Recently in Directed Writing Category

In the book, Galileo, Darwin, and Hawking, the author, Phil Dowe, brings up many interesting topics about the co existence of religion and science and how they interconnect.  Dowe appealed to each sense in a different way, with explaining the innovated ways these two highly debatable topics, as science and religion always are.  Dowe uses both Francis Bacon and René Descartes as a way to describe his feelings towards the connection of rationalism and empiricism combining the two to make an argument which is shown in this book.

                Dowe believes that a person can prove the existence of God through the ideas of rationalism and empiricism. Dowe says that "Rationalist claim we can acquire knowledge through sheer reasoning alone," while he continues to say that "Empiricists claim that we cannot know anything by pure reasoning alone" (62).  Through these two concepts in which Dowe believes, he establishes a strong argument why it is easy to prove the fact of God. Whether it is through the ideas of Descartes or Bacon, each one is a prominent exponent to the argument. Dowe used Descartes as an example due to his idea of rationalism. What Descartes believed was that "knowledge could be derived as part of a systematic deductive edifice based on the Cartesian system" (63).  What Descartes is saying, is that everything can be proved through rational thinking. When a person is using their brain, then it is creating a process of deductive thinking, which causes the brain to create its own conclusion. This can be taken in the way of God, Dowe believes. He argues that if one can think through a process, and then it the brain kicks in and takes over the ideas. When it comes to God, Dowe believes that:

The existence of the image of God in humanity explains why nature is perspicuous to us. Because we have a rational mind, which is like the mind of God, we can expect to be able to understand the rationality of the world he created. Thus in Descartes' philosophy there is optimism about our ability to understand and have knowledge about the world.

What this is saying is that having the same complex ideas of having a rational mind, just like God, then that creates a strong basis where to start off the thinking of the true image of God. Therefore, by combining the complex ideas of science, and the way religion is in the mind, it creates the idea of sharing the two ideas.  The idea of rational fits more into the category of the mind thinking and adopting religion as another concept to stash in the brain.

                The other subject in which Dowe basis his ideas on is, the ideas of Bacon and empiricism. Empiricism is figuring out something using data to back it up. In order to have something be true, it has to have some sort of evidence in order to say that it is true. Bacon believed that everything needs to have evidence for it to be true.  What Bacon believes is that through "the use of the cultural mandate lies a view of human nature with an accompanying theory of 'the image of God' (69).  By using back up information, and evidence, one can make a strong argument and created and that's what is used to asset the situation.

                With both of these arguments, there are strengths and weaknesses into why it proves God. The strengths in these arguments include the fact that Dowe uses information from world renowned philosophers who have credit in society. Throughout history, many have quoted this and created it so that believers can become stronger in faith, and others can just stay as it is. Also, Dowe, uses a lot of evidence within the book to make it stronger, and create a stronger bond between everything that he believes is right.  To strengthen his argument Dowe writes:

We have seen that the belief in the image of God is humanity, in two separate but related guises, provided a powerful impetus and motivation for the development of science in the Seventeenth century. Someone who believes God has given us a mind like the divine mind therefore expects to understand the world that God has created (79).

This quote describes the strong points of the ideas Dowe combines.

The weakness of his argument includes not including the agnostic opinion. Whether it be because lack of evidence in certain areas, or just making the connections on a bias level, these all are aspects in which could be considered to be weaknesses. Bias opinion is something that could take a big role into not reaching out to what the agnostics would agree to.  With these arguments one could think that it was a good thing for it to be done.

                Through all of these points made, Dowe brought up some pretty interesting issues, and ended up creating a different approach into affirming the Image of God. Everything has something to do with eachother, and it is something Dowe takes highly into consideration. Both rational and empiricism all combines this, and makes it a strong argument into why the image of God is true. Also creates a solid foundation in describing the true parts of Christianity.

On July 4^th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed in order to break the thirteen colonies from Great Britain's control. Before this historical event, the United States was under the control of Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson, who turned out to be one of the primary writers of the Declaration of Independence. He revealed concepts of Enlightenment and Deism in the Declaration of Independence.

