Up@dawn 2.0

Friday, January 31, 2020

Quizzes Feb 4, 6

T 4 - FL 5-6 (Scroll down to *Th 6)
LISTEN

Add your own quiz and discussion questions, comments, links etc. - you can claim a base for each.

1.What did Anne Hutchinson tell her congregants the Lord had decided?

2. What did Hutchinson say God had told her directly?

3. What made Anne Hutchinson "so American"?

4. Why is Hutchinson the Puritan with whom Americans today can most readily connect? 

5. Who was Roger Williams?

6. How was freedom of thought in early America different from that of Europe in the 17th century?

7. According to some Puritans, who were "Satan's soldiers" in America?

8. As the Age of Reason was unfolding in Europe, what was Cotton Mather preaching in America?

9. What "evidence" was the primary basis for judgments in the Salem witch trials?

10. Did most people in New England believe in witches, during the infamous Salem witch trials?

11. What's Protestantism's enduring influence?

Add your quiz questions in the comments section below (each earns you a base).


Discussion Questions:

  • Is predestined salvation fair, just, or believable?
  • What would you say to someone who claimed actually to converse with God, i.e., to hear and respond to a voice in their head they're convinced is the supernatural creator and master of the universe?
  • Does freedom of religion also mean freedom from religion, for those who are not religious?
  • How can Christians in America reconcile the way their ancestors treated the native Americans?
  • What do you think of modern-day Wiccans? Do you think they have any magical powers, or do you think they think so? **
  • John Dewey philosophized about "natural piety," recognizing our shared inter-dependence on one another and on nature at large. How does a "naturally pious" person express that piety, in terms of lifestyle choices and policy preferences etc.?
  • What traits of personal character, if any, do you think mirror the American character? Or is there even such a thing as a national character? Is it safe to generalize about what makes anyone "so American"?
  • Should someone apologize on the nation's behalf to native Americans for the shameful way in which European settlers robbed them of their land, infected them with fatal disease, villified them as Satanic, etc. etc.? Should we be talking about reparations for indigenous peoples everywhere?
  • Have there been other sorts of "witch trials" in American history than just those in Salem?
  • Is it possible, as a Protestant, to renounce all supernaturalism?
  • [The following questions are drawn from The Joys of Walking] Have you ever been on a "walking tour" of the sort Leslie Stephen praises?
  • What do you think Stephen means when he calls walking "the natural recreation for the [person] who wants to turn [his intellect] out to play"? 20
  • If walking saved JS Mill from becoming "a mere smoke-dried pedant," does that imply that all or most sedentary scholars are pedantic?  24
  • COMMENT: "I respect the cyclist, but he is enslaved by his machine." 31
  • COMMENT: "None of us can always be thinking over the riddle of the universe..." 37
  • Add your DQs

And what do you think of this? -
The water in your body is just visiting. It was a thunderstorm a week ago. It will be the ocean soon enough. Most of your cells come and go like morning dew. We are more weather pattern than stone monument. Sunlight on mist. Summer lightning. Your choices outweigh your substance.



** Wicca is a modern-day, nature-based pagan religion. Though rituals and practices vary among people who identify as Wiccan, most observations include the festival celebrations of solstices and equinoxes, the honoring of a male god and a female goddess, and the incorporation of herbalism and other natural objects into rituals. Wiccans practice their religion according to an ethical code, and many believe in reincarnation... History.com
==
...I had read about the witchcraft trials in college, but it was not until I read a book published in 1867—a two-volume, thousand-page study by Charles W. Upham, who was then the mayor of Salem—that I knew I had to write about the period. Upham had not only written a broad and thorough investigation of what was even then an almost lost chapter of Salem’s past but opened up to me the details of personal relationships among many participants in the tragedy.

I visited Salem for the first time on a dismal spring day in 1952; it was a sidetracked town then, with abandoned factories and vacant stores. In the gloomy courthouse there I read the transcripts of the witchcraft trials of 1692, as taken down in a primitive shorthand by ministers who were spelling each other. But there was one entry in Upham in which the thousands of pieces I had come across were jogged into place. It was from a report written by the Reverend Samuel Parris, who was one of the chief instigators of the witch-hunt. “During the examination of Elizabeth Procter, Abigail Williams and Ann Putnam”—the two were “afflicted” teen-age accusers, and Abigail was Parris’s niece—“both made offer to strike at said Procter; but when Abigail’s hand came near, it opened, whereas it was made up into a fist before, and came down exceeding lightly as it drew near to said Procter, and at length, with open and extended fingers, touched Procter’s hood very lightly. Immediately Abigail cried out her fingers, her fingers, her fingers burned. . . .”


In this remarkably observed gesture of a troubled young girl, I believed, a play became possible. Elizabeth Proctor had been the orphaned Abigail’s mistress, and they had lived together in the same small house until Elizabeth fired the girl. By this time, I was sure, John Proctor had bedded Abigail, who had to be dismissed most likely to appease Elizabeth. There was bad blood between the two women now. That Abigail started, in effect, to condemn Elizabeth to death with her touch, then stopped her hand, then went through with it, was quite suddenly the human center of all this turmoil... NYer


*Th 6 - FL 7-8
LISTEN

1. The American Founders were what kinds of philosophers?

2. Who was known as The Last Puritan, and of what movement was he at the center?

3. What did the Holy Spirit produce in "respectable people," during the Great Awakening?

4. Who said dreams could be messages from God?

5. What "intense supernatural feeling" did George Whitefield implant [not "invent"] in American Christianity?

6. Early American Methodists put great stock in what?

7. What did Thomas Jefferson instruct his teenage nephew to do?

8. Why, according to Alexander Hamilton, did the framers omit God from the Constitution?

9. What, according to Kant, is the motto of enlightenment?

10. Enlightenment thinkers were sure that what would win in the "marketplace of ideas?"

11. What kind of questions "burden" human thought, but cannot finally be answered?

Add your quiz questions, in the comments section below.


