Rationalist Assignment 1: Differences between Puritans and Rationalist.

While the Puritans believed that God was actively involved in controlling every aspect of their lives, the rationalist believed that after God created the earth he retreated and left it to its own devices. The rationalist rejected the idea of miracles, prophecies, and other supernatural events, along with the religious books which advocated them, such as the Bible. This angered the Puritans, who believed the Bible to be the word of God, and they accused the rationalist of being atheist. Because they did not believe that God intervened in human affairs, the rationalist thought that it was their responsibility to explore the innerworkings of his creation in order to improve their lives. This was also opposed by the ever antagonizing Puritans, as they believed that the works of God was not for his creation to know.

The current issue of the cloning of human cells is a good example of both puritanism and rationalism in modern thought. Many support this research on the basis that it will help cure diseases by making us able to replace cells or even organs in a human body with cloned ones, improving life expectancy. Others, however, are against it, as it may eventually lead to human cloning, allowing man, in a sense, to play God. Among other reasons some oppose this on the basis that this sort of creation is meant to be used by God only.

Walden by Henry Thoreau pg. 179-259

This section describes the nature and wildlife surrounding the pond, particularly in winter. Thoreau discusses the link between our spiritual and physical in our lives, stating that our common task such eating, working, sleeping etc. can be done out of out of mere animal neccesity and sensuality, but also in a more ethereal sense. These things can exert or rest us both physically and spiritually, if they are done not only out of an animal nature but also to the improvement of our higher selves. In addition to this he gives a chapter to the previous inhabitants of the area and how came to depart from it.

Puritans Assignment 4: Plain style

"May 12 was the first marriage in this place which, according to the laudable custom of the Low Countries, in which they had lived, was thought most requisite to be performed by the magistrate, as being a civil thing, upon which many questions about inheritances do depend, with other things most proper to their cognizance and most consonant to the Scriptures (Ruth iv) and nowhere found in the Gospel to be laid on the ministers as a part of their office."

I find this passage particularly plain, as it says mentions nothing of the ceremony or celebration of the first wedding, or even who was married; focusing instead on the legal technicalities of the marriage. This puritans particularly plain style of writing probably stems from similar sources as their general plainness in other areas of life. Being a very religious centered society, the Puritans believed that everything was to be done to the glory of God. Anything thing which was done to glorify earthly things was thought to be to the glory of man, and thus considered blasphemous. This is evident even from their style of clothing, which is almost always depicted as faded and dull. Under this theology writing were to be used only when immediately necessary as a way of recording or transferring information; anything beyond this was to the esteem of its creator and thus detracted from the God's glory.

This view fails to take into account that since according to their own theology the earth and all things in it are God's creation. Therefore anything that is inspired by that creation is ultimately an extension of God's creation, and to his glory. The Christian Bible itself is at times quite descriptive. The Puritans may have reconciled this saying that the this was God's book, however theoretically it was actually written by men through God's inspiration. As trees grow, flower, and produce fruit, it would only make sense that humanity should do the same.

Emo Subculture

There’s a new trend sweeping through American youth, and there’s something strangely wrong with it. Emo has found its way into multiple aspects of society, from music and fashion to art and philosophy; it’s imbedded itself into suburban culture. Presumably a slang term for emotion, Emo is generally considered to be a music, fashion, and mentality revolving around passive unhappiness and melancholy; not as a passing state but as a lifestyle, almost to be celebrated. In other words, being emotionally distraught is very in right now.

Like most subcultures, emo has its roots in a musical scene. The development of the style is usually attributed the 1980s band Rites of Spring, originally a punk band that began to be described as "emotional hardcore", for their emotional performances. Critics originally described emo as a subunit of punk; however in the nineties it steadily differentiated itself by increasingly melodramatic lyrics, and an emotional, at times whiny style of delivery. By the 2000s it had become almost unrecognizable from its predecessor, a synthetic over dramatized mess of production; punk on estrogen. Apparently the major record labels thought this would make a great trend, and a host of bands such as Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance were signed and entered the mainstream. Emo began streaming onto MTV and the Internet for a generation that was glued to the glowing screens like none before them.

