(In response to listening to the song "Abolition of Man" by Thrice)
I liked the lyrics and thought they were intellectually stimulating. The more I listen to the song the more I like it. It gives me an upbeat sensation and a desire to get up and do something. I like the pace of the song, however I feel that the music is sometimes to fast for the lyrics. The words do not move as fast as the music and it makes it a little harder to listen to the lyrics.
I enjoyed this song.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Priestesses in the Church?
(In response to "Priestesses in the Church?" by C.S. Lewis")
For some reason this topic always seems to be a touchy subject with everyone dancing around what they really want to say. In the end nothing really gets said. We talked about the difference between priests and pastors within the church and that because we don't believe that pastors are God's inspired representatives/ direct image bearers that the argument looses its hold. We stated that in the Christian Reformed Church Lewis's argument loses it's weight and falls short. Lewis never makes claim that women are not capable of becoming priestesses. He does say that because priests are image bearers of God that men must fulfill this role. "But it is an old saying in the army that you salute the uniform not the wearer. Only one wearing the masculine uniform can represent the Lord to the Church: for we are all, corporately and individually, feminine to Him."
In class we discussed why we believe women should be able to preach because we are all made in God's image and that women are not less gifted then men, and should be able to express their spiritual gift accordingly. Lewis doesn't dispute this. "No one among those who dislike the proposal is maintaining that women are less capable than men of piety, zeal, learning and whatever else seems necessary for the pastoral office." He says that women can be prophets. I think when we argued this in class we argued whether women could be preachers based on their abilities. Preachers... Everyone can be a preacher, much like Lewis says everyone can be a prophet or prophetess. The question Lewis posed was do you think women should be Reverends. Should women be at the head of the church? Should women be the leader and shepherd of a flock? I'm not sure if we answered this in class.
Lewis poses the question this way: "To us a priest is primarily a representative, a double representative, who represents us to God and God to us... We have no objection to a woman doing the first: the whole difficulty is about the second."
Lewis then goes on to talk about being sexually neuter. "But in our Christian life we must return to reality. There we are not homogeneous units, but different and complementary organs of a mystical body." This is how Lewis describes the difference between men and women. And some may say that it is a cop out. Maybe women should be leaders of the church. But, maybe there are some things we simply cannot explain. Maybe women should not be leaders of the church.
Personally, on the surface I cannot think of any reasons of why a women should not be a leader of the church. However, strong conditioning against it leads me into some sort of apprehension. I'm not sure whether I would want to answer definitively either way. The truth is simply to wonderful for me to know.
For some reason this topic always seems to be a touchy subject with everyone dancing around what they really want to say. In the end nothing really gets said. We talked about the difference between priests and pastors within the church and that because we don't believe that pastors are God's inspired representatives/ direct image bearers that the argument looses its hold. We stated that in the Christian Reformed Church Lewis's argument loses it's weight and falls short. Lewis never makes claim that women are not capable of becoming priestesses. He does say that because priests are image bearers of God that men must fulfill this role. "But it is an old saying in the army that you salute the uniform not the wearer. Only one wearing the masculine uniform can represent the Lord to the Church: for we are all, corporately and individually, feminine to Him."
In class we discussed why we believe women should be able to preach because we are all made in God's image and that women are not less gifted then men, and should be able to express their spiritual gift accordingly. Lewis doesn't dispute this. "No one among those who dislike the proposal is maintaining that women are less capable than men of piety, zeal, learning and whatever else seems necessary for the pastoral office." He says that women can be prophets. I think when we argued this in class we argued whether women could be preachers based on their abilities. Preachers... Everyone can be a preacher, much like Lewis says everyone can be a prophet or prophetess. The question Lewis posed was do you think women should be Reverends. Should women be at the head of the church? Should women be the leader and shepherd of a flock? I'm not sure if we answered this in class.
Lewis poses the question this way: "To us a priest is primarily a representative, a double representative, who represents us to God and God to us... We have no objection to a woman doing the first: the whole difficulty is about the second."