            Three concepts sum up Enlightenment thought: reason, nature, and change and progress (Harrison 469). These key elements of the Enlightenment can be seen in the Declaration of Independence. According to Harrison "all assumptions ... should be subjected to critical and empirical reasoning" (469). Jefferson complains about the ruling of King George. Evidence of reason can be through this subject. In the lines, The thought of Reason is being addressed.  Since Reason is based of the idea of making a decision off of a well under the thought out issue, and then coming to a conclusion. The Declaration of Independence, was something that had radical ideas, in which, made it hard for some to adapt. It also included the technique of reasoning through the enlightenment, through the process of making a defined position. The reason why the Declaration of Independence was so radical for its time, because it broke against the stereotypes, and created a new life for those; concluding as being a part of the Enlightenment.

            Another aspect that goes along with the Enlightenment movement is the idea of Nature. When talking about nature, it says that "nature is ordered, functions reasonably, and constitutes a standard for judgment. Nature is governed by a few simple and unchangeable laws" (Harrison, 469). Nature is a fact of life, and something that cannot be proven wrong because it is concrete.  The Declaration of Independence says, "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed."  Nature can be compared to this, because in order to get something, there has to be "secure rights" which pertains to the government, and creates a bond between. 

            The last aspect of the Enlightenment Era was the change and process idea. According to Harrison, the "Change and process [idea] work hand in hand as human beings work to perfect themselves and their society. Change should not be viewed with distrust as deterioration from a previously superior more perfect state of things." This definition thoroughly supports the idea of the Declaration of Independence. Since this document was  a turning point in independence, it created a change within the 13 colonies. When change comes along, there also has to be a "process" that goes along with it. It is not a very healthy resort when processing is somewhat taken faster in the process. In the Declaration of Independence  it says "Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundation on Such Principles, and organizing it's Powers in Such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness." This is saying that when there is a shift in policy, it's important to have a strong foundation, and embrace the change, with help from the Government.

            DEISM: "We hold these Truths to be self-evident that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with Certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness," All of these ideas contained the elements of the Enlightenment, but another element has to be addressed, when it comes to discussing the Declaration of Independence: Deism. "The views of nature and reason led to the development of Deism in the eightieth century. Deists believed in an impersonal creator God who was not providentially involved with the day-to-day operations of the world" (unknown, 134). Along with that deism, is considered to be "Essentially a rationalistic religion, which assumes that all mean naturally possess the ability to know the universe's Deity through reason, and that the creator of the universe was a rational architect. The knowledge of God came not through Jesus Christ or the power of the Holy Spirit, nor were the Christian Scriptures or church tradition necessary. God revealed himself in nature and through reason" (Reid, 470).  Through all of these facts, Deism is a new way to look at God. Through the Declaration, it was made known that God was the all being. The Declaration says "...and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate ad equal Station to which the Laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them..." (Jefferson) This is the opening statement of the Declaration of Independence, which sets up a tone for the rest of the document.

            Through all the aspects that were covered here, Enlightenment and Deism, they all create a common bond within the Declaration of Independence, to make it the document that created freedom, ad also, certain rights in which ever human posses. Without the Enlightenment Era, the radical thinking, and the ideas of support God in a different manner, the world would not be what it is today.

Harrison, J. Sullivan R. and Sherman, D. A Short History of Western Civilization, 6^th ed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1985.

Jefferson, Thomas. Declaration of Independence. 1776.

Reid, Daniel G. ed. Dictionary of Christianity in America. Dowers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1990.

Meri Pearson

Directed Writing 4

In order to understand life as a whole, three important concepts need to be understood. Without these three principles, it's hard to prove the fact that we exist as humans. The first fact accepting the fact that human do really exist. No one can deny the fact that everyone here on earth, actually exists because otherwise this life would be just a mirage. Another basic principle that needs to be talked about it the principle of non-contradiction. What this is saying, is that by not contradicting ones thoughts, if a statement can be contradicted it isn't the truth it will make it clearer, and more of a known what the realization is. The last thing to take into account is the idea of the mind already knowing the truth. Another way to explain this is the basic instinct of knowing. Everyone is born with the ability to know, it is the natural born gift. Through these aspects, of knowing, it can be inferred that these points are all important to the human function. Evidence of the principle of non-contradiction, and the first condition, can be found in the Chapter VII in St. Thomas Aquinas. In St. Thomas Aquinas, he brings up the subject of "the truth of reason is not in opposition to the truth of the Christian faith." This is the subject in which will be discussed. 