Discussion Questions
  • The Founders were Enlightenment rationalists and pragmatists devoted to secular government and a "wall of separation" between church and state, but the myth persists among many Americans that they intended to establish "a Christian nation," a theocracy not unlike those in the Islamic world. Why do you think that is?
  • Why do you think Americans have been so obsessed with Hell? 
  • What do you think accounts for "the Affections" of some fundamentalist church services ("moaning, weeping, screaming, jerking, fainting" etc.)?
  • Was Jefferson's advice to his nephew good?
  • What do you think of Kant's motto?
  • Will reason eventually win out in the "marketplace of ideas"?
  • Do you have any significant philosophical differences with your parents? Do you discuss them? Do you want to?
  • Does "nirvana" (Enlightenment, personal liberation) have to be the same for everyone? What would be your personal definition/experience of nirvana?  
  • Matthieu Ricard has been called the happiest man in the world. Do you think eastern philosophies focused on the alleviation of suffering are a more promising route to happiness than its "pursuit" in the western/Jeffersonian tradition of individualism and personal liberty?
  • Is "Holy Spirit" something real and supernatural, or is it the name of a natural form of experience best studied and explicated by neuroscientists, and analyzed by philosophers?
  • Have you been "born again," or encouraged by faith leaders or peers to seek spiritual rebirth? Is that something real, metaphorical, or delusional?
  • Why did the founders omit reference to God in the Constitution, do you think?
  • Do you think it takes courage to think for yourself and invoke reason against superstition, tradition, etc.?
  • Max Beerbohm (in Joys of Walking) notes the "drawbacks" of London's environment that keep him from having to walk. What drawbacks exist in your environment and how do or might you overcome them?
  • What usefulness, besides exercise, do you think walking has?
  • Add your DQs...
What Is Enlightenment? 
by Immanuel Kant

Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed nonage [immaturity]. Nonage is the inability to use one's own understanding without another's guidance. This nonage is self-imposed if its cause lies not in lack of understanding but in indecision and lack of courage to use one's own mind without another's guidance. Dare to know! (Sapere aude.) "Have the courage to use your own understanding," is therefore the motto of the enlightenment.

Laziness and cowardice are the reasons why such a large part of mankind gladly remain minors all their lives, long after nature has freed them from external guidance. They are the reasons why it is so easy for others to set themselves up as guardians. It is so comfortable to be a minor. If I have a book that thinks for me, a pastor who acts as my conscience, a physician who prescribes my diet, and so on--then I have no need to exert myself. I have no need to think, if only I can pay; others will take care of that disagreeable business for me. Those guardians who have kindly taken supervision upon themselves see to it that the overwhelming majority of mankind--among them the entire fair sex--should consider the step to maturity, not only as hard, but as extremely dangerous. First, these guardians make their domestic cattle stupid and carefully prevent the docile creatures from taking a single step without the leading-strings to which they have fastened them. Then they show them the danger that would threaten them if they should try to walk by themselves. Now this danger is really not very great; after stumbling a few times they would, at last, learn to walk. However, examples of such failures intimidate and generally discourage all further attempts... (continues)
==

22929604 Our culture is obsessed with youth-and why not? What's the appeal of growing old, of gaining responsibilities and giving up on dreams, of steadily trading possibility for experience?

The philosopher Susan Neiman argues that the absence of appealing models of maturity is not an accident: by describing life as a downhill process, we prepare young people to expect - and demand - very little from it. In Why Grow Up? she challenges our culture of permanent adolescence, turning to thinkers including Kant, Rousseau, and Arendt to find a model of maturity that is not a matter of resignation. In growing up, we move from the boundless trust of childhood to the peculiar mixture of disappointment and exhilaration that comes with adolescence. Maturity, however, means finding the courage to live in a world of painful uncertainty without giving in to dogma or despair. A grown-up, Neiman writes, helps to move the world closer to what it should be while never losing sight of what it is.

Why Grow Up? is a witty and concise argument for the value of maturity as a subversive ideal: a goal rarely achieved entirely, and all the more worth striving for.

“Growing up means realizing that no time of one's life is the best one, and resolving to savor every second of joy within reach. You know each will pass, and you no longer experience that as betrayal.” 

“Freedom cannot simply mean doing whatever strikes you at the moment: that way you're a slave to any whim or passing fancy. Real freedom involves control over your life as a whole, learning to make plans and promises and decisions, to take responsibility for your actions' consequences.” 

“A defence of the Enlightenment is a defence of the modern world, along with all its possibilities for self-criticism and transformation. If you’re committed to Enlightenment, you’re committed to understanding the world in order to improve it.” 

“Reason drives your search to make sense of the world by pushing you to ask why things are as they are. For theoretical reason, the outcome of that search becomes science; for practical reason, the outcome is a more just world.” 

“When consuming goods rather than satisfying work becomes the focus of our culture, we have created (or acquieced in) a society of permanent adolescents.” 
― Susan Neiman, Why Grow Up?: Subversive Thoughts for an Infantile Age



Susan Neiman at the Southern Festival of Books, Nashville - October 2019 - "Learning from the Germans"
==
Jefferson was a self-avowed Epicurean and materialist. "Spiritualism" for him is a term of abuse applied mostly to the Platonic tradition.  "Of Jesus he says, 'I am a Materialist; he takes the side of spiritualism.' [But] perhaps Jesus could be interpreted as an Epicurean after all."

In that spirit, perhaps we should all read our (Jefferson) Bible.


108 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:21 PM CST

    Erin Rone Section 05
    Have you been "born again," or encouraged by faith leaders or peers to seek spiritual rebirth? Is that something real, metaphorical, or delusional?

