First off, the theory of just wars are very confusing and complicated. There are numerous steps and consideration to be taken in for a pre-just war.
Reading all the values and disciplines the just war theory goes by, it doesn't seem as if the United States are involving itself in a just warly manner (Iraq). However, there is a gray area with just wars- the processing of whether an action is to be deemed preemptive or preventative. The list goes on to determine how to fight a justly war, but it seems very impractical. When has a war been just? Most nations get carried away by pride, or lose diasterously and become vindictive and envious in vengeance.
Bell also spoke of confessions as a precursor to war. With confessions, it will tell if we are ready for war, or if the manner of the war is justly or not. It is a predicting variable in where the nation stands in terms of how the war will end- if justice will be brought, or the losing nation should be destroyed.
It was avery intersting read, and maybe someday just wars will happen, that nations will embrace the ideaology of loving their neighbors to where they will want to help, and that wars are not based solely on strategy, but on emtional logic.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
my late project proposal
okay, i really thought i explained my project idea, but i guess not, so my bad. but..here it is:
I am currently volunteering with the room in the inn program down in antioch, so i thought it was a wonderful (and convenient) idea to expose awareness for this program. i want to make a short film and interview students and the participants at room in the inn, but father strobel kind of took my idea already, so i might just write a paper on biblical views of the poor compared to today's view of them (courtsey of prof. lalonde).
i just hope that people's view of the homeless change, since most people think they are just crazy, poor people, but they're not. they are the only ones who truly value what they have, they are the ones who knows the meaning of love.
I am currently volunteering with the room in the inn program down in antioch, so i thought it was a wonderful (and convenient) idea to expose awareness for this program. i want to make a short film and interview students and the participants at room in the inn, but father strobel kind of took my idea already, so i might just write a paper on biblical views of the poor compared to today's view of them (courtsey of prof. lalonde).
i just hope that people's view of the homeless change, since most people think they are just crazy, poor people, but they're not. they are the only ones who truly value what they have, they are the ones who knows the meaning of love.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
A sense of community
It seems as if Day had finally settled in her life, into a life of serving others in the same concept of "Room In The inn". Her later years were dedicated to picking up others when they need it, offering traverlers and the homeless a place to stay and eat. her community never asked for much, and they always received just enough to get by, even with all their debts. it was a simple life.
The community of people she works with share her same belief that God will take care of things; "Also Catholics were the poor, and most of them had little ambition or hope of bettering their conditon to the extent of achieving ownership of home or business, or further education for their children. They accepted things as they were with humilty and looked for a better life to come. They thought, in other words, that God meant it to be so."
Day advocated for the poor, but never in a preaching way- she simply spoke and enlighted others to understand her cause, which was to give in to love. She believed that "they [humans] were attracted to the good; they were hard-working, struggling human beings living for the day, and afraid of the unknown. Once that sense of fear of the unknown was overcome, brotherly love would evoke brother love, and mutal love would overcome fear and hatred." We all have that sensation of loneliness that can only be satisfied with community and love.
The community of people she works with share her same belief that God will take care of things; "Also Catholics were the poor, and most of them had little ambition or hope of bettering their conditon to the extent of achieving ownership of home or business, or further education for their children. They accepted things as they were with humilty and looked for a better life to come. They thought, in other words, that God meant it to be so."
Day advocated for the poor, but never in a preaching way- she simply spoke and enlighted others to understand her cause, which was to give in to love. She believed that "they [humans] were attracted to the good; they were hard-working, struggling human beings living for the day, and afraid of the unknown. Once that sense of fear of the unknown was overcome, brotherly love would evoke brother love, and mutal love would overcome fear and hatred." We all have that sensation of loneliness that can only be satisfied with community and love.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Difficulties with God
In Day's portion of reading, she was really struggling to find a happy medium with spiritual and materialistic happiness. on one hand, there was God, on the other, her husband, whome she supposedly loves very much. After all those years of neglecting a spiritual lifestyle, she had found herself, and this time, she wants to believe in Christ out of maturity. Before, it seems as if she was so lost that she needed God, she needed something to believe in to get through the day. Now, she has her baby and her husband.
