I recently posted on a blog and noticed that I was completely misunderstood. I do have to admittedly state that I am mostly responsible for that. For the sake of trying to repeat myself and getting myself misunderstood again, I'll simply post what I wrote:
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tired
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Flashes
I am currently living with a friend, who is by the way a girl. I've never lived with a girl before but don't imagine it to be all too bad, for several reasons. First, I get along better with females than males. I'm just more sensitive, not in the caring way, but in the way when I get horsed around by men, I don't like it and get offended easily. Secondly, I've almost lived with a girl before. In the late years of high school and the early years of college I had a very serious girlfriend and practically hung out with her every waking moment. We dated for two and a half years and it didn't end well.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
He's
I want to first and most importantly state that I am a feminist, as much as I can be entitled, but this is only an example from two situations that occurred personally. So, by no means am I unaware of the implications caused by a male-dominated pronoun.
With that said, the first situation occurred at work conversing with a good friend and we were talking about a band, that will go unnamed. It was then bestowed upon me by my good friend that the lead singer was gay, commented as, "You know, he's gay."
The second situation occurred at church conversing with someone, and we were talking about companies and such, and was told about the CEO of one of the companies as, "You know, he's a Christian."
My first instinct in response to both of these are the same, "Oh, yeah," said with mild surprise. The first can be interpreted as homophobic or something along those lines. The second happens constantly with what I feel like as something that should be more a side note than a main point. One descriptive word should not entail us to judge based solely on that one word. What is the point to describe a person by one word than to make that person painted in a better or worse light. One single word should not make me feel all secure knowing that some CEO is a Christian. So what if he's a Christian, so what if he's gay. Does that define him as a person. What I have also noticed is that we, as society, don't use these descriptive words in reference to political standing or leanings. We don't simply state that he is a conservative or a liberal and leave it at that. The focus of the conversation leads easily into the political background of that particular person. Not so with these two descriptive words. I'm always at a dead loss of what to really say when given this description.
Yeah, okay, he's a Christian, does that mean that's he's good, or better than a non-Christian CEO? Does that mean that he'll run his company ethically and morally right? Does a gay artist make me want to no longer listen to that artist or band? Not necessarily, but this is what these descriptive words want us to think, imagine and judge.
Please, if you are going to describe someone with a single descriptive word, I pledge that you hesitate and consider the implications and motivation behind what you intend to mean. Before blurting out, he's so and so, think and put the words behind the description, and not have an unreasonable assumption made with one word.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Money
There is a commercial from Comcast that is probably entitled, "Everyone loves money". If I could find this on the internet or youtube, I would definitely give you the link, but I can't find it. So, the next best thing is to describe it. There is a heavier set young black man riding a bicycle in his neighborhood and the folks in the neighborhood are all saying "Hey Money, how's it going Money". And he responds with, "Hey, how's it going, what it is bro, what it is". Then, the comcast logo appears against it's black background and it says, "Everyone loves money" getting at the idea that Comcast can save you money and you'll love it. I get the idea behind it, but I feel if there were such a guy in my neighborhood riding his bike at a good pace and saying hey to everyone and nicknamed Money, I would love Money as well. I don't think I'm greedy or love money or as it is commonly known as, "The root of all evil," but this Money, this guy on his bike, him I would love. Just thought I would share.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Sin
The first thing you learn when becoming a Christian for the first time is sin. Where does the Bible begin it's story with humans? Sin. When something is built upon something else, everything is defined in those terms. When the house comes tumbling down, the only thing left standing is the foundation. The foundation of Judeo-Christianity is sin. It is not only a prequel to what is coming up next, sin is it. Sin is where you start from and is the basis for every person who is not a Christian. In a religion that claims to be loving sure does place it's emphasis on an act full of reprehensible, shameful and deplorable feelings. Why would an institution founded on love want sin to be a part of it's vocabulary, especially when it mostly is a foreign concept.
Sin is not a loving word. A loving idea is you made a mistake and you'll learn. Or maybe you'll make the mistake again, but that's okay because you're human. It is not as though because I'm a Christian that all the mistakes I've made I won't make again or will be totally forgotten and because you're unchristian that your mistakes will stay with you forever. Going into the spiel of sin when teaching a Christian to be a Christian is not worth the explanation or the time spent on defining an outdated useless word. If someone is becoming a Christian there must be a reason they are doing so. They know that there are problems in the world. They know humans aren't perfect and holy. People who use sin seem to think that such a detestable word will make grace in comparison look that much better, but it doesn't. Sin sets itself up for failure. Sin makes a person feel worse about themselves when they shouldn't. A person who cuts their wrist will not think of sin as a far-off word that separates humans and God. That person will only take that word to heart and will tailspin into cutting again. What is the purpose and intention for using such a word? To help us realize that we betrayed God? That we, as humans, disobeyed God and are now punished by God until some savior by the name of Jesus comes saves us? Does a word that full of heavy sentiment really need to be used to let us know that we are not gods? A word completely complex in it's history and powerfulness need to be the basis of a self-proclaimed loving religion?
The answer is quite simply no. There is no longer any need and purpose to use this sinful word. Problems are problems, mistakes are mistakes and they may happen again, but beating a dead horse with this idea of sin is not going to help matters. Concentration on a fault or error does not make it go away. Especially when there already is a solution.
What my suggestion is is a new word, for a new concept, for a new idea. A thought or image that sites problems within humans but is not distasteful and abhorrent. I heard a couple of people use this word when I'd been thinking about sin and that word was, The human condition. The human condition is a much better way of explaining sin than sin. Sin is personal, sin is deep, sin concerns only you. Sin is about your disobedience toward God and God’s perfection that you will never live up to. The human condition however is about humanity’s predicament. Humanity’s frailty and problems are the main focus. The underlining human condition truly is the peril that befalls us all. Also, what is more enticing about using the human condition is that it is more encompassing. Sin focuses on the past and does not move beyond that, while the human condition recognizes the past but presents a problem in the present and hopes for the future. The human condition is only a condition; it’s not a disease, cancer, or terminal illness. The condition is the problem of the present and can be changed. The human condition is something we are born with, but something as we are presented with the issue and take in to account and try solving. The human condition has the humility, without the depression and without the hatred. The human condition factors in God with all of humanity born with this condition. The human condition centralizes and magnifies. There are several human conditions, positive ones and negative ones. The human condition of caring, but then the human condition of being selfish. The human condition of having a tendency toward destruction, but then the human condition of being constructive and progressive. The human condition of hope, desperation, empathy, but also of jealousy, anger, and apathy. Sin will always be with us, the human condition on the other hand can change according to how we react to this problem. Sin is central to regrettable unforgettable ugly acts while the human condition is central to being human.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Definition
Welcome to "Philosophy for dummies". Just kidding, but I would like to mention that a good starting point for any philosopher of any kind needs or should or is best to start any theory or philosophizing with a definition. A definition of an important word in the work. A working definition helps build a solid foundation. A concrete setting to your home of theory or theories.