Lewis then goes on to talk about being sexually neuter. "But in our Christian life we must return to reality. There we are not homogeneous units, but different and complementary organs of a mystical body." This is how Lewis describes the difference between men and women. And some may say that it is a cop out. Maybe women should be leaders of the church. But, maybe there are some things we simply cannot explain. Maybe women should not be leaders of the church.
Personally, on the surface I cannot think of any reasons of why a women should not be a leader of the church. However, strong conditioning against it leads me into some sort of apprehension. I'm not sure whether I would want to answer definitively either way. The truth is simply to wonderful for me to know.
The Necessity of Chivalry
(In response to "The Necessity of Chivalry by C.S. Lewis)
In order to discuss the necessity of chivalry it is important to know how we are using the term in this discussion. C.S. Lewis admits that "the word chivalry has meant at different times a good many different things--from heavy cavalry to giving a woman a seat in a train." This means that chivalry is a broad term. Lewis describes a chivalrous man as one who "is a man of blood and iron" yet "almost maidenlike... a gentle, modest, unobtrusive man." I see his point, that a person who is a fighting man can still be humble and meek and show respect to a lady. I do not however, see a contradiction to chivalry in the sense that a Man is not be a fighting man. I find it perfectly plausible for a man to be considered chivalrous if he is not a knight who is involved in war.
Lewis states, "Let us be quite clear that the ideal is a paradox. Most of us, having grown up among the ruins of the chivalrous tradition, were taught in our youth that a bully is always a coward. Our first week at school refuted this lie, along with its corollary that a truly brave man is always gentle." I think what Lewis is saying is that we see that someone who is chivalrous cannot exist, because of who he is and who people say he is he cannot be kind. However, Lewis says that regardless of what other people tell us, personal experience has lied to us, and it is lying to us again. That what seems impossible is actually possible.
"The man who combines both characters--the knight--is a work not of nature but of art". This is a beautiful description of chivalry. I don't think that chivalry is dead. But I do believe that it has taken a back seat to new age independence. People feel that accepting help is a sign of weakness. Others feel that giving help is not their place. As a result chivalry and manners have given way to a new wave of independence among people. Something that cannot be good.
I believe people are way to defensive about image, women are too concerned with looking weak in comparison to a man, and men are too concerned with looking emotional. In the end, we should just be ourselves and let chivalry shine.
In order to discuss the necessity of chivalry it is important to know how we are using the term in this discussion. C.S. Lewis admits that "the word chivalry has meant at different times a good many different things--from heavy cavalry to giving a woman a seat in a train." This means that chivalry is a broad term. Lewis describes a chivalrous man as one who "is a man of blood and iron" yet "almost maidenlike... a gentle, modest, unobtrusive man." I see his point, that a person who is a fighting man can still be humble and meek and show respect to a lady. I do not however, see a contradiction to chivalry in the sense that a Man is not be a fighting man. I find it perfectly plausible for a man to be considered chivalrous if he is not a knight who is involved in war.
Lewis states, "Let us be quite clear that the ideal is a paradox. Most of us, having grown up among the ruins of the chivalrous tradition, were taught in our youth that a bully is always a coward. Our first week at school refuted this lie, along with its corollary that a truly brave man is always gentle." I think what Lewis is saying is that we see that someone who is chivalrous cannot exist, because of who he is and who people say he is he cannot be kind. However, Lewis says that regardless of what other people tell us, personal experience has lied to us, and it is lying to us again. That what seems impossible is actually possible.
"The man who combines both characters--the knight--is a work not of nature but of art". This is a beautiful description of chivalry. I don't think that chivalry is dead. But I do believe that it has taken a back seat to new age independence. People feel that accepting help is a sign of weakness. Others feel that giving help is not their place. As a result chivalry and manners have given way to a new wave of independence among people. Something that cannot be good.
I believe people are way to defensive about image, women are too concerned with looking weak in comparison to a man, and men are too concerned with looking emotional. In the end, we should just be ourselves and let chivalry shine.