This struggle is the same in Hechel's. Isaiah is still warning his people to not be so arrogant in their ways, and that God will come down and kill them, yet they don't listen. There is no fear, no regards, no competence to the powers of God. They are nig time sinners, and Isaiah wrestles with himself in defining how he feels. On one hand, these heathens deserve whats coming to them, but then again, they are lead astray by evil temptation. Oh what to do?
These are the struggles I see everyday. What to say or which side to be on. Should I preach about the word of God to those who are not acting accordingly, or do I hold my tongue and let them figure it out. Do I love the things on Earth more than God? Would I willingly give up my life right now if I could be with him? Hard questions man.
However, I don't think these questions are hard to answer for some people. For the past three weeks, I've been volunteering at St. Ignacious for "Room at the Inn" which houses 14 homeless people. They are the ones who have truly found God. Talking to them, it gives me insight on how to live, how to appreciate the wonders of our world that we so take for granted. Then talking to the sponsors who have done it for years, on how they feel about it. It is my project for this semester on social injustice. There's so much to learn from these people, but we never get a chance to talk to them.
This struggle is the same in Hechel's. Isaiah is still warning his people to not be so arrogant in their ways, and that God will come down and kill them, yet they don't listen. There is no fear, no regards, no competence to the powers of God. They are nig time sinners, and Isaiah wrestles with himself in defining how he feels. On one hand, these heathens deserve whats coming to them, but then again, they are lead astray by evil temptation. Oh what to do?
These are the struggles I see everyday. What to say or which side to be on. Should I preach about the word of God to those who are not acting accordingly, or do I hold my tongue and let them figure it out. Do I love the things on Earth more than God? Would I willingly give up my life right now if I could be with him? Hard questions man.
However, I don't think these questions are hard to answer for some people. For the past three weeks, I've been volunteering at St. Ignacious for "Room at the Inn" which houses 14 homeless people. They are the ones who have truly found God. Talking to them, it gives me insight on how to live, how to appreciate the wonders of our world that we so take for granted. Then talking to the sponsors who have done it for years, on how they feel about it. It is my project for this semester on social injustice. There's so much to learn from these people, but we never get a chance to talk to them.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Rabbi Flip
Judaism was more entertaining to learn about than what I thought it would be like, or maybe it was just Rabbi Flip that made the lecture more engaging. Although his lecture of Judaism gave me insight into this faith, it made me think of how we are more alike, or of how different religions are alike. They all stem from one event, yet they all want to be "the best". How can we be united against an "evil" force if we cannot unite ourselves?
"Everyone's a walking Torah", Rabbi Flip said. "The Bible can articulate experiences better than you can." Humans bond over these experiences, yet we fight and go to the extreme and kill another.
When Rabbi Flip spoke about the Jewish mission, it made me want to stude Judaism more. The mission is to "find the light within us" and to bring orderness to chaos. He went on to explain that we all have a light within us, but it is hidden (because it's so bright), that we must discover it within ourselves. Then when he said something about angels, it made me think that we are all fallen angels in a way, searching the path back to God. However, haven't we been searching for the path to God for centuries already? What is this mission of life? To forever find the light within others? Will that be the climax of our lives, never to find God?
"Everyone's a walking Torah", Rabbi Flip said. "The Bible can articulate experiences better than you can." Humans bond over these experiences, yet we fight and go to the extreme and kill another.
When Rabbi Flip spoke about the Jewish mission, it made me want to stude Judaism more. The mission is to "find the light within us" and to bring orderness to chaos. He went on to explain that we all have a light within us, but it is hidden (because it's so bright), that we must discover it within ourselves. Then when he said something about angels, it made me think that we are all fallen angels in a way, searching the path back to God. However, haven't we been searching for the path to God for centuries already? What is this mission of life? To forever find the light within others? Will that be the climax of our lives, never to find God?
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