    I grew up in a Southern Baptist church. I still consider myself a "christian" but I've distanced myself from the church and the idea on American christianity in general. Because of this, I have experienced the idea of being "born again" a lot. A lot of Christians are obsessed with this idea, and it's like the one defining moment in a persons life. In my experience though, being "born again" is a pretty fleeting experience. To me, it's something that happens over and over, but in little ways. Like over a lifetime, someone with come closer and farther from god. These "born again" moments are those times when you feel connected and are like a moment of clarity or "a-ha!" moment about the universe. But the feeling will fade for a while until you have the next "a-ha" moment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Erin,

      I'm sorry to hear about your experience with a church and having to distance yourself from it. Unfortunately it happens a lot, there are so many things that are not being taught in the churches, or the can give misleading messages. I pray you hold on to Jesus, read His word and He will reveal to you His truth. It's all in the heart bro. God bless!

      Delete
    2. I also grew up "southern Baptist". I absolutely believe in God and his word, but I never found myself constantly in a church. I never found one that felt comfortable enough to stick with. I found some that I really enjoyed, but never one that compelled me well enough to go back every service. I felt as though I could serve my God well enough on my own that I didn't need to be in church to "truly" serve Him. Even just a couple of people can ruin the way a church represents itself, even though church is supposed to be the place you feel most welcome. Hope you don't have to feel that way again!

      Section #6

      Delete
  2. Have you been "born again," or encouraged by faith leaders or peers to seek spiritual rebirth? Is that something real, metaphorical, or delusional?

    I grew up Catholic, but didn't believe in certain things of that religion. I decided to follow Christ, but not through the religion standard. To be born again is baptism through water, declaring that you decided to follow Yeshua (Jesus) Christ. It is explained throughout the bible, but churches (at least the ones I've been in) don't really specify on how it really is done, or what it truly means.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What would you say to someone who claimed actually to converse with God, i.e., to hear and respond to a voice in their head they're convinced is the supernatural creator and master of the universe?

    This isn't the first I have heard this question, which is why I figured why not answer. In a situation like this, I would ask him/her to test everything. If it YHWH, the He will confirm it more than once. It also depends on the person hearing the voices, is he/she really following the Word of YHWH? Because if not, then that isn't God.

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    Replies
    1. Would you view it the same way if it were someone that professes another religion? Why or why not? #11

      Delete
  4. Section 5:
    "What would you say to someone who claimed actually to converse with God, i.e., to hear and respond to a voice in their head they're convinced is the supernatural creator and master of the universe?"

    I'm not a very religious person and I always have a hard time understanding people when they say God spoke to them. We all have that internal voice inside our heads and I think some people confuse that with God talking to them. I don't believe that it is so much as someone being crazy, but rather some sort of coping mechanism. It's really hard to say anything to anyone who believes God is speaking to them without them getting offended in some way. So it's best to keep our opinions to ourselves to avoid conflict.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:30 PM CST

      I agree with you, I am not religious but I am open to anyones ideas. I often find myself wondering if god talked to people because I feel that there is no hard evidence that he did. I think that is why i find this question interesting.

      Delete
    2. That does seem to be the case. I suppose if you want a god to speak to you bad enough then you could conjure a voice in your head and call it god. If this is the case then I think an important question to ask is why so many people seem to need that?

      Delete
  5. 5
    "What other usefulness, besides exercise, does walking have?"
    I mentioned this in a comment some time back, but I think walking is a great way to distract yourself, while it can also send you deep into though it can also allow to escape your head, need be, and focus on your next step, the sidewalk or people walking by you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are benefits beyond that of distraction... check this article out, https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2018/10/24/well/move/exercise-brain-memory-fitness-cognitive.amp.html

      Delete
  6. Alexis Mahon10:49 PM CST

    Quiz:
    1. Who was Roger Williams?
    2. According to some Puritans, who were Satan's soldiers in America?
    3. What "evidence" was the primary basis for judgments in the Salem With Trials?

    1. Roger Williams was a Puritan minister, theologian and author that founded Providence, Rhode Island.
    2. According to Puritans, Satan's soldiers were the alleged witches in Salem.
    3. During the Salem Witch Trials, the primary basis of evidence was the dreams of some citizens. They would go to court and share that they had a disturbing dream about a specific person or of a spell that was put on them, and the witch would be convicted.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Alexis Mahon11:04 PM CST

    Should someone apologize on the nation's behalf to native Americans for the shameful way in which European settlers robbed them of their land, infected them with fatal disease, villified them as Satanic, etc. etc.? Should we be talking about reparations for indigenous peoples everywhere?

    In my opinion, an apology from the nation is long overdue but it would be much appreciated. The foundation of this country lies on the backs of the indigenous American peoples and Africans. Europeans crossed an ocean to steal their land, steal their resources, infect them with disease, and have them pay for it. Then traveled across the same ocean to disrupt an entire civilization by robbing them of their culture, religion, language, unity, knowledge, and most importantly physical labor. America now sits as one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world. The country that is supposed to be the "land of the free and home of the brave" sits directly on top of the blood, sweat, and tears of the very people that were barred and restricted from such luxuries. So, with that being said, reparations is an understatement. Congress should just sign the country over to those who got on hands and knees and physically built it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, this country was physically robbed from the Native Americans. Native Americans deserve an apologize or at least some recognition that they were terribly mistreated.

      Delete
    2. Most definitely! Most of us have Native American ancestry as well, so to think that if we were in that time period, and to think about what they went through, I often find myself realizing that we could have went through that very same deal because it runs in our blood. An apology is definitely long overdue, but I also don't think an apology can fix what to this day is still going on.

      Delete
    3. An apology is long overdue yes, however along with that treating native american with more respect is needed. The government doesn't seem to acknowledge them much, and they seemed to be shoved under the rug as nothing happened. Along with an apology and respect, educating everyone in elementary school would help. We are told that specific people need to be celebrated (Christopher Columbus) however not told the truth behind it. Which overall, I believe is something wrong we are allowing to happen.