The genre had developed its own fashion by this point. Most band members had black hair, wore make up, and were clothed in tight fitting black and white apparel; "girl pants" were popular regardless of gender. Major label pop rock bands were handed a new wardrobe and told to make slow songs. 2004 saw Green day, the previously pop punk band, in black suits and eyeliner. In an almost coordinated effort, designers released Emo apparel and merchandise into the mainstream market under the guise of underground, millions of kids rushing to claim their misunderstood individuality rapidly devoured the new style. But what were they really feeding into the mind of this restless suburban generation?

Emo almost immediately caught on, becoming not only a musical preference but a series of philosophies. The most immediate of these was the limiting of the spectrum of emotion to "sad". Followers of the trend decided that they were depressed, whether they actually were or not, and that the world was to some degree victimizing them. Moreover, depression became uniform; emo music contained common themes of mental illness and masochism, these therefore became icons of the trend. Not because these kids were masochist, but because it was an understood part of depression in the culture they felt they were part of; making them feel authenticated and giving them a sense of identity and acceptance.

It became fashionable to claim a borderline personality disorder. Paranoia might look good with your new fishnet stockings, and cutting was in a sense the new smoking; kids gave themselves a pinprick just to say they did it. Depression was not something to be overcome but to wallow in. Overindulgent self pity being encouraged; anyone who tried to join the trend without following these prerequisites was looked on as a "poser" because they were not validly depressed. This is combined with pseudo-intellectual nihilism, based on faulty and pretentiously oversimplified metaphysics mainly derived from the lyrics of their favorite band.

It seems odd how a generation could be so susceptible to such a lifeless and backward way of thinking. I once read on a bridge that "insanity in this country increases in proportion to lack of actual physical suffering". This may be, to some extent, true. Many people may feel somewhat aimless and disconnected from life in a culture where there are so many layers cushioning them from the core of life. During his stay on Walden Pond, Henry Thoreau writes:

"Most of the luxuries, and many of the so called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind"

Many in our culture live as if the ultimate goal of society is to spend life with out ever having to move from the spot where we are born, to be completely rid of the inconvenience of having to do anything for ourselves. This so-called "progress" would appear to be the only method of self-improvement we know. Every generation in our country has, in a way, had its trend to make up for this feeling of deficit. Emo kids are basically the neo-hippies, however instead of trying to make a difference through love, peace, and flower power, Emo is going to change the world by being feeling sulky and melancholy in the corner, and then writing blog entries about it on Myspace or various other online journals.

Puritans Assignment 3: Textual evidence of Puritan beliefs

1. Unconditional Election - God "saves" those he wishes - only a few are selected for salvation.

"God has laid himself under no obligation, by any promise to keep any natural man out of hell one moment."

2.Limited Atonement - Jesus died for the chosen only, not for everyone.

"God certainly has made no promises either of eternal life, or of any deliverance or preservation from eternal death, but what are contained in the covenant of grace, the promises that are given in Christ, in whom all the promises are yea and Amen."

3.Total Depravity - through Adam and Eve's fall, every person is born sinful - concept of Original Sin.

"It is no security to a natural man, that he is now in health, and that he does not see which way he should now immediately go out of the world by any accident, and that there is no visible danger in any respect in his circumstances."

Jonathan Edwards refered to the sinful man as "natural" here, supporting total depravity.

Walden by Henry Thoreau pg. 120-179

Thoreau writes his thoughts on the value of solitude, discussing the dissipating effect of over frequent social interaction. He writes that our attempts to increase understanding of one another by being in close proximity is ineffective; that we often meet before we have had time to accumulate anything new to share with others. Also nature is considered a sort of company, we can draw from communion with the many subtle intelligences just as we would draw from another human being.

Walden by Henry Thoreau pg. 1-120

Henry Thoreau's "Walden" is the journal of his two years on Walden Pond, in which he sets out to live independently of society, baring his life to the essentials in an attempt to simplify. He begins by stating his reasons for beginning this social expirement of sorts, discussing how many people spent their lives working their way out of debt for things they didnt need. His reasons go beyond the economic however, attempting to delve beyond what he describes as the "allluvion" that covers the globe, into the solid foundation of life.

He describes all aspects of his life on the pond, from how he built his cabin and grew his food, to his studies and description of the nature around him. Though his writing at times is a bit hard to follow, occasionally wandering into issues pertaining mainly to the 1850s, which arent as immediately relevant, however on the whole the book is far from archaic.

