Thoughts 10/26/2005 October 26, 2005
Posted by Kelsey Martineau in Religion.Tags: Religion
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Do you ever consider what you believe? And why you believe it? Why do we believe what we believe? Is it more our parents than it is us? Is it more social norms, society, friends, family, or is it us? A lot of times, we have tunnel vision. I agree, sometimes seeing is believing. But if we don’t believe in the first place, how can we ever see it? That’s where the concept of faith comes in. If we saw God, and he came to us in physical form, that leaves no room for faith. He would be so much less mysterious. But my point here is, if we don’t believe, how can we expect anything to happen in our lives? A couple of my friends don’t believe in miracles. There is one in particular (Troy) that told me something that really bothered me about my mother and her situation. He told me that, although he was going to pray for my mother, he still thought she needed to have chemotherapy. Hypocrisy in my opinion. My mother is not having surgery; she is not having chemotherapy. She is at a clinic in Washington. They are Christian’s doctors. Yes they are real doctors. She is depending on God for healing.
2 Chronicles 16:12 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians. In this scripture, Asa depended on physicians instead of God. Asa died two years later, because he did not depend on God, as God said He would heal Asa.
Don’t tell me you’re going to pray if you don’t have the faith to believe that God can heal. I don’t mean to belittle anyone here, honestly I don’t. But sometimes I just wonder how much it’s going to take for God to show us that He is real? Does he have to write it in the sky? Now some people are more seeing than believing, (Eli) and that’s understandable. Eli, from what I gather, has issues believing in something that he can’t see happening. I’m not insulting Eli, or anyone else that believes this way, just stating my opinion (This is America, after all). I think a lot of people are like this. We can’t believe it unless we can fathom it. Well let me share my thoughts. We can’t understand God. That’s why He’s God. We can’t understand everything, nor or we meant to. I don’t care what society says, science can’t prove everything. We have become to analytical, with everything. Humans as a whole have; we over analyze. We look to deep. We dig to deep in science, in things that we aren’t supposed to know about, things we aren’t supposed to medal with. God won’t allow it. We will see the end of the world before we see a grown human. God claims in the bible that every human born has the “breath of God’ breathed into him when he is born. Take it literal, take it symbolically, frankly it doesn’t matter and I don’t care. Time will reveal all that is to come.
Thoughts 10/23/2005 October 23, 2005
Posted by Kelsey Martineau in Religion, Sociology.Tags: Religion, Sociology
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Today I’ve been thinking about an interesting topic. Doing what’s right versus doing what makes us comfortable. Boy oh boy haven’t we all been in that situation? I know I have. There have been times when I knew I had to do something, because morally it was right, but Kelsey didn’t want to do. It’s like a conflict going on inside us. Deep down, aside from what we’ve learned from moral values, social norms, and teachings from our parents, we know the difference between right and wrong. The movie K-Pax comes to mind. The movie, if you haven’t seen it, is about a person that claims to come from another planet, and is merely visiting earth for a short period of time, and goes by the name of Prot. When some people discover that he’s claiming this, they take him to a mental institution. When he first arrives there, one of the psychologists from the institution is interviewing him, and his name was Mark. At one point in the interview, Mark asks Prot something along the lines of, what the differences are between his planet and earth. Well they talk a little, and the subject of laws and regulations come up.
Dr Powell: How do you know right from wrong?
Prot: Every being in the Universe knows right from wrong Mark.
Dr Powell: But what if, if someone did do something wrong. Committed murder or a rape? How would you punish them?
Prot: Let me tell you something Mark. You humans, most of you, subscribe to this policy of an eye for an eye, a life for a life, which is known throughout the Universe for its stupidity. Even your Buddha and your Christ had quite a different vision but nobody’s paid much attention to them. Not even the Buddhists or the Christians.
Doesn’t that make you think? I think to an extent, that’s true too. Every being in the universe knows right from wrong. I think we are programmed with it. But we don’t act on it. That’s why it’s necessary to have laws, regulations, police, and military. Now the question arises; why don’t we do what’s right? It almost sounds like Prot is suggesting a utopian society here, but I don’t think so. It could probably be mistaken for that. But what I think he’s saying is, don’t commit the crime in the first place, and there will be no reason to be punished for it. Then he claims our Buddha and Christ had different visions, but no one really pays attention to them, even those that claim to be followers. I think that one quote says so much. It makes me think a lot. Do we, as followers of a certain belief system, do what is right according to what our Christ, Buddha, or whoever we may believe in, says is right; or do we do what we believe is right according to what others in our belief system think? That’s pretty inspiring actually. That pretty much tells me that a lot of followers of any belief system really, are misguided by the people.
Thoughts 10/21/2005 October 21, 2005
Posted by Kelsey Martineau in Psychology, Religion, Sociology.Tags: Psychology, Religion, Sociology
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Today I have been thinking about our “point of view” on things. How we perceive them opposed to others. First I’m going to throw a couple of quotes from Star Wars films, concerning points of view:
Revenge of the Sith
PALPATINE: Good is a point of view, Anakin. And the Jedi point of view is not the only valid one. The Dark Lords of the Sith believe in security and justice also, yet they are considered by the Jedi to be. . .
ANAKIN: . . . evil.
PALPATINE: . . . from a Jedi’s point of view. The Sith and the Jedi are similar in almost every way, including their quest for greater power. The difference between the two is the Sith are not afraid of the dark side of the Force. That is why they are more powerful.
———
Return of the Jedi
BEN: You father was seduced by the dark side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and became Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man who was your father was destroyed. So what I have told you was true… from a certain point of view.
LUKE: A certain point of view!
BEN: Luke, you’re going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.