      Delete
    4. Reparations for past atrocities is definitely in order. Unfortunately, we can’t supplant ourselves and give back the land that was taken even though that is what would be right as far as I’m concerned. #11

      Delete
  8. Anonymous11:27 PM CST

    In response to the discussion question about religious freedom, I believe that we do have freedom of religion and freedom from religion. With freedom of religion comes freedom to practice what we believe in, even if that means that we believe in nothing at all. we have the freedom to practice or not to practice religion.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous11:33 PM CST

    I think that walking does more than provide exercise, I think that it provides blood flow to the brain which promotes better thinking. Blood flow to the brain is essential for good thinking and walking greatly helps with this.

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    Replies
    1. I agree. To me, just being outside in general is amazing. Getting that little bit of fresh air is a great feeling. Not only does it allow me to think, but it helps me to think through things. Walking is such a simple yet under-appreciated remedy.

      Delete
  10. Section 6
    Does freedom of religion also mean freedom from religion, for those who are not religious?

    Of course, I do believe that people should have the right to not believe in anything at all. One's own beliefs should not affected by other people's beliefs if you truly have faith. We should respect everyone's freedom to practice any religion and that includes not believing in anything.

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    Replies
    1. I share your sentiment for the most part, but where do we draw the line? How should it be handled when a religious group seeks the extermination of another by “divine providence”?

      Delete
    2. Where should we draw the line?? Everyone's "Line" can be drawn at a different place... thats when people come together and understand their religious views and draw that line, but from your example if a religious group exterminates another religious group then that would go against a lot of ethical values, there has been real world examples of this and it has been dealt with, but your fear is a bit out of reach.

      Delete
  11. My own discussion questions:

    1. Is religion a good justification for wars and tensions between people?
    2. If you are religious, does that mean you automatically believe in the supernatural?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1. In biblical times, kingdoms would go to war in the name of their gods. Back then that was one of the only reasons that some kingdoms fought. Now countries fight for power, land, resources, or other religious things. There are still people though that personally go to war and fight to protect the image of their god.
      2. No, everyone can be skeptical of their faith or of the world around them. There are many different religions that stemmed from other religions because they did not believe certain things that others did.

      Delete
    2. Joseph Cooper 11

      1. Is religion a good justification for wars and tensions between people?

      Is it a good justification? No, but it does do exactly that whether it is meant to or not. Religions ask a lot of their practitioners, time, money, thoughts, these are all consumed in the pursuit of a more spiritually fulfilling life. For some, their identity is deeply entwined with these views, so a dissenting opinion can put them on the defensive. Escalation of this instances can lead to atrocities from any group with enough fervor. Should religion itself be blamed? No, not entirely, but to say is isn't a factor would not be correct either.

      Delete
    3. The narratives that are adopted with some religious doctrines seem to encourage the destruction of those that simply don’t subscribe to the same doctrine. In the Bible when the Israelites sought to take the so called “promised land” they slaughtered men, women, children, and the animals, if I recall correctly, for good measure. If you hold a belief strongly enough you are capable of atrocious things.

      Delete
  12. Predestination I believe go hand in hand with religious belief. Having had many discussion with different people upon this subject, I found that they could never explain free will within the definition of their god.
    6

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  13. Spectral evidence... would we let a schizophrenic testify in our courts today? No, because we require evidence based on fact.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Does freedom of religion also mean freedom from religion, for those who are not religious?
    I believe it does, religion is all depending on how or what a person thinks, so if a person does not believe a specific or and beliefs align with the way they think, than that is part of "freedom of religion" better said, freedom from religion.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Monica Lopez6:23 AM CST

    Monica Lopez,
    Section 5
    Does freedom of religion also mean freedom from religion, for those who are not religious?
    I believe it does, religion is all depending on how or what a person thinks, so if a person does not believe a specific or and beliefs align with the way they think, than that is part of "freedom of religion" better said, freedom from religion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Freedom of religion and from religion should be equally respected. You cant expect someone to respect your right to practice a religion if you cant respect someone else's right to choose not to practice at all. It seems completely hypocritical to consider freedom from religion in a different category.
      Section 6

      Delete
  16. Section 5
    What usefulness, besides exercise, do you think walking has?
    Walking I believe can help you be able to recognize the little things surrounding you, especially when taking a walk around a park or outdoor area. I personally find myself looking at the smallest details that there are outside. A walk usually helps me calm down when I feel overwhelmed, so there is that as a benefit other than exercise.

    ReplyDelete
  17. section 5
    Do you think it takes courage to think for yourself and invoke reason against superstition, tradition, etc.?
    It does take courage in my opinion to be able to think for yourself.Being able to not reason with traditions you are custom to can take some time, due it being what everyone around you beliefs/practices. Comfort often comes with the traditions people have, and when not being part of it, this comfort can get taken away. That's a big part of why you need courage. You are letting go of a "safe blanket".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I couldn't agree more Monica. It takes us moving out of our so called "comfort zone" to openly believe in who you are or think for yourself. People traditionally want to stay safe in their particular cultures but the very few break out of that mold and further progress themselves.

      Section #5

      Delete
    2. I also agree with your statement. I feel like this equally goes along with beliefs instilled within you as a child by your parents. A lot of people are raised to believe certain things and think just because your parents say something is so, you're supposed to believe it. I often find it surprising that many people choose not to question things after childhood, and I can only conclude that they might have a lack of courage to take a stand.
      Section 6

      Delete
  18. Have you been "born again," or encouraged by faith leaders or peers to seek spiritual rebirth? Is that something real, metaphorical, or delusional?
    I am a southern baptist and I was born again when I was baptized. In my religion the only way to be a christian is to be born again through the water, as Jesus said in the new testament "In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." John 3: 1-2

    ReplyDelete
  19. Does freedom of religion also mean freedom from religion, for those who are not religious?
    Yes. But I also believe every person has a right to exclaim their beliefs and possibly convert those that don't believe into those that do.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Is predestined salvation fair, just, or believable?