The first principle of knowing is the non-contradictory principle. St. Thomas Aquinas says in chapter VII, "Consequently whatever is contrary to these principles is contrary to the divine Wisdom; wherefore it cannot be from God. Therefore those things which are received by faith from divine revelation cannot be contrary to our natural knowledge." What he is trying to say here is that, the truth is the truth because otherwise, it would not be true. Furthermore, this is describing the idea of that if a statement can be contradicted then it was not a true statement to begin with. Aquinas goes on saying that "our intellect is stayed by contrary arguments, so that it cannot advance to the knowledge of truth." What he is saying is that, contrary argument just starts the process of the ways of knowing. It creates the thinking process in order to prove that something is true in all of its being. Basically, if a statement can be contradicted, it is not the truth to begin with. This is because, it will create doubt, and uncertainty and go against the other principles.

Another point that Aquinas brings up is the act of knowing the truth. "Now the knowledge of naturally known principles is instilled into us by God, since God Himself is the author of our nature." What Aquinas is saying is that, with the first condition, which is the mind's ability to understand the truth that this thought process came from God. A Christian would say that God is the ultimate being, in which creates humans in his eyes, therefore, when the question of where truth comes, the answer is from God. This is the same principle in which St. Thomas Aquinas believed in. The way of knowing, and making a conclusion of anything that is being questioned is given to the thinker by God. This might be a harder concept for some to grasp, not being a Christian, but all could say, that they are made up with the idea of knowing, and the knowledge which comes along with it. Humans are born with this, and it is just a natural gift in which all posses.  The easiest way of saying it, is that it is a natural knowledge. Everyone has this part in their brain in which decides what is fact or fiction, whether something is wrong or right, or if something is good or bad. Every person on this planet posses this knowledge, and it is something in which happens at birth. St. Thomas Aquinas, says that this way of truth, is given by God, so does many Americans, including this reader. The fact, in which humans are born with this ability to decide, and decipher, is something bigger than just this world itself. It is definitely ability given from above.

Through all of this, St. Thomas Aquinas ends off this chapter with these words. "From this we may evidently conclude that whatever arguments are alleged against the teachings of faith, they do not rightly proceed from the first self0evident principles instilled by nature." Through the principle of non-contradiction, and the idea of knowing the truth since birth, have created the building blocks of the ways of knowing. The ways of knowing reaches out to everyone, whether it be Christians, atheist and alike, the ways of knowing, are universal, and in order to be considered truth, it has to go through these principles.  

Directed Writing #3

Maya Angelou is a well known author in today's society due to her ability to write on issues. With her classic novels, such as, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, she has written about matters affecting the marginalized in this world. Angelou tends to write about those whose rights are being taken away, or who did not have them in the first place. Angelou used her writing to show her civil rights personality and to make her opinion known how she feels about the real issues in life. This is apparent in her poem "A Brave and Startling Truth". She takes her Civil Rights Activist role, and puts it into writing, sharing her true thoughts on the "Startling truth".

Angelou is a strong activist of civil rights, she adds this to her works. With the title "A Brave and Startling Truth" she is referencing the civil rights movement. To break this down a little more to make sense out of this people, a "startling truth" is what is going to be explained. When reading the poem, there is an issue at hand that is being discussed. By knowing the context of the author, and knowing what she stands for it can be inferred that she is writing about racism. In this world today, even centuries after the civil rights movement, we are still dealing with issues about it. This is the basic principle Angelou is writing about.

Maya Angelou writes:

And when we come to it

To the day of peacemaking

When we release our fingers

                                    From fists of hostility

And allow the pure air to cool our palms what is when everyone can put down our differences, and finally accept people for who they really are. It will be the day when there is no more hatred because a person doesn't act or think like us, it will be the day of peace between all. (A Brave and Startling Truth)

In this excerpt, she is expressing, how it is just an idealistic idea to have racism abolished. The "startling truth", should be called a basic truth instead. Everyone does have the right to be who they are without any judgment from a different party. It shows how different our world is when people do not get along and how it needs to be a good environment so that everyone does get along.

            When reading this poem, I began to understanding it right away. I knew a little history of Angelou, and it definitely helped to come to my thoughts about this poem. The idea she brought up for the "startling truth" is a valid one. She takes in consideration that the idea of peace between nations is a radical, and hard thing to get accomplished. In today's society, so many things are focused on hatred, and getting back at someone, that having peace between enemies, sounds really hard for one to do. I do feel though that through her poem, she got her point across and reached out to every background, making peace in her head and peace between everyone around her.