Puritans Assignment 2: Response to Text

The Puritans lived in a very plain manner, with most aspects of their daily lives intergrated with their religion. The simplicity of their lifestyle was to some extent required, as they were immigrants in an unknown land, all but cut off from the westernization they had left behind in Europe. However, in some ways they went even beyond this, renouncing worldly pleasures in an attempt to live Godly lives. Whether this was admirable or an extremist and somewhat dull utopian experiment is questionable, however they did undeniably lay foundations in their method of economy and governing which are still visible in current society.

Despite their somewhat delusioned philosophies, the Puritans displayed a considerable degree of courage and hardiness in settling in the new world, with the expanse of the Atlantic seperating them from any possible aid or provision, along with European civilization and the world as they knew it. Throughout various adversity they seemed to have maintained an almost Panglossian philosophy, as Bradford writes:

"Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice and looked on their adversity. Let them therefore praise the Lord, because He is good: and his mercies endure forever."

Seeing as this was written at a point when they were unsure of provisions, and the captain of the ship was threatening to leave early with their current food supply if they did not find some quickly, this passage might have been considered a bit optimistic. However, despite this situation they managed to not only survive but establish a thriving colony. This could probably largely be attributed to their good work ethic, stemming from their belief in doing everything to the glory of God, and appears to have differentiated them from the less succesful colony of Jamestown.

A large part of their success was due to the native Americans, as the corn which they originally found was from an abandoned village who's people had died in a plague, and the indian Squanto was their guide for many years, teaching them the agriculture of the area. Bradford ironically originally described them as "skulking about them, and would sometimes show themselves aloof off, but when any approached near them, they would run away; and once they stole away their tools where they had been at work and were gone to dinner," naming them as savages, though they peacefully agreed to share their land with the Puritans.

The Puritans colony was originally a commune, and all the citizens of the colony would work and plant for the common store, which was then divided equally according to families. However after it became clear that they would not be recieving further provision, the Governor, in an attempt to increase the harvest, declared that each family would grow their own corn, and keep the crop for their own use. This immediately boosted work ethic, with each family growing for themselves they became increasingly industrious. This was perhaps the first implementation of the capitolist system by the colonies in North America. Bradford praises the system in his journals, demoting the communist leanings of classical Greek philosophy he writes that it "may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Plato's and other ancients applauded by some of later times; and that the taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God." This displays a tone of intolerance towards ideas that are not directly dictated by traditional Christian thinking, something which seems to be common throughout Puritan writings. Bradfords reasoning for the success of this capitolistic industry is interesting, he attributes the rise in production to the fact that the people were less willing to work if they did not profit directly, an individual working for the overall good of the community would be less motivated than one who was working for themselves. This seems somewhat contradictory to Christian ideology, such as that of the "golden rule" and helping your neighbor. Noting this, Bradford says that this is cannot be held against them as it is inevitable since man is imperfect, and therefore selfish in his sinful nature.

Puritans Assignment 1: Beliefs

The Puritans were an exceedingly god centered society. They believed that they were among Gods chosen, and all aspects of their daily lives were under Gods providence and reflected his will. According to their doctrines, all men were born into evil and must be redeemed through the grace of God. However, only a limited number, which had already been selected uner Gods plan for humanity, would be given this redemption. Redemption through could not be earned or denied, but was given, therefore if you werent lucky enough to win at the holy lottery, you were apparently condemned to remain in your depravity and wickedness until you were eventually cast into hell.

As Gods elect, the Puritans believed that were given the authority to interpret Gods will as they were intune to such matters, and their duty to live righeously as exemplifications of morality for the rest of the world, "a city set upon a hill". Consequently this translated into their being rather legalistic and perhaps slightly self righteous, looking down on others who did not measure up to their standards of uprightness and morality. Though the puritans cheif aspiration was to glorify God, they seemed to have thought this would have been detracted from by making any sort of praise or reference to his creation, as they lifestyles and literature were almost bland and rather spartan. If they rejected these doctrines, or became smug in their own righteousness, although they had been chosen they believed they could still fall back into sin, therefore they must always continue to be vigilant in prayer and introspection.

introduction

I never know what to write in these. I like to read, mainly fantasy, The Lord of the Rings was probably one of the first books I read. I write though not very consistently. Im sort of into art, which was to some degree unavoidable as my father owns an art store. I like music a lot, music is good. I have fairly generic interest I guess.