    I specifically remember when I first learned about predestination because of how strongly it made me feel. I have always disliked the concept and most definitely view it as unfair and unjust. Growing up in a Christian household and being put in a Christian school, it was always known that all have the potential to be saved and God doesn't discriminate. In my opinion, the idea of predestination is the exact opposite of what Christianity is supposed to be. Of course, there's the argument that God is all knowing so He knows who is going to follow Him in the end, therefore these people from birth have always been predestined to follow God. However, then this means they never had a choice in the matter. But isn't the whole purpose of faith that the people have the free will to choose to believe or not? So yeah, predestination is not for me.

    Section #6

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    Replies
    1. I completely agree with this statement. It's very hard for me to understand predestination as a Christian concept. It is a complete contradiction to all the things I have been taught.

      Delete
  21. What do you guys think of the phrase, "Anne Hutchinson is one with whom American sensibilities today can connect, because America is now nation where every individual is gloriously free to construct any version of reality he or she devoutly believes to be true."

    Is this true of Americans? Can we REALLY advocate for anything and make it a reality?

    section 6

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  22. Does freedom of religion also mean freedom from religion, for those who are not religious?

    I think it's only fair that if we allow any religion, we should also allow the right to withdraw from any religion. That being said, I myself am religious, but if I would be furious if the law excluded my view points.

    section 6

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  23. COMMENT: "None of us can always be thinking over the riddle of the universe..." 37

    I really like this quote because it hits home for me. Sometimes I put myself down for not being more eager to investigate the miracles and all of the questions associated with why we're here on Earth, who or what put us here, and everything in between. It can make me feel mundane and unimaginative. But like this quote says, it's impossible for us to always be contemplating these questions and ideas, because if we did then we would be missing out on so much. When you're thinking about these bigger concepts, it inhibits your ability to be present and just enjoy what's around you. It blocks you off from seeing what's right in front of you and the ability to just enjoy it's presence. If everyone was always "thinking over the riddles of the universe" then most of the essential worldly pursuits would never get done.

    Section #6

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  24. DQ: Were there other "witch trials" besides the one at Salem? Check out this link.
    https://www.history.com/news/before-salem-the-first-american-witch-hunt

    ReplyDelete
  25. Have there been other sorts of "witch trials" in American history than just those in Salem?

    Oh yes, there have been many other sorts of "witch trials" in American history. Not all of them have been literally directed at suspected "witches" but the hysteria was still the same. For example, around the time of WWI there were many Italian and German immigrants flooding into the United States. Therefore, many became victims of xenophobia and were attacked because of the nativist's belief that the war was their fault. Street signs with German names were knocked down and public officials with German names were even demanded to resign. Of course, there's also the obvious case of the massive Jewish "witch hunt" during WWII by Hitler and the Germans. Another example would be the communist red scare in America where countless lives were ruined due to the slightest association with communism.

    Section #6

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  26. "Does freedom of religion also mean freedom from religion, for those who are not religious?"

    I personally believe so, yes. This constitutional right came about to mean exactly what it stated. "Freedom to teach, practice, or worship in any belief," including no beliefs at all. People came to America from the very beginning to escape being forced to practice a certain religious belief, whether that is that they truly believed in or not. Personally, I have a belief in God, but I also believe that it is just as wrong to judge someone who doesn't have that belief, or has a different one

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    1. I agree with you on this, even though I wasn't raised religiously, or am too religious myself, I am open to others people's beliefs. It wouldn't seem fair not forcing a specific religion on people, however enforcing a religion. (if that ,makes any sense)
      section 5

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    2. I agree with you that people should be "free from" religion, however I disagree with some aspects of the implementation such changing from B.C. A.D. to BCE and CE as this is also removing the credit of the calendar system we still use simply because it was implemented by the Catholic Church.- Leave credit where credit is due.

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  27. Section 6

    What would you say to someone who claimed actually to converse with God, i.e., to hear and respond to a voice in their head they're convinced is the supernatural creator and master of the universe?

    I would believe that this person was either blowing smoke, or had a schizophrenic mental condition. The biggest thing that science in the modern era has taught us is that there's no backing to supernaturalism or religious prophecy. Before science, "prophets" and "mediums" could make a great living by misleading people that chose to buy into their faux spiritualism, but I have little doubt that anyone who has achieved glory through prophecy has done so out of sheer selfish gain. My one caveat to this is the artist William Blake—who I believe was a mentally ill individual—who claimed he had seen angels in his life. From his delusions, he created some absolutely breathtaking art and poetry that is still studied to this day. So maybe there's some good to come out of delusion...

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  28. What did Cotton Mathers take as a sign that was "clearly a warning from God of this imminent new battle against the hounds of Hell?"

    Section 6

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  29. Connor Coughran 0612:33 PM CST

    "Is predestined salvation fair, just, or believable?"

    I think that predestination is a stupid theology that causes lots of problems. It is unfair, and even the people who act "saved" may not be saved if they aren't predestined. It really doesn't make much sense. I believe that we all have some sort of predestined purpose, but whether or not we chose to accept that purpose is up to us.

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  30. Connor Coughran 0612:36 PM CST

    "What would you say to someone who claimed actually to converse with God, i.e., to hear and respond to a voice in their head they're convinced is the supernatural creator and master of the universe?"

    I would be extremely skeptical. I wouldn't necessarily think that they are lying, but I would wonder if what they hear is actually from God. It could all just be in their head (i.e. a mental illness) or it could be something else supernatural such as a spirit pretending to be God. There are lots of possibilities. Of course they could also just be lying.

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  31. Connor Coughran 0612:38 PM CST

    "Is "Holy Spirit" something real and supernatural, or is it the name of a natural form of experience best studied and explicated by neuroscientists, and analyzed by philosophers?"

    This is a question that will never be answered as long as the debate of the nature of the spirit exists. There will always be support of both sides.