As the Ruin Falls
(In response to "As the Ruin Falls" by C.S. Lewis)
Lewis writes a poem while his wife is dying of cancer.
"I never had a selfless thought since I was born/ I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through:" Even though we would all like to believe that we are better than this, that we are in some way humble and thoughtful of others, we are not. Because of sin our relationships with each other are tainted. We cannot be in a relationship without thinking of ourselves. This is a direct result of the fall.
"I talk of love--a scholar's parrot may talk Greek" I think this is a powerful statement. We all talk of love and a relationship as we understand it. However, we don't have a full understanding of a perfect and loving relationship. Only God has a perfect relationship with himself in his Triune self. God had a perfect relationship to man before the fall; however, the fall made it impossible for this to continue. Because we only know what a flawed sense of love is, how great will it be when we are redeemed through Christ and are reconciled to a perfect relationship with God.
It is important to remain in our faith through terrible hardships. God will use our experiences to build a deeper understanding and relationship with him.
Lewis writes a poem while his wife is dying of cancer.
"I never had a selfless thought since I was born/ I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through:" Even though we would all like to believe that we are better than this, that we are in some way humble and thoughtful of others, we are not. Because of sin our relationships with each other are tainted. We cannot be in a relationship without thinking of ourselves. This is a direct result of the fall.
"I talk of love--a scholar's parrot may talk Greek" I think this is a powerful statement. We all talk of love and a relationship as we understand it. However, we don't have a full understanding of a perfect and loving relationship. Only God has a perfect relationship with himself in his Triune self. God had a perfect relationship to man before the fall; however, the fall made it impossible for this to continue. Because we only know what a flawed sense of love is, how great will it be when we are redeemed through Christ and are reconciled to a perfect relationship with God.
It is important to remain in our faith through terrible hardships. God will use our experiences to build a deeper understanding and relationship with him.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Meditation in a Toolshed
(In response to Meditation in a Toolshed by C.S. Lewis)
This paper got me thinking a little bit about perspective. I think it was a piece to move us to think more clearly about the way we think about things. I don't believe he is arguing for us to think within the light, or to think outside the light. I think he just wants us to recognize that there are different ways to see a situation and that we should try and consider these ways when we make inferences about them.
"You can step outside one experience only by stepping inside another." I think seeing something in its true light requires us to not only see it from inside (or through the light) but from the outside (looking at the light).
As was said in class. I don't believe that there is a time where you could not think rationally about a subject at hand, however, if you only look at something rationally you miss an emotional or spiritual part that is indescribable about said thing. Such as God, he is not necessarily rational, or logically proved, yet we believe in him. If we were to only look at him rationally or logically we would miss the very relationship that brings us to love Christ and allow us eternal life through him.
This paper got me thinking a little bit about perspective. I think it was a piece to move us to think more clearly about the way we think about things. I don't believe he is arguing for us to think within the light, or to think outside the light. I think he just wants us to recognize that there are different ways to see a situation and that we should try and consider these ways when we make inferences about them.
"You can step outside one experience only by stepping inside another." I think seeing something in its true light requires us to not only see it from inside (or through the light) but from the outside (looking at the light).
As was said in class. I don't believe that there is a time where you could not think rationally about a subject at hand, however, if you only look at something rationally you miss an emotional or spiritual part that is indescribable about said thing. Such as God, he is not necessarily rational, or logically proved, yet we believe in him. If we were to only look at him rationally or logically we would miss the very relationship that brings us to love Christ and allow us eternal life through him.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Guest Speaker
I deeply enjoyed the talk with our guest speaker. I enjoyed the correlation between Bible verses and direct applications to our life. The analogies were helpful and applicable. I wished we could have had more time with him. I enjoyed the sticker that he showed us with the man on his knees. I believe that this is the only way we can truly come to God, in prayer.
What more can be said that hasn't already been said?
What more can be said that hasn't already been said?
