REL2300

2011 Fall Semester Photo Reflections

2011-12-01T18:27:00.001-08:00

Circus Theology

2011-09-11T17:24:00.000-07:00

I attended a religious service today. The theme was - Life is a Circus: I am Surrounded by Clowns. It made me think of Shane Claiborne and Circus Theology.

See the following video.

Fall 2011 Hindu Temple and Sikh Gurdwara Visit

2011-09-10T06:17:00.000-07:00

Dark City (music clip)

2010-05-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

Movies that have religious messages:
Recently, two movies, Dark City and Matrix, had plots that centered on the questions of "knowing". The Matrix was released one year after Dark City. Some of the scenes in the Matrix were filmed using the same sets. In Dark City, the central characte, Murdoch, questioned the nature of the Dark City. He and a detective confront a doctor, who explains that every night the aliens cause everyone to fall asleep in order to manipulate the city's reality to give everyone new memories and identities. Murdoch inavertently woke up during one of these transformations. Murdock has recurring memories that include that of a place called Shell Beach that survive the aliens attempt to transform him. Ultimately, he finds out that this is an illusion. After the aliens catch up to Murdoch to tap into his mind, the doctor helps him find the power to challenge the aliens. By right understanding, intention, meditation, and contemplation, Murdoch fully "awakens" to break the illusions of the aliens and create one of his own, which includes a new Shell Beach.

2010-03-29T02:02:00.001-07:00

Stories

2010-03-23T20:21:00.000-07:00

No Shortcuts:
It takes time to learn wisdom

Once upon a time, a very wealthy young man asked a wise teacher, "how long would it take to teach me, if I gave you one-tenth of my vast treasures?"

The wise teacher answered, "one year."

The young man responded to the wise man, "This would take too long. What if I pay you one sixth of my treasure to teach me in half the time?"

To this, the wise man answered, "I will teach you in two years."

The young man said, "you don't understand, I really need you to teach me quickly. What if I pay you one fourth of my treasure?"

"In that case," the wise man said, "I will teach you in three years."

The young man cried, "why do you keep increasing the years?"

The teacher answered, "there are no shortcuts to wisdom. The more you talk - the more I perceive that you need a greater degree of wise teaching."
___________________

APPLICATION:
Many students want their college degrees without a real education. So they learn shortcuts, master the art of passing tests without learning, and fake writing papers without completely reading books. They want to finish college as fast as they can/ to save as much as they can/ to make as much money as they can. However, there is something lost in such "fast-food" learning: education. Some nuggets of wisdom require the inconveniences of time. By necessity, the digestive process of scholarship requires solitude, silence, and endurance.

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Urgency

2010-03-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

It is time to register for the summer session. Don't minimize your sense of urgency! Maximize your courses!

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Discussing Religion

2010-03-21T21:19:00.000-07:00

Before one can engage in any meaningful discussion on the subject of Religion, it would be helpful to hear a few definitions.

What is your definition of religion? Have you stopped to think about what you really mean when you use the term? According to the Associated Press, former Navy Seal and Minnesota Governor, Jesse Ventura, was quoted as stating: “Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers…” Let us just focus on less provocative aspects of his definition. Most organizations rely at times on strength in numbers. This is true of any “organized” body such as the Ventura family, the US Navy, the state of Minnesota, and any other group of people who come together to accomplish a common goal.

A careful analysis might show that a hodgepodge of issues [including religion, secular ideals, economic interests, ethnic diversity, property disputes, and political rivalry] may play equal, if not more powerful, roles in life. Yet, religion is often singled out disparagingly. This is usually done for a couple of reasons.

First, religion is hard to define. Nevertheless, it is distinguished universally in all places and cultures in human history. Lacking a precise definition, it may be easily connected to all sorts of human endeavors (virtues and vices).

Second, the broad term “Religion” is often confused with individual expressions of the phenomenon. Religion is to religions what (for example) the term language is to languages. One is the mean; the other the result. Hence, the all-encompassing term “RELIGION” is often loosely used when only one or a few religions may be relevant to a particular discussion.

Religious Conflict

2010-03-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

Is religion responsible for violence and war:

Do you believe that religion is responsible for causing most of the deaths by violence and wars fought in history?

Briefly review the sites below (pay attention to charts and references to wars caused by religion). Pay special attention to pages 13-14 of the BBC War Audit.

Rel2300 guest lecturer (Video: Honors Food for Thought Forum)

Under War's Bloody Banner (http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/006/teichrib/war.htm)

Trivia Library.com
http://www.trivia-library.com/history-of-war-causes-starts-beginnings-of-big-wars/index.htm

Historical Atlas of the twentieth Century by Matthew White
http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/20centry.htm#war

BBC War Audit (see pages 13 and 14) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/world/04/war_audit_pdf/pdf/war_audit.pdf

"Why Do Religions Teach Love and Yet Cause So Much War?" by Ken Wilber