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  32. What traits of personal character, if any, do you think mirror the American character? Or is there even such a thing as a national character? Is it safe to generalize about what makes anyone "so American"?

    I think a trait(s) that would be deemed "American" would be perseverance and determination. I truly do believe that there are endless opportunities in the world that we live in today and the American's should go and chase their dreams.

    How can Christians in America reconcile the way their ancestors treated the native Americans?

    One way to look at it is evolution. The world wouldn't be what it is today which what happened back then. I don't think that what they did was right by any means but it wasn't abnormal to do what they did in those times.

    What would you say to someone who claimed actually to converse with God, i.e., to hear and respond to a voice in their head they're convinced is the supernatural creator and master of the universe?

    It would be hard to wrap my head around if someone said that they had verbally communicated with God. I think that religious people get signs that they interpret as a message from God in their everyday life.

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    1. I agree with your traits for American character! Perseverance and confidence in ideas are what led us where we are today. I don't believe we would be as advanced or successful as we are at this point without those traits.
      Section 6

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  33. Joseph Cooper 11

    Is predestined salvation fair, just, or believable?
    As a proponent of free will I find it hard to justify any real weight behind the concept of predestination. A system that allows a group to separate themselves and then look down upon others based on there notions of a secure place in the after life only cultivates actions that would, in my opinion, disqualify them from that reward is laughable. There just no justification for it especially as free will is something that the christian god is supposed have imparted on humanity.

    Does freedom of religion also mean freedom from religion, for those who are not religious?
    In a word, no, in more words, it is silly to think it would. There will always be other ideas around you, family, friends, strangers, these are all vectors to be exposed to these. The fact that we are forced to face these prevents us from getting into an echo chamber. When you don't attach a person in your life to an ideal it can be hard to religion as purely an institution an not something human. We have to face regardless of whether it directly opposes our own views.


    Have there been other sorts of "witch trials" in American history than just those in Salem?
    Witch hunts are a constant in our life, it just about scale. It seems when it comes to problems we never really look causes we look at people. A problem becomes an albatross on the neck of those it is pushed upon. The biggest example I can think of is the Red Scare of the 1950s, people were labeled communist and persecuted for issues that had no bearing on political view.

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  34. Why do you think Americans have been so obsessed with Hell?

    In my opinion, American's obsession with Hell all ties back to humanity's fear of mortality and the terrifying notion of ceasing to exist. So when a religious framework or philosophy presents itself and holds the answers you're searching for and so badly want to be true, it's easy to adopt this mindset and find security and comfort in its doctrine; because now life relatively makes sense and you no longer have to contemplate these issues on your own or do the work that's required to formulate your own concept of the universe. Therefore, when that religion you base your identity in professes that there is a hell, continuously referencing sin and its harrowing consequences, and makes hell one of its prime subject matters, of course your going to become consumed by it and avoid the possibility of ending up there at all costs. I mean America was founded under the principles of Christianity, making it the most widespread belief system amongst Americans to this day.

    Section #6

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  35. Does "nirvana" (Enlightenment, personal liberation) have to be the same for everyone? What would be your personal definition/experience of nirvana?

    I suppose there's the argument that everyone has their own version of nirvana, but in my opinion there's only one true state of consciousness that could be classified as attaining nirvana or enlightenment. Personally, my definition of nirvana, which is based entirely off the Buddhist concept of nirvana, is when one is free from the bondage of earthly desires and emotions. It is the highest state of freedom one can attain, where one is free from anxiety and sadness as well as from excitement and happiness in regards to ephemeral objects and desires. It's a state of complete liberation because one no longer feels tied down by the bonds of the earth. So, my personal nirvana is a mental state where I feel completely liberated from my constant anxieties, fears, and sorrows. A point of clarity where, even though I experience unpleasantness, I no longer create suffering for myself because I understand nature's process.

    Section #6

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  36. Is predestined salvation fair, just, or believable?
    Section 05
    Predestination isn't something that I personally believe in, but it's an idea that I'm familiar with. I don't see how the idea could be perceived as fair at all. It's not just for someone's fate to be decided before they have a chance to live their life and make all of their decisions whether good or bad. The only way it's ever made sense to me is that since god is omnipotent, they already know the all the actions someone will make and so already know if they'll have salvation or not.

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    1. I believe I know where you are coming from, but don’t you think a god that knows your future and creates you anyway is precisely what predestination is?

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  37. What traits of personal character, if any, do you think mirror the American character? Or is there even such a thing as a national character? Is it safe to generalize about what makes anyone "so American"?
    Section 05
    I don't think it's safe to generalize what makes someone American. Sure there's an image of a stereotypical American, but the US is so diverse that it's not reasonable to make any assumptions about anyone.

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    1. I agree with you. There are many stereotypes, however we seem to have a stereotype of everything and everyone, and from what I have noticed most of the time nothing is accurate. This is because everyone is different, and not one thing makes everyone. Nothing can really be characterized or labeled without excluding part of the group you are trying to characterize.

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    2. I would say that tolerance and acceptance is the American way, because that is what I think religious freedom boils down to. However, I feel there has been a lot of bigamy showing through in our society. Im not sure that we can claim that anymore.

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  38. I see a lot of posts about being accepting or open to others ideas and beliefs. Why is this the general sentiment? I do my best to live and let live, but there should be a line drawn at some point. We already do that as a society, in the form of laws. Unless the point is to respect our freedom of thought, which I agree with, then I think it’s important to protect ourselves from unfounded ideas or beliefs. The scientific method(logic) has not led us astray, that I am aware of, and will retain my vote. Should separation of church and state be more thoroughly enforced?

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    1. That "line" is very subjective. I agree that definitely one must be made, but how? I also believe strongly in the idea of civil discourse. People can have differing opinions all they want, but when they start to rebel or be violent in expressing themselves, this is when I have a problem.