———
Some interesting thoughts there from Star Wars. Palpatine tells Anakin, in Revenge of the Sith, that “good” is a point of view. Another thing I gain from that quote, is that perhaps what we are taught, as humans, affects what we believe is good or bad. Our upbringing? Our instincts? Our morals? Who knows? That brings us to the question, how much instinct do we really have…and how much is taught? I’ve often wondered that. I mean I know that we do have instincts, as humans, but I often wonder how much is “built in.” Very interesting.
Look at Ben’s quote from Return of the Jedi, that “many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.” That surfaces a question; do we sometimes use that to our advantage in life? Who knows? But it’s an interesting thought. The Bible even talks about this to an extent. I don’t know the exact scripture right off, but basically what it says is, if your brother eats meat, and you have something against it, don’t cast judgment on them for it. Well that makes me wonder a lot about some people. I’ve seen Christians bash homosexuals, simply for being homosexual. I don’t believe that’s right. I don’t believe boycotting something, and having nothing to do with an organization, is the “Christian,” thing to do. I don’t believe that’s what God intended. Who am I to judge a homosexual? I don’t know what that person is thinking. A person’s sexual preference is nobody’s business but their own. Now don’t get me wrong here; I think morally homosexuality is wrong. I don’t want to be accused of being for “gay rights.” I’m against it, but I don’t see why it’s anyone’s business but that person’s. That could also be considered a “point of view,” discussion.
I guess the bottom line is, people should sometimes be more open minded. We can’t ever see or feel what someone else is thinking, therefore who are we to judge? It all comes down to our point of view.
Thoughts 10/19/2005 October 19, 2005
Posted by Kelsey Martineau in Psychology, Sociology.Tags: Psychology, Sociology
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Ok so I’m going to try to have a bit more of a positive post today, or attempt it, but who knows how it will turn out. I mean, not that Palpatine was negative, but it may not have been the most uplifting topic to discuss.
Where does time go? Do you ever stop and think about that? I think back one, two, three, and even four years ago, and it seems like last week. It doesn’t feel like so much time has passed. I have a theory on why, but I have no scientific proof or evidence to back it up, but I’ll share it anyway. I think that when we are a kid, (about four through twelve) we take in a lot more. Take a trip to your local city for the first time, for an example. We leave the house, we are looking around, observing everything, taking every little detail in, trying to specifically remember it. But, as time passes, and things become routine, we don’t pay attention. To back this theory up, think about your trip to work, school, or wherever you went this morning. I almost guarantee you don’t remember most of the details. You don’t remember passing that same sign that you pass every day, simply because there is no reason to pay attention to detail as much. But when we go on a trip out of state or out of country, we remember a great deal of details, because we are able to tell others all about our experience. That’s why we get bored with routines sometimes I think. I know I do, I get really bored. I won’t lie a bit. I get tired of the same thing over and over. Getting up, coming to work, working, going home, playing games, chatting online, and going to bed, get up, and repeat. I really grow tired of it, but I guess that’s life? I think if we don’t spend our time doing meaningful, exciting things, a lot is going to pass us by in life. But, for the most part, most of us will not make a difference. Most of us won’t change the world; most of us won’t sway the political views, religious views, or anything of the sort, of anyone. But that doesn’t mean we can’t at least try.
Thoughts 10/18/2005 October 18, 2005
Posted by Kelsey Martineau in Psychology.Tags: Psychology
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Deception. An interesting topic. It’s been on my mind lately. Emperor Palpatine was a king of deception, yet people loved him. That is one thing I really like about him. He was able to deceive people in ways almost unimaginable, and at the same time, be so charismatic it’s unbelievable. That makes you wonder how much of that really goes on in our world. We, as viewers of the story (Star Wars), saw both sides of Palpatine. We saw him bring the Republic to the brink of war with one identity, and appear to “save” it with his other identity. I think we all have a side like this. I know I do. There have been times when I lie, cheat, and deceive; and no one finds out. Well that’s what I think anyway, but who knows? But all good things must come to an end I suppose. I guess the bottom line was, Palpatine got sloppy. He killed his master, and eventually his apprentice killed him. There’s one difference though, when Vader killed Palpatine, it was for good. When Palpatine killed Plagues, it was for personal gain, not for the good of many. I guess the moral I gain from the story is, all good things must come to an end. He’s still a really interesting character though.
Thoughts 10/3/2005 October 3, 2005
Posted by Kelsey Martineau in Sociology.Tags: Sociology
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Life has taken a few interesting turns lately. Things aren’t necessarily the best that they have been, but that’s life. If things don’t always go as we hope they do, we sometimes get upset. But really, what good does that do us? It doesn’t help to fret, it doesn’t help to get angry or upset at things we can’t control. Nor does it help to complain, or belittle. I have realized in the last week who some of my true friends are, and some that aren’t. We can’t control what happens in life. We can’t control what other people do. Such a true statement if you think about it. A better question though: Would we want to? I watch all of these students in my room at work; come in and out, pretending to live out there lives, which they think is significant in the long run. But when in reality, it is so insignificant. It sickens me sometimes; it sickens me to watch superficial, insignificant people act like complete fools, for nothing more than their gain. That is life though. That’s our society. That is how most people were raised, that is the norm that they know. We all say we aren’t spoiled, and point fingers at those who are spoiled. But to be honest, we are all spoiled, extremely. We don’t really know what it is like to live without something. I mean sure, maybe our parents limited us on some things, causing us to grow up with, what some would call, good values. But in the long run, we all get what we want. That is human nature; that is the world. Take thieves for an example; they just attain what they want in another way. I’m not agreeing with their course of action, but how is it that different than what we do? Sure we work for it, sure we think we’ve “earned” it, but have we really? The answer is no. I guess I may be raving today but it just seems like people take way too much for granted in this world.
