You are given the gift of another life, so that you may live this one well. May you prosper and be good! May you do only good and live a life worth dying for. What would you do then? If everyone said you were wrong. If everyone told you that you're hallucinating and that there is no God and Jesus. There never was no such thing. Let me tell you what you would feel--inferior and confused.
Preach what you want to preach. But people will not change simply because you've told them to. From personal experiences, one has to want to change. One has to want to believe. Otherwise, there is no point in going to church just to get through the motions of going to church. I don't want to lie to myself. I don't have to lie to myself. I would like to say that I've synchronized Shamanism and Christianity to fit my life, needs, and wants. I understand you want to share your faith and good news. And I will be happy for you. I promise. I will celebrate your happiness. But do not force upon me something that I do not willingly take.
God--I'm rambling again. =) Well, this should be my eighth blog. So I'm probably signing out. Thanks for reading and replying.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Ramblings about the Research Paper
So I'm writing about man's innate nature to be selfish and pleasure-seeking. I'm basing it off of Marlowe's Dr. Faustus. And I really do think that people are selfish and pleasure-seeking. Don't get me wrong--I am selfish and pleasure-seeking also. It's just a personal observation of those around me. I'm talking about people I know and love and strangers I pass by.
Let's take religion. We strive to find a religious/spiritual peace within ourselves--because it feels good! I think people want to dwell on religion because no one knows for sure what happens after you die. For all we know, we might just die and that's it. But that's a bleak outlook on it, right? So we have religion. We want to feel good about death. We want to anticipate a heaven, a reincarnation, and new life. So we go to church, follow Dao's teachings, practice worship rituals, send prayers. All in the hope that we are good people and that we will meet a heavenly end. I know it sounds cynical and blah, blah, blah... But I feel that religion shapes our thoughts and opinions and actions. We base our beliefs and world views on religion--whether you are monotheistic, polytheistic, or even atheist. I think that atheists have opinions about life and death and the hereafter. They are probably the most selfish and pleasure-seekers! Not that they crave money or power. But that they yearn for experience. If they cannot experience and know from personal encounters with god/gods, they do not believe in it.
We search for those experiences--mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually--to enhance our lives. That is what I mean when I say we are selfish. We are self-centered beings--even when we donate our time/money for a good cause, we still feel good about ourselves. We pat our backs, if someone doesn't do it, and say "Good job! That was a nice thing you did! Don't you feel all nice and fuzzy inside, now?"
.........To be continued... hopefully!
Let's take religion. We strive to find a religious/spiritual peace within ourselves--because it feels good! I think people want to dwell on religion because no one knows for sure what happens after you die. For all we know, we might just die and that's it. But that's a bleak outlook on it, right? So we have religion. We want to feel good about death. We want to anticipate a heaven, a reincarnation, and new life. So we go to church, follow Dao's teachings, practice worship rituals, send prayers. All in the hope that we are good people and that we will meet a heavenly end. I know it sounds cynical and blah, blah, blah... But I feel that religion shapes our thoughts and opinions and actions. We base our beliefs and world views on religion--whether you are monotheistic, polytheistic, or even atheist. I think that atheists have opinions about life and death and the hereafter. They are probably the most selfish and pleasure-seekers! Not that they crave money or power. But that they yearn for experience. If they cannot experience and know from personal encounters with god/gods, they do not believe in it.
We search for those experiences--mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually--to enhance our lives. That is what I mean when I say we are selfish. We are self-centered beings--even when we donate our time/money for a good cause, we still feel good about ourselves. We pat our backs, if someone doesn't do it, and say "Good job! That was a nice thing you did! Don't you feel all nice and fuzzy inside, now?"
.........To be continued... hopefully!
More Thoughts about Taming of the Shrew
One part about the Taming of the Shrew really stuck with me: the obedient wife. In Hmong cultures, women are to be obedient and submissive. BUT! We are also appreciated for our intelligence and our part in the family. Although, sadly to say, the husband takes the credit for most of everything. Its understood that behind every man, is a dutiful wife. But no one wants to be thought of as "dutiful" especially wives of the generation that have been raised in America.
But personally, I feel that it is part of my responsibilities to be "obedient" and "dutiful" when in front of others--such as family members, guests, and elders. As a wife, I want my husband to be respected by the Hmong community. And a big aspect of that comes from the fact that his wife is loyal to him. Physically, emotionally, and mentally loyal. It is the foundation in which the Hmong community is built on. The wife should be able to cook, clean, rear children, and all that good stuff. But we must understand our roles in religious ceremonies (preparing and cooking meals), in community activities, and our role in families. A good home is the basis in the fundamentals of a good husband.
The thought process is.... if the husband is a good husband/man; so will his wife/children will be. It shows that he can handle stress and responsibilities. He has the makings of a good person and can be called upon when the time comes--for ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, hu plig, etc...
But personally, I feel that it is part of my responsibilities to be "obedient" and "dutiful" when in front of others--such as family members, guests, and elders. As a wife, I want my husband to be respected by the Hmong community. And a big aspect of that comes from the fact that his wife is loyal to him. Physically, emotionally, and mentally loyal. It is the foundation in which the Hmong community is built on. The wife should be able to cook, clean, rear children, and all that good stuff. But we must understand our roles in religious ceremonies (preparing and cooking meals), in community activities, and our role in families. A good home is the basis in the fundamentals of a good husband.
The thought process is.... if the husband is a good husband/man; so will his wife/children will be. It shows that he can handle stress and responsibilities. He has the makings of a good person and can be called upon when the time comes--for ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, hu plig, etc...
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