The Inner Ring
(In response to The Inner Ring except by C.S. Lewis)
The quest for the inner ring appears to be a meaningless runaround that is descriptive of all our lives. We are constantly caught up with proving ourselves, or having some sort of approval. We all seek glory, or a place to fit in, a place that makes us feel superior to others, a sense of accomplishment.
I believe that every person who lives has at one point questioned the meaning of their existence. They seek to find some meaning in life. Regardless of their religious beliefs we are all on a journey to find meaning. I believe that God has placed this void among us. We as humans find ourselves searching for something on this world to fill that void. However, there cannot be anything that fills the void, there cannot be anything to make us feel completely accepted, nothing to give us perfect joy, and nothing to completely suffice our hunger for happiness. We search the ins and the outs of the world, looking in every dark dank corner, and every lighted room. Still we find nothing. This is what allows us to know that we are not made for this world. If we were made for this world, for this finite existence, then we would be able to find something that satisfies these appetites. We search among our things and friends to find meaning, to find a sense of worth that can never be found. C. S. Lewis talks of this endless pursuit to an inner ring. Once a ring has been entered it loses its appeal, we seek yet another ring, an endless pursuit for emptiness.
"In the whole of your life as you now remember it, has the desire to be on the right side of that invisible line ever prompted you to any act or word on which, in the cold small hours of a wakeful night, you can look back with satisfaction?" C. S. Lewis poses this question rhetorically because he knows that non of us can answer in the affirmative.
"Until you conquer the fear of being an outsider, an outsider you will remain." It is this that drives our search for fulfillment. We desperately want to be included; however, our desperate desire will lead us nowhere, and it is not until we give up this desire that we can in fact be included in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is not until we give up the notion of ourselves that we enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
C.S. Lewis goes on to speak of the difference between "the search for the inner ring" and friendship. "But the difference is that the secrecy is accidental, and its exclusiveness a by-product, and no one was led thither by the lure of the esoteric: for it is only four or five people who like one another meeting to do things that they like. This is friendship."
The quest for the inner ring appears to be a meaningless runaround that is descriptive of all our lives. We are constantly caught up with proving ourselves, or having some sort of approval. We all seek glory, or a place to fit in, a place that makes us feel superior to others, a sense of accomplishment.
I believe that every person who lives has at one point questioned the meaning of their existence. They seek to find some meaning in life. Regardless of their religious beliefs we are all on a journey to find meaning. I believe that God has placed this void among us. We as humans find ourselves searching for something on this world to fill that void. However, there cannot be anything that fills the void, there cannot be anything to make us feel completely accepted, nothing to give us perfect joy, and nothing to completely suffice our hunger for happiness. We search the ins and the outs of the world, looking in every dark dank corner, and every lighted room. Still we find nothing. This is what allows us to know that we are not made for this world. If we were made for this world, for this finite existence, then we would be able to find something that satisfies these appetites. We search among our things and friends to find meaning, to find a sense of worth that can never be found. C. S. Lewis talks of this endless pursuit to an inner ring. Once a ring has been entered it loses its appeal, we seek yet another ring, an endless pursuit for emptiness.
"In the whole of your life as you now remember it, has the desire to be on the right side of that invisible line ever prompted you to any act or word on which, in the cold small hours of a wakeful night, you can look back with satisfaction?" C. S. Lewis poses this question rhetorically because he knows that non of us can answer in the affirmative.
"Until you conquer the fear of being an outsider, an outsider you will remain." It is this that drives our search for fulfillment. We desperately want to be included; however, our desperate desire will lead us nowhere, and it is not until we give up this desire that we can in fact be included in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is not until we give up the notion of ourselves that we enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
C.S. Lewis goes on to speak of the difference between "the search for the inner ring" and friendship. "But the difference is that the secrecy is accidental, and its exclusiveness a by-product, and no one was led thither by the lure of the esoteric: for it is only four or five people who like one another meeting to do things that they like. This is friendship."
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