Angelou, Maya. "A Brave and Startling Truth."

Postmodernism

"This sentence serves no logical purpose."

"Postmodernism is a complicated term, or set of ideas, one that has only emerged as an area of academic study since the mid-1980s. Postmodernism is hard to define, because it is a concept that appears in a wide variety of disciplines or areas of study, including art, architecture, music, film, literature, sociology, communications, fashion, and technology. It's hard to locate it temporally or historically, because it's not clear exactly when postmodernism begins," says  Mary Klages, an author of Continuum Press.   Postmodernism is a new theory of thinking that is coming to be more apparent in today society. But what exactly does postmodernism mean?  As the author Mary Klages said, it's a complicated term, which emerged from the different areas of learning. Whether it is science, the arts, or theology, post modernism, is a concept in which people in today's society are trying to get a grasp on. What is exactly considered postmodernism? Another author says that "postmodernism is 'post' because it is denies the existence of any ultimate principles, and it lacks the optimism of there being a scientific, philosophical, or religious truth which will explain everything for everybody - a characteristic of the so-called "modern" mind. The paradox of the postmodern position is that, in placing all principles under the scrutiny of its skepticism, it must realize that even its own principles are not beyond questioning (Postmodernism)."

 Postmodernism has many concepts involved to actually define it. First of all, postmodernism came after modernism. Even though these two concepts share the last syllables, this does not mean that they are related. The definition of modernism is putting ideas into thought; having a purpose for the beliefs, and making them a common aspect to everyday life.  Modernism is a "western" idea, which indicates that it was an older practice which has taken over society and what people are more accustomed too. However, when talking about postmodernism, everything that is true with modernism is completely different. One might think that since there is sharing of a root word, something similar would come out of it, but it does not. Postmodernism is the theory of uncertainty. Postmodernism leaves open a large gap of whether or not the thought process is necessary to obtain a conclusion.  The classic process of determining a true thought is through these primary truth principles. In order to say something is true these concepts have to be taken into consideration. Firstly, the fact of the people existence, is everything on this planet, actually here? Secondly, the thought of non-contradiction pertaining to life as a whole; life cannot be a contradicting statement. The last factor to add in is the ability of one's mind to know the truth. The last three concepts that were mentioned all have to deal with the assumptions of human nature. These are all perceptions humans take into account in order to be considered a decision.  Even though, people have been taught this message of these basic truths, the postmodernist's choice to challenge the old ideas and come up with new innovative ideas. Postmodernist regularly question and base decisions after thorough analysis.

What would a postmodernist have to say about this quote; "This sentence serves no logical purpose."  First of all, a postmodernist would have to ask themselves a question, what is the purpose for this?  One very important aspect of post modernity is the lesser people have authority. The people who that are normally looked down upon, are the ones who have power within the community. Is this sentence reaching out to those who are unheard? After analysis one could defer that this sentence has a purpose, but it is not a common purpose that is dealt with everyday.  The reader feels as if there is some sort of skepticism within the sentence. With the structure that it is in, the words "serves", "logical" and "purpose" seem to stick out the most. After reading the sentence, it is hard to point out the flaws which would be in favor of over theories but instead this is creating more of an opportunity to open the postmodernists view. Skepticism is one of the core principals involved with postmodernity. Skepticism brings on the ideas of the truth, and how it affects the world as we knew it. The sentence above addresses this aspect of postmodernity, and as far as the reader is concerned, there is nothing in which to prove that the statement has a purpose.

Another part of postmodernity that should be addressed is the function of this statement. From an English perspective, it is a correct usage of verb, noun, and all of that, but that is not exactly a way to determining where postmodernity starts and ends. Postmodernity is a mental process, where the brain will weed out what is important and what is not. "This sentence serves no logical purpose." does not have a dominant function. The function of it is more of trying to figure it out. From research, it can be known that postmodernity can never be proven wrong or right. Through the thought process of trying to find the function, one can defer this statement is a postmodernitie's approach of life, and is a strong statement that supports the definition which was mentioned earlier.

Whether postmodernity is dealing with theology, science or art, it is definitely a new theological thought process which will be going through more heads as the years goes on. Since the fall of modernity, it's time for postmodernity to make its debut in everyday society. With the ideas of skepticism, not knowing the whole truth, and putting the focus on the marginalized, it creates a new form in which can be confusing, but after some studying can turn into a new way of thinking and may even change the world.

