I HATE trees ----------> Osten
(indent) I suppose the best way to describe these passages would be "wow" and "what". I had a difficult time deciphering the poetry t6hroughout the passages. They seemed so redundant and lofty as if talking to the wise man on the mountain who tells you what you're looking for was inside you all along. Needless to say, I did not enjoy them. The rest of the texts however that is a different story.
(I wish I could use tab to make decent spacing) I truly enjoyed the first letter about the pagan temples and the Christians wanting to convert them instead of building a new one. It made me question how different religions are from one another. While one religion is sacrificing cows to one god we are sacrificing cows to God. While the same action is seen as demonic or evil when others do it, it is called sacred and holy when we do it. It's easy to think of others as horrible people yet in reality, they aren't much different from us, just confused. Are we the horrible people for condemning other's actions that are no different from our own?
(Tab) The next few passages discuss people who have had visions of angels, God, other people, and even their own death. These texts were quite fascinating and entertaining to read. The real fascinating thing here is our fascination with the news. We as humans are so fascinated with what's happening in other peoples lives. Some people create news "drama", some watch news on tv (even bad news) others like to read newspapers and still yey historians make news their life as they are looking for the most news in different time periods. The older the better. Why is that?
(ok, this is really annoying) The Dream of the Rood. This one got me quite upset. First of all its not about the cross, it was never about the cross and it never will be about the cross. The whole point of the crucifixion is about Jesus and his purpose for coming to the earth in the first place. The cross is just the symbol to remind us of the story and how it applies to life. the cross may have held God but it is not god. nor does it have any power by being near God. Second rant, in the poem the cross is bedazzled in gold and jewels and looks pretty. I'm sorry, I don't know what version you're reading but last time I checked the cross was not some fashion statement, nor some amazing invite-only party. The cross was a gruesome scene and worst possible death at the time that doubled as a show of power and warning to anyone else who would try and disobey the Romans. So if you must decorate a cross put blood on it and make it look horrendous. It was supposed to incite fear, not look pretty. Rant number three, This "tree" is super cocky and snobby. The way he tells this story sounds like he is taking the credit for Jesus' death. He makes it sound like it was such a struggle to stand and that he managed to do so even though it was super hard. It also sounds like he's bragging about being able to see Jesus and the reader didn't. "I'm sorry tree, I wasn't born yet! Maybe there's a reason that you don't have a mouth!". Rant over. This poem made me see trees in a new light. You know, maybe deforestation isn't such a bad thing.
(seriously, someone fix this!) The last three (the seafarer, the wanderer, and Balade de Bon Conseil) weren't so bad. I had a difficult time understanding them because several lines didn't seem to fit together or make much sense at all. However, out of the three, I noticed that they all talked (at least a little) about wealth and how it can't be taken with you when you die. I like to see that people in the past weren't stupid like people tend to believe. I dislike the common misconception that we as people are getting smarter or better in any way over the years. When you look back and actually read a philosophical text you see that they are just as smart, if not then smarter.
I commented on
(I wish I could use tab to make decent spacing) I truly enjoyed the first letter about the pagan temples and the Christians wanting to convert them instead of building a new one. It made me question how different religions are from one another. While one religion is sacrificing cows to one god we are sacrificing cows to God. While the same action is seen as demonic or evil when others do it, it is called sacred and holy when we do it. It's easy to think of others as horrible people yet in reality, they aren't much different from us, just confused. Are we the horrible people for condemning other's actions that are no different from our own?
(Tab) The next few passages discuss people who have had visions of angels, God, other people, and even their own death. These texts were quite fascinating and entertaining to read. The real fascinating thing here is our fascination with the news. We as humans are so fascinated with what's happening in other peoples lives. Some people create news "drama", some watch news on tv (even bad news) others like to read newspapers and still yey historians make news their life as they are looking for the most news in different time periods. The older the better. Why is that?
(ok, this is really annoying) The Dream of the Rood. This one got me quite upset. First of all its not about the cross, it was never about the cross and it never will be about the cross. The whole point of the crucifixion is about Jesus and his purpose for coming to the earth in the first place. The cross is just the symbol to remind us of the story and how it applies to life. the cross may have held God but it is not god. nor does it have any power by being near God. Second rant, in the poem the cross is bedazzled in gold and jewels and looks pretty. I'm sorry, I don't know what version you're reading but last time I checked the cross was not some fashion statement, nor some amazing invite-only party. The cross was a gruesome scene and worst possible death at the time that doubled as a show of power and warning to anyone else who would try and disobey the Romans. So if you must decorate a cross put blood on it and make it look horrendous. It was supposed to incite fear, not look pretty. Rant number three, This "tree" is super cocky and snobby. The way he tells this story sounds like he is taking the credit for Jesus' death. He makes it sound like it was such a struggle to stand and that he managed to do so even though it was super hard. It also sounds like he's bragging about being able to see Jesus and the reader didn't. "I'm sorry tree, I wasn't born yet! Maybe there's a reason that you don't have a mouth!". Rant over. This poem made me see trees in a new light. You know, maybe deforestation isn't such a bad thing.
(seriously, someone fix this!) The last three (the seafarer, the wanderer, and Balade de Bon Conseil) weren't so bad. I had a difficult time understanding them because several lines didn't seem to fit together or make much sense at all. However, out of the three, I noticed that they all talked (at least a little) about wealth and how it can't be taken with you when you die. I like to see that people in the past weren't stupid like people tend to believe. I dislike the common misconception that we as people are getting smarter or better in any way over the years. When you look back and actually read a philosophical text you see that they are just as smart, if not then smarter.
I commented on
I like that you brought up other religions worshipping in the same ways Christianity does (and has in the past)… Should we condemn their worship practices? Well, yes, because anything not done in faith directed to the one true God is sin (Romans 14:23); other religions in particular violate the command to not have any other god before Yahweh (Exodus 20:3). So yes, we condemn those… But perhaps not in a directly accusatory way. This is where we walk a fine line—they’re in the wrong, but it becomes much harder to save someone when you start your conversation with the words “Everything you believe is wrong and you’re a filthy sinner.” I believe it’s far more prudent to begin not by showing them where they’re wrong, but by finding common ground from which to show them the honest truth, pleasing them through respect (1 Corinthians 10:31-33). Paul lived this out in his discourse with the Athenians in Acts 17; he began by complementing the Athenians’ religious faith, noted the altar they dedicated to “an unknown god”, and told them “I will make that God known to you.” He found a common agreement, complemented them, and preached the truth from there—he did, later in his sermon, point out and condemn Athens’ overwhelming idol problem, because it was sin and an obstacle in the path to God that had to be addressed. But he did so with a respectful method. It’s a thin line, but it can be done.
ReplyDeleteI actually liked the Dream of the Rood. Yes, the actual death of Jesus was horrendous and gory and there are many reasons to portray it that way. But if it did not happen then we would still be separated from God forever. we would not get the chance to be with Him in heaven for ever. That is why the cross is decked out, because of what Christ has done for us. The writer did not mean that Christ death wasn`t a horrendous way to die, but was celebrating the fact that because of that death we are saved. The writer also isn`t making it about the cross. Yes, people do find ways to glorify symbols, but you can also use them as stand-ins and reminders of Christ to worship Him and not some tree.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you ought to become a logger!
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I was rather offended by the tree too. How rood!