If you are reading this and you are a religious person (mostly a catholic) it might make you a tad angry or shocked in what I am saying. I am not judging your personal religious values I am simply putting mine into context of what i have seen because I am a Cultural Catholic and I am happy to be one!
"True" Catholicism is nothing but an excuse to be able to say I live a catholic lifestyle. You don't. Either assimilate with us or go to Hell. That is a tad extreme, but to be honest it is very true. I am a catholic and the sermon (where the priest expands the gospel reading into everyday life for those who did not know) in one of the masses talked about how we, as catholics are either cultural or true "Roman" Catholics.
What is a true roman catholic you might add? Well, according to my priest, it is a catholic who follows ALL rules and blah blah blah. To sum things up, it is basically saying that you have to live a catholic LIFESTYLE. In other words, you obey the bible in everyway and live according to it in a Roman Catholic ideology. A cultural catholic, on the other hand, is someone who has religion for spiritual purposes instead of a lifestyle. They interpret the bible the way that they see it and they go to church for simple purpose of spiritual guidance. They do not always follow the bible and when they do, it is more of a tale of sorts. They look at the main idea and the moral instead of obeying it word by word.
These catholics are the ones frowned upon. They are always gettting bashed because "real" Catholics should follow ALL the verses as they are written. This is where Catholicism pretty much falls apart when you break things down. For instance, this idea of Cultural Catholics and "True" Catholics is hypocritical. For one thing the priest talks about the gospel IN HIS INTERPRETATION. He also addresses the MAIN IDEA and the MORAL. Moreover, he tells us that the bible is not subject for personal interpretation while he blabbers on about his view on it. Yes, we know the bible is the Holy word but God himself did not write it. PEOPLE wrote it which means those people interpreted their views of God differently. There are no Gospels of God. So we are telling Cultural Catholics to become "True" Catholics based off of personal interpretations found in the bible. However, isn't a true Catholic the ones who are like the followers of Jesus in the old times? The ones who interpreted God's and Jesus' word differently. If thats the case, aren't the Cultural Catholics the True Catholics anyway?
It is unjust to judge how people are religious and how they should live accordingly. That was in the old days. This is the 21st century!! Catholicism needs to stop judging its own people's faith and instead, be glad that most people have faith in the first place. The Catholic community is not to blame here. Catholicism itself is. It needs to stop being hypocritical and move up to modern ways of life. Stop judging your own people and instead let them be spiritual in their own way.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Good ol bumper stickers
The other day, I found a rather hilarious bumper sticker that may be a tad bit rude. But in the end its hilarity wins my heart over. It stated:
"I miss my Ex, but my aim is improving."
The ideology that I found behind this is that ex's are always disliked. Most of us have had a past relationship that makes us think "OMG WHAT WAS I THINKING!?!?!?" In a common topic standpoint this makes sense:
Do bad relationships exist in most of our pasts?
Is it possible that through human instinct and nature that having a bad relationship will happen quite a lot?
In what degree are Ex's valued?
In honor of my blog title, I will not answer these questions cause they are rhetorical. :)
"I miss my Ex, but my aim is improving."
The ideology that I found behind this is that ex's are always disliked. Most of us have had a past relationship that makes us think "OMG WHAT WAS I THINKING!?!?!?" In a common topic standpoint this makes sense:
Do bad relationships exist in most of our pasts?
Is it possible that through human instinct and nature that having a bad relationship will happen quite a lot?
In what degree are Ex's valued?
In honor of my blog title, I will not answer these questions cause they are rhetorical. :)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Confirm-efutation
Confirmation
Assertion to be confirmed: President Truman was right in using the atomic bomb to end the Second World War
Encomium: Truman is a patriotic man that was devoted to his country
Exposition of the situation: On August 6th and August 9th of 1945, two hydrogen bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki obliterating everything and killing tens of thousands of people. The decision came on August 3rd where Truman authorized the usage of the a-bombs because the Japanese rejected the Potsam Declaration.