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  39. I don't believe nirvana, enlightenment, personal liberation, etc. Have to be the same for everyone, i think that's a bit ignorant towards others views of finding self peace. Many religions and ideologies describe some form of enlightenment, neglecting that would disenfranchise their beliefs.
    section #6

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    1. My thoughts exactly! No one but yourself can define your own personal "enlightenment".

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  40. https://youtu.be/wHWbZmg2hzU
    section 6

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  41. https://youtu.be/VDiyQub6vpw
    section 6

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  42. Why did the founders omit reference to God in the Constitution, do you think?

    I know that FantasyLand states that Hamilton said that they forgot. I do believe there could be another reason, the Constitution established a national government to benefit the people of this country. The Constitution states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." They did not reference God because that document establishes religious neutrality, mentioning God would only contradict it.

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  43. Why do you think Americans have been so obsessed with Hell?
    I believe we are obsessed because it represents the punishment that we would have if we misbehaved or sinned against God.

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  44. Why did the founders omit reference to God in the Constitution, do you think?
    I believe it's because of the separation of church and state.

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  45. What do you think of Kant's motto?
    I believe it is a great motto to live by. From how I understand it, before you judge anything you have to know its story, the meaning, the beliefs. You cannot ridicule someone without knowing about them.

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  46. Is predestined salvation fair, just, or believable?

    To me predestined salvation is unfair and unbelievable. But then again I also question the fact that societies and populations which have never heard of a certain god or gods are doomed to hell or even purgatory is a common thread in religions.

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  47. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  48. Joseph Cooper 11

    John Oliver - The Decline Of The American Empire
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzx0YHLj_Ws&t=515s

    This is the opening of a comedy special from John Oliver, in his opening monologue he speaks about America never being about facts, but belief. This reminded me a lot about the concepts we have found in Fantasyland thus far. When I started thinking about American history, and how much that statement rang true. We expanded west because we believed it was our destiny, we fought two wars in Europe because we believed it was just, we fought communism on every front because we believed it was evil, regardless of whether our not you agree with these choices, the pattern stands. America is swayed by belief for better or for worse.

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  49. Why did the founders omit reference to God in the Constitution, do you think?

    I definitely don't think they forgot. I also find it strange that God was mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, but not the Constitution, though its easy to see that the two groups of men signing these documents had different religious ideologies. The founding fathers were men of science and reason. I believe they understood that not mentioning God in the Constitution they allowed for religious neutrality.

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  50. Why do you think Americans have been so obsessed with Hell?

    Americans want to have the answers. When something so arbitrary as the idea of hell comes along, people demand to find out what could end up happening to them. I do not think it's a bad thing to want to find out about hell. This knowledge could shock many people to end up doing the right things.

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  51. Alexis Mahon11:18 AM CST

    1. The American Founders were what kinds of philosophers?
    2. Who was known as The Last Puritan, and of what movement was he at the center?
    3. What did the Holy Spirit produce in "respectable people," during the Great Awakening?
    4. Who said dreams could be messages from God?
    5. What "intense supernatural feeling" did George Whitefield implant [not "invent"] in American Christianity?

    1. The American Founders were rationalists and pragmatists.
    2. Massachusetts minister Jonathan Edwards was the last Puritan and he was the center of the Great Awakening.
    3. The Holy Spirit produced “the Affections” in people – moaning, weeping, screaming, jerking, and fainting.
    4. John Wesley said dreams could be messages from God.
    5. He implanted the intense supernatural feeling of being born again.

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  52. Alexis Mahon11:23 AM CST

    Why do you think Americans have been so obsessed with Hell?

    After America was founded, most of the inhabitants were Christian. I noticed that a lot of Christians subconsciously judge others in attempt to remain "perfect" in the eyes of God. They become so obsessed with doing everything right to get into Heaven after death, which naturally means they are obsessed with avoiding Hell at all costs.

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    1. That's the exact way that I would have put it.

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    2. Anonymous3:20 PM CST

      This was a great way of putting it. This is also how I see it as well.

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  53. Alexis Mahon11:28 AM CST

    DQ: A lot of Christians, or any other religious followers for that matter, believe that converting other people to Christianity is God's work. However, throughout history, we see that this conversion leads to widespread dispute and wars between people and forced conversion (hence the European's mission to convert Native Americans and enslaved Africans). Do you think although it may turn violent this is still "God's work"?

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  54. Alexis Mahon11:34 AM CST

    Have you been "born again," or encouraged by faith leaders or peers to seek spiritual rebirth? Is that something real, metaphorical, or delusional?

    In Christianity, being born again basically means you have been baptized. In my opinion, this "public bath" is metaphorical because water can not physically wash away a person's wrongdoings. For me, I am not Christian, and I believe after this is done it makes the person "think" they have a clean slate and can start anew. However, one of my life's philosophy is "What's done is done. All we can do is take responsibility, admit our mistakes, and keep it pushing because no one is perfect or without flaws."

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  55. Does "nirvana" (Enlightenment, personal liberation) have to be the same for everyone? What would be your personal definition/experience of nirvana?

    Absolutely not. Everyone one believes in different things and everyone has their own feelings towards happiness and how they can get there. With that being said, my own personal definition of "nirvana" is simple. It's when you've reached your personal happiness and peace. Nirvana is reached at different levels for everyone and it all depends on personal preferences and beliefs, as well as feeling and struggles. I believe everyone gets to decide what defines and creates their own nirvana, as we are all different.

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    1. Anonymous3:18 PM CST

      I agree with this so much. You gave a very great definition on the idea of nirvana. I also agree that everyone has their own right and idea on how they seek their nirvana whether its taking personal struggles and turning them into a positive lesson of the way of life or just believing that everything happens for a reason and keep moving forward.
      section #11

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  56. Connor Coughran 0612:20 PM CST

    "Is it possible, as a Protestant, to renounce all supernaturalism?"

    Definitely not. How can you believe in a spiritual God and a spiritual reality and renounce all supernaturalism? It just doesn't make sense.

