Religion Today

Religion 

It's Effects on Society

Let me preface this post that this was an assignment for my intro to religion class so it is in a different format than my usual posts.

                Religion to me is a miracle, humanities overarching perception of something divine. It can be argued that faith is a defect or a blessing from on high, a tweak in our genetic code. Religion can be belief in anything, be it nature, spirits, or the Judeo-Christian God. It formed over millennia and in a sense “grew up” with civilization.

               When humans were beginning to form the first cultures, humans for the first time could take a break from the daily grind of trying to survive. This newfound free time led to questions about the way things are and the way things came to be. Religion came into the equation to fill the gaps that these people could not understand, believing in something divine.

               Even today science cannot answer all of humanities questions. Some things, like human suffering and our common sense of morality as human beings, cannot be answered by quantitative means. Enlightened by centuries of scientific study, science is yet to disprove God.

               In fact, in the eyes of somebody who is religious like myself, these discoveries just show the beauty and mastery of an omniscient creator. The way particles align in chemistry and react with each other, or the fact that the earth is just the right distance from the Sun to be conducive to life, is more than a coincidence in my eyes. There are so many things we can observe in nature that inspire faith in the supernatural.

               I wish to show that believers are not ignorant. Being an engineer, I believe in science and the laws of nature. Laws set down by a grand designer or watchmaker as I like to think. Lord Kelvin once said, “A little science drives one away from God, a lot of science brings them back to Him.” Again, the findings of science are seen, at least in my Catholic eyes, as part of the grand design by the so called, “big man upstairs.”

               Many in our country, especially those of different Christian backgrounds, don’t believe science and religion cannot coexist. This line of thinking, in my opinion is irrational. Let us look at the differences in the interpretation of Genesis. In the evangelical tradition, so it is written, so it is and that is that. From my Catholic perspective, this is not so. Genesis, like other books in the bible is not meant to be taken literally. It is a creation myth that contains important religious truths, like God created all that is and that we were made in his image.

               On the other hand, a group called American Atheists puts up billboards belittling the central beliefs of Christianity amongst other faiths. Many people were upset by these advertisements and American Atheists ended up taking them down. The point is, no matter what your religion is from Hindu to Atheism, to live in a peaceful society, we must respect one another’s beliefs. Making fun of others way of life is extremely sophomoric.

               Religion is a huge point of debate in American society. It permeates our everyday lives as well as national politics. Talking about religion is inescapable to any concerned citizen. So it is detrimental to our whole country when instead of talking about the Federal Budget Deficit, the national media is taking pot shots at a candidates beliefs. As a country we need to rethink our interpretation of religion as it relates to politics.

               No matter what set of beliefs you have, humanity shares a common morality that is innate to our very being. Since everyone has these same morals, we all share in common values that promote the common good. World religions have a lot more in common than most let on. All religions try to answer the same questions that concern us as mortal human beings. Every person in the world is afraid of their own mortality. The nobility of religion comes from its ability to soothe these terrifying thoughts of darkness after death. The belief in an afterlife, in my estimation, allows us to lay down our fears and truly enjoy life.

               Religion to me is a belief that at the end of the day, we have to answer to somebody for our actions.  A “review” of one’s life, if you will.  It is a form a Supernatural Justice that rewards those who uphold wholesome values that benefit all mankind, and punishes those who would harm it.  It forces us to look in the mirror at the end of every day and question our own actions.

               Looking back at history, one can interpret religion any way they choose, as beneficial or harmful. This is especially true with the Roman Catholic Church. Many critics see an institution that is often corrupt and has promoted war and domestic terrorism. Unfortunately many of these are actual occurrences. But, so is the case for all organizations because they are ran by human beings who are corrupt, or depraved, if you will.

               However, I also see an institution with many Grand Achievements. The Church preserved Classical Literature throughout the long turmoil of the Dark Ages that still survives today. I see an organization that started the first hospitals which care for the ill and wounded when they could have easily been left to die. Or one of its most terrific achievements, the formation of the Western world’s first Universities, many of which still survive to this day.   

               The History of organized religion is a mixed bag, which cannot be argued. But to argue that religion has had no positive effects on humanity is shallow at best. Whether you perceive divinity in beauty of everyday life, or think that faith is a hoax, it’s hard to argue that religion is not a miracle of evolution.  A miracle that is alive and well even in today’s society that belittles believers and denies anything that cannot be measured or tested. 