Bibliography

Klagas, Mary. "Literary Theory: A Guide for the Perplexed." Continuum Press January 2007 25 Sep 2008 <http://www.colorado.edu/English/courses/ENGL2012Klages/pomo.html>.

Unknown, "Postmodernism." 25 Sep 2008 <http://www.pbs.org/faithandreason/gengloss/postm-body.html>.

Discuss the metaphor "staring at the sun" as a description of doing theology? What is helpful about the metaphor? Why? What is problematic? Cite examples from pp. 55-140 in support of your argument.

                In the book, Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense, by N.T. Wright, brings up new innovative ways to study the religion of Christianity. In the section called "Staring at the Sun" some  hard issues emerge and makes the reader question what is the true meaning behind the title of the section dealing with Christianity. The main question is: what does "Staring at the sun" really mean in the context of this book?  Well, God said: 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expense of the sky to give light on the Earth.' And it was so. God made two great lights- the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night (Genesis 1:14-16)."  Since the start of the world, according to the Bible, the sun has always been present it is one of God's creations. In the section "Staring at the Sun" the analogy that Wright is making is that God is around us all the time, just like the sun is. The sun is always around us, just like God, and Jesus; no matter where believers go, the presence of God is always there. But when you stare at it, sometimes you can be blinded. This is reflected how God takes over a believers' life and then can be blinded about what is actually going on. The believer is trying to be strong, but is so blindsided that they end up doing more harm.  It could be categorized as being everyday life, or whatever is taking over the said person's heart.  This is one of the reasons why it is in the book Simply Christian; it questions the idea of the sun.

Throughout this section, the reader is taken on a journey of Christianity, starting with Jesus and his beliefs, to the basic principles of Christianity as the world knows it. This section provides an overview of what Christians really think and some questions that are posed to encourage more of a learning process. "Nobody tells us what Jesus looked like or what he ate for breakfast. Nobody, more important, tells us how he read the scriptures or-except for brief flashes-the complicated and dangerous world of the Middle East in the first century-that we can make historical , personal and theological sense of what he was trying to do, what he believed he was called to accomplish " (pp. 94).  Through this thought, the sun shines of Christianity, and when someone stares to long, well, it hinders their sight which takes them farther from God.

Not only does "Staring at the Sun" bring out the positive aspects of Christianity, it also brings up some trying questions to believers. Through staring at an object, in any case scenario, it is not always comfortable for eyes. Therefore, this tests the ability of a person to being able to stay strong in a time of pain. This can be compared to what Christians believe in. After staring at something for a moment, it is a hard thing to stay focused on that. When it comes to religion, staying focus can be hard, especially in today's society. With many Christians, in order to become stronger in their faith, they need to be trialed. That's exactly what this section brings out. Wright says "A great many arguments about God- God's existence, God's nature, God's actions in the world-run the risk of being like pointing a flashlight toward the sky to see if the sun is shining" (69).   These are just few concepts that borderline Christians tend to deal with and causes a lack of faith. What the Bible says about this can be found in James 1: 2-4, "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a change to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. With this concept, when staring at the sun, all the bad aspects of life come out, a sin. The sinner get's tantalized in the sunshine, but when they really realize it, it's easier to look away, and then the end result will create a stronger faith then before.  As C.S. Lewis says "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because I see everything by it (Buzzle).

Secondly, does Wright's work invite you to consider Christian theology more deeply? Why or why not?

Wright's book, Simply Christian, definitely brings the reader to think about faith and life. Through the way the book is set up, in three different sections, each one brings up a unique outlook on Christianity. Some of these ways include, the history of it, basic knowledge about Christianity, and also, putting it into practice. In each subsection, Wright brings up questions, in which spark the readers mind, to start examining their basic beliefs. Through this, the reader is able to come up with their own idea, and believe in Christianity that much more, because after a test of religion, one can only get stronger. Wright says "It is all because of Jesus that we find ourselves called to live the way we do. More particularly, it is through Jesus that we are summoned to become more truly human, to reflect the image of God into the world" (pp. 140). Christianity is a complex religion but through Simply Christian, Wright is able to create an organized approach to question and eventually solving the big issues within the religion.

Buzzle. 2008. 11 September 2008 <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/christian-quotes.html>.

Holy Bible. Tyndale Charitable Trust, 2004.