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    1. Anonymous3:34 PM CST

      I completely agree and wonder the same thing.
      Section #11

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  57. Connor Coughran12:22 PM CST

    "Why do you think Americans have been so obsessed with Hell?"

    Obviously, people who are concerned with the afterlife will be concerned about Hell. American culture very influenced by Christianity, which teaches that Hell is a very real place where people suffer after death. Most people who believe in such a place would want to know how to avoid going there.

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    1. Guillermo Fonseca3:25 PM CST

      Most definitely, and not just Christianity, many religions have a code of conduct that if not followed correctly could lead to serious consequences whether in the mortal or afterlife. Its more of a the punishment throughout eternity that really scares people. section 11

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  58. Does freedom of religion also mean freedom from religion, for those who are not religious?

    In my opinion, I definitely believe that freedom of religion includes the choice of not choosing any religion at all. If on is free to follow whatever god, entity, spirit, or philosophy, then why would that exclude no religion? Everyone has the right to believe whatever philosophy they find most credible, just as long as they aren't aggressive in enforcing their particular belief system.

    Section #6

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  59. What usefulness, besides exercise, do you think walking has?

    There are many uses of walking besides exercise. Walking can bring one an overwhelming sense of peace and humility. During times when life feels too chaotic and overwhelming, taking time to walk in isolation can serve as a type of medicine and therapy and helps to bring things back into perspective. The connectedness one feels with nature and the earth while walking can lessen the anxiety one feels for everyday mundane things. Walking can also inspire a great deal of inspiration, because it clears one's mind and allows them to see things from a completely viewpoint or frame of reference. In summary, when in doubt or when overwhelmed try taking a walk and see how you feel afterwards.

    Section #6

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  60. Do you have any significant philosophical differences with your parents? Do you discuss them? Do you want to?

    Both of my parents identify as Christian, therefore I grew up going to a Presbyterian church and was sent to a Christian school from the time of kindergarten all the way to my senior year of high school. My mom was incredibly close with her mom, my grammy, and when she died a few years ago it was apparent that my mom turned heavily to the Christian teachings. My dad is very reserved and doesn't voice his opinions too often, but I know that he too follows the Christian faith. I wish I was able to discuss with my parents more often and openly about philosophy and faith, but unfortunately at this time I find it too uncomfortable. There are crossovers in regard to our philosophies, I do believe in a higher power but not necessarily the Christian God., I'm different in that I resonate more with the Buddhist spiritual teachings. I am starting to dive more and more into the power of energy and the law of attraction and the process of nirvana, which I don't think my parents really understand.

    Section #6

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    1. I too have had this difficulty. My story is a bit different in that I am an atheist and have said as much to my parents. It definitely makes discussing existential questions or politics more difficult, but my family has always been respectful of others with differing opinions. It isn’t easy to tell your parents that you reject the ideas they have lived by their whole lives, and taught you growing up. It was worth it for me. Good luck to you!

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  61. Have you been "born again," or encouraged by faith leaders or peers to seek spiritual rebirth? Is that something real, metaphorical, or delusional?

    I was "born again" or baptized when I was 4 years old with my mom at the Trinity Presbyterian church that my family grew up in. I have pictures of the event, but of course, I don't have memory of the ceremony and I'm guessing I didn't fully comprehend the biblical meaning behind it. All I knew was that I got to wear a pretty white dress and then someone was pouring water on my head. In the recent past I have often contemplated being baptized again so that I'm actually capable of understanding and appreciating the meaning of baptism. But while I respect the process and any person who believes in being "reborn," within the past few years as I've shied away from Christian practices. I don't find the process delusional, because I feel like it brings a lot of purpose and comfort to people's lives, but as of now I don't personally by into the act of being "born again."

    Section #6

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    1. Anonymous3:14 PM CST

      I was baptized when I was 20 and at first I didn't feel much of anything but now I am slowly starting to get a good understanding of it but its still taking a minute because I don't know if its in your mind thing or actual. But, I was in your shoes before and I didn't really understand or see how one could get that feeling but I was happy to see and hear the people's story.
      section #11

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  62. Anonymous3:02 PM CST

    Do you have any significant philosophical differences with your parents? Do you discuss them? Do you want to?
    Yes, I have a different way of thinking than my parents. I believe more in the fantasyland just like the Disney princess movies where as my parents believe in more realistic way than I do. I have grown to believe in some of their ways of thinking but I mostly believe still to do this day a "perfect" world where people of two different ways of life can come together to create a equal world. I have discussed with them before but we are so opposite with the way we view the world and society we mainly just bump heads.
    Section #11

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    1. I definitely agree, my parents are old school strict Mexican parents, and I have adopted many of their views but we definitely bud heads in many aspects in live.
      Section 11

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  63. Guillermo Fonseca section 113:16 PM CST

    The egg story gave me a sense of deja vu. I remember hearing an oddly similar story in a song... well it was not a song but a skit in an album. The track is called "waiting room" -Logic. It is starts out the same with a car accident killing a man, and he has a conversation with an almighty being. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoUMY-I_m7c

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  64. Anonymous3:32 PM CST

    Is it possible, as a Protestant, to renounce all supernaturalism?
    No, I don't believe that as Protestant that they should renounce all supernaturalism.

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  65. Joseph Cooper 11

    Does "nirvana" (Enlightenment, personal liberation) have to be the same for everyone? What would be your personal definition/experience of nirvana?

    The steps toward inner peace can be rough and tedious. At least that is my experience. We all have out own paths and end goals, these align with who we are and what we struggle with. If I ever reach that point in my journey I'm sure it won't look like anyone else. If I had to imagine what it would be like, it probably is state where I could close my eyes and be at peace.

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    1. The way I understand it, Nirvana is something we achieve as individuals and is therefor subjective. I do think their is a limit to how different it can be, otherwise there is the potential for our ideas to clash and I think that is the antithesis of Nirvana.

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