Copyright 2012

The Nature Of Change

 The Nature Of Change

         Tonight, I drove home from my girlfriend's house for the last time in a while. Change is inevitable, there is a reason for the the cliche "the only real certainty is change." However, I believe that's not the entire story. I believe things change cyclically, as sure as autumn and winter is, around the corner spring and summer will always follow.
         In a few days, I will leave my little bubble in Fairfield and Hamilton and move on to bigger things. Leaving behind the sense of security that comes from going to a Catholic School of 450 kids and knowing everybody, all my friends at school and work that I've seen every day. One gets the feeling of putting your life on pause. Change is inevitable.
         If there is one place that I know has seen change, it's Hamilton, Ohio. On my way home I decided to drive through downtown as my way of saying goodbye to my High School stomping grounds. Something about driving across that bridge and seeing the Veterans Memorial and the old courthouse just gives me the sense of being home. Looking through the dilapidated buildings and run down houses, I see the history and the grandeur of these old structures. The face of a city that's fallen on hard times. Hamilton has seen change.
        But just as spring inevitably comes after winter, no matter how long and cold, I believe Hamilton has bright days ahead of it. Because it has one thing. Charm. A type of charm that subdivisions and Costco's can never match.
        During my time in college, I plan on having a blast and trying new things (not drugs mom) and meeting new people. I'm going to get my degree and start a career and put my roots down. Unlike most people, I don't want that place to be some metropolis like Boston, Charlotte, or Atlanta. I don't want to raise a family in Dallas. I want to come back and change for the better where I've always felt home, back to my own little bubble.

Copyright 2012

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Money and Values

Money

And How It Defines Our Values

           Last night I took my girlfriend out to eat to an expensive Italian place downtown. It was our last chance for a real date before we both move in for college so it was a nice evening. Everything was perfect about the meal, but in the back of the head of an 18 year old making minimum wage is always the bill at the end. In my quest to justify spending that much money on a single evening, I thought about why I'm spending this money. In turn, I thought about how money is really just a reflection of what we as individuals value.

          Besides people, I value food, video games, and the Reds, in that order (this explains my belly). If one were to look at my budget they would see that this is true. We value college degrees, so much so that we straddle ourselves with many thousands of dollars before we hold a true full time job. When I get older and I start paying my own bills I'll learn the hard way how much I value a house and utilities. 

          This same principle can be applied to the National Budget. If you break it down, we spend nearly $4 Trillion a year. $700 Billion of which is spent on Defense. Well over $1,000,000,000,000 is spent on Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid. About $100 Billion is spent on education. Barring talk about education being a State concern, looking at this budget, does this look like our nation is looking well into the future?

          Let's pretend for moment that the Government actually had a limit on how much they could spend kind of like how the real world works. What does this say we value? It says we value being the self designated "world police" and creating a welfare state. So we end up with two roles, one that pleases the far left and far left. 

          Before you vote in November, think about whether either candidate stands up for what you value. I find it hard to choose either way. We've got to go on a "quest" to justify spending so much on welfare. Or wonder why we have to spend $700 Billion during a time with no immediate threat. Eventually all this excess will be rung up. Just like at dinner, there will be a bill at the end.

Copyright 2012

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Gun Control

Guns

The Timeless American Debate

          The movie was captivating, a play on our Post 9/11 fears on an epic scale. Afterwards, I dropped my girlfriend off to her house and drove home in the eeriness that permeates the air at 3:30 in the morning. I made it to my bed safely without second thought.

          Waking up the next day, I was so excited to tell everyone at work how awesome The Dark Knight Rises was. Before I could leave I was eating cereal and my mom asked if I had heard what happened the night before. I grabbed the remote and turned on the news and learned about the Aurora shooting. The eeriness of the night before made a rare reprisal at 8:15 in the morning. For a while, I had the "that could have been me" mentality that took a couple days to shake.

          This terrible happening once again brought guns to the forefront of political debate. Many people were fuming over the fact that you can by a drum magazine. Still, others said if only someone with a Conceal-Carry Licence could have been there and taken out the shooter. Both sides are valid but both views have glitches. If you outlaw drum magazines and assault weapons, criminals will buy them on the black market and law abiding citizens will be left with Red Rider pellet guns. On the other hand, those saying they could have stopped him are grossly overestimating their nerve. If you think your going to take out a madman blazing the theater with an assault rifle and gas spraying, all the while your girlfriend is screaming over the dead and wounded, your head needs to be checked or you need to register for SEAL's training.

          The thought of a madman being able to strike a public place at any time is scary, I would argue that the thought of not being able to defend yourselves is even scarier. We don't tell schoolchildren to change their beliefs because of a bully so why would we do so as a nation. Benjamin Franklin once said, "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 


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Copyright 2012

Paul Ryan

And My First Post About Politics

         After taking and passing the AP Government Exam this past year, I will try to share what I learned this past year. On my first day, my teacher told all of us that we can throw what we think we know about politics out the window for this class because its probably wrong. Politics is just a game for show he said. Throughout the year I found this to be more and more true. In reality, most major political parties' differences are negligible at best. To think one party has all the answers is foolish. With this mindset I will begin with the Paul Ryan portion of this post.

         First off, hats off to Mitt Romney for making his first, and I hope not last, ballsy move of this Presidential Race. Picking Paul Ryan, in my estimation makes this a legitimate race. Ryan represents a differentiation for Romney from Obama which I believe was crucial for him to win. Before the VP pick, many hardcore Republicans were skeptical that Romney was conservative enough to effect the change they believe is necessary, the Paul Ryan tap changed all that. 

         From an emotionless, calculating, and cold hard numbers perspective, Ryan seems to be just what the doctor ordered. Medicare and Medicaid are unsustainable as is and should be reformed and he is willing to do it. Both Parties since the Clinton Administration have made Government seemingly searching for every possible way to make itself as unsustainable as possible. With the Bush Administration, the fiscally conservative republicans pulled off a tax break for the wealthiest Americans and started two decade long wars. Obama has ballooned it even more on stimulus spending. At least the Democrats aren't hypocrites about it.

         Not to get caught up in the old cliche of change, Paul Ryan seems like he truly wants conservative change. Whether or not its good or bad is up to you as a reader. One thing seems sure to me, however, Paul Ryan has brought swagger back to the GOP.

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Copyright 2012

Work

It's Importance to The Young and Old

         Work is a vital component to human happiness. Very much the same as eating, drinking, and shelter. It is unique to the human experience. Work, in its most fundamental form, represents a purpose. Purpose is a key to happiness. Society has built huge temples, cathedrals, and museums to try and discover humanities purpose. These are all fair and respectable ways to find purpose, but I offer up a certain way. Work is the fulfillment of goal through labor.

         Labor can bring a unique euphoria to the laborer, especially a job well done. For example, growing up, mowing the lawn was one of main chores. Initially, I thought it was a huge pain, but one day that all changed. I set a goal to make our lawn the most well kept, pristine lawn on the block. I worked like a dog for hours mowing, weed eating, trimming, blowing, sweeping, all these things I would never have considered before. Afterwards, I walked out to the the freshly trimmed curb and turned to look at the final product. The sense of pride I felt then I had never experienced before.

        Believe it or not, but as a young man, I can not just sit around and be lazy doing nothing. Even if it was an option its much too boring. I don't have too much life experience but what I do know is that urge to do something lasts an entire lifetime. Retirement is great and all but unless some health issue is stopping, why would you want to sit around all day and do nothing? My parents would never believe it but that would drive me nuts!

        What's the purpose of this post? It's to say that all age groups young and old seek a purpose in their life. Not a divine or scientific purpose, like why are we here, but rather when we look back on our life at the very end, can we say that we made a difference. Did I make my mark in the little time I was allotted? Work is the eyepiece in which purpose is found. So go out and take on the cliche frontier attitude that your going to take what you have and make it better, if not for your neighbors, for yourself.

Copyright 2012

Today's Music

Today's Music

The Difference Between New & Old

        When I talk to kid's around my age, one main conversation piece is music. I'll go on to ask them what their favorite genre is or who their favorite artist. More often than not I'll get Pop and Rap. My usual response to them is why, why do you like this music? This tends to catch people off guard, it's not something people spend their time thinking about.

            Music today lacks something that older music possessed. Something timeless about the tunes etched them into the memory of the old and preserved them for the ears of the young. This piece that modern music is missing is not creativity or talent, it is emotion. Not cheap Los Angeles emotion where all people think about is alcohol, narcotics, and shallow sex, I'm talking about songs that bring tears to your eyes. There is a reason the Classic song American Pie is such a classic. Not only is it a catchy song but it is about an historical event, something many of us still remember. It stirs emotion in you that modern music just can not touch.

           Personally, my favorite type of music is Country. And I don't mean low budget modern Nashville country where the main focus of the song is beer, bonfires, and Chevrolet Trucks. I'm a big believer that country music 99% of the time must be sad. Country music as it's intended to be is to express the personal problems of the everyday blue collar American. Think of the Granddaddy of modern country, Mr. Hank Williams. Hank sung about heartache and personal pain. Let's move on to Johnny Cash, he is the same way, he sings about his struggles balancing his life.

           What does this all have in common? American Music, much like the nation as a whole has lost its soul. It's lost it to the 21st century where we don't appreciate talent but rather glamorize sex and other vice. To close, think about this, if John Denver were to have started his music career in today's extremely shallow, appearance based music industry, would he have made it? 

First Post

Ben's Thoughts

This Blog's Purpose

              Being born near the turn of the millenia, I have grown up during a paradigm shift in our society. We have gone from thinking that Super Mario is awesome to being largely unimpressed with a full scale rendering of Manhattan in World War 3 setting (COD3). We've gained access to the world's knowledge through increased access to the internet, yet people are getting more ignorant. Problems that require unity to solve only cause paralyzing polarization that does nothing. People care more about the outcome of MNF or Dancing with the Stars than they do about the welfare of their neighbors struggling across the street. These are interesting times that we live in and in this blog I want to relay them through the eyes of an 18 year old just entering college. I wish to show that not all young people are uninformed and inform those who are.