Certainty: It was known that extreme measures had to be taken in order for Japan to force them to surrender fully. The idea of sending in an invasion force would have been suicide.
Credibility: President Truman was determining various ways to limit casualties in the Alliance forces. He wanted to save as many people as possible.
Possibility: It is possible that the Japanese people were in no way involved in the war. The government itself was held responsible.
Consistency: Truman’s decision was consistent with the pressure and extremity that all presidents have to endure while in war.
Propriety: The timing of Truman’s decision was convenient because it shortened the war and saved the lives of soldiers
Convenience: Truman’s decision was legitimate because it ended WWII, saved lives, and prevent battles that could have happened for many more years.
Refutation
False assertion to be refuted: President Truman was right in using the atomic bomb to end the Second World War
Exposition of the situation: On August 6th and August 9th of 1945, two hydrogen bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki obliterating everything and killing tens of thousands of people. The decision came on August 3rd where Truman authorized the usage of the a-bombs because the Japanese rejected the Potsam Declaration.
Uncertainty: It was not certain that dropping an atomic bomb was the most ideological and efficient solution.
Incredibility: It is hard to believe that over 100,000 lives had to be lost for the sake of showing who is boss
Impossibility: It is impossible that Truman’s decision had no underlying emotions like revenge and fury.
Lack of Consistency: The war efforts of Truman’s were iffy at best and lacked efficiency.
Impropriety: President Truman actions were inappropriate. Killing innocent civilians living in a totalitarianistic government is not the wisest solution.
Inconvenience: The dropping of nuclear weapons is an inconvenience because of the chaos it evokes and the destruction it causes. The spontaneity of it is unbearable .
Assertion to be confirmed: President Truman was right in using the atomic bomb to end the Second World War
Encomium: Truman is a patriotic man that was devoted to his country
Exposition of the situation: On August 6th and August 9th of 1945, two hydrogen bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki obliterating everything and killing tens of thousands of people. The decision came on August 3rd where Truman authorized the usage of the a-bombs because the Japanese rejected the Potsam Declaration.
Certainty: It was known that extreme measures had to be taken in order for Japan to force them to surrender fully. The idea of sending in an invasion force would have been suicide.
Credibility: President Truman was determining various ways to limit casualties in the Alliance forces. He wanted to save as many people as possible.
Possibility: It is possible that the Japanese people were in no way involved in the war. The government itself was held responsible.
Consistency: Truman’s decision was consistent with the pressure and extremity that all presidents have to endure while in war.
Propriety: The timing of Truman’s decision was convenient because it shortened the war and saved the lives of soldiers
Convenience: Truman’s decision was legitimate because it ended WWII, saved lives, and prevent battles that could have happened for many more years.
Refutation
False assertion to be refuted: President Truman was right in using the atomic bomb to end the Second World War
Exposition of the situation: On August 6th and August 9th of 1945, two hydrogen bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki obliterating everything and killing tens of thousands of people. The decision came on August 3rd where Truman authorized the usage of the a-bombs because the Japanese rejected the Potsam Declaration.
Uncertainty: It was not certain that dropping an atomic bomb was the most ideological and efficient solution.
Incredibility: It is hard to believe that over 100,000 lives had to be lost for the sake of showing who is boss
Impossibility: It is impossible that Truman’s decision had no underlying emotions like revenge and fury.
Lack of Consistency: The war efforts of Truman’s were iffy at best and lacked efficiency.
Impropriety: President Truman actions were inappropriate. Killing innocent civilians living in a totalitarianistic government is not the wisest solution.
Inconvenience: The dropping of nuclear weapons is an inconvenience because of the chaos it evokes and the destruction it causes. The spontaneity of it is unbearable .
Thursday, January 21, 2010
That clever ol' guy
"The root of education is bitter, but sweet are its fruits"-Isocrates
Ingeniousness is an art. Isocrates shows that this art is painted and written onto many different sayings. He, however, chose that that artwork of his is much more important than he was himself. His witty remark on education justifies this. Education itself is a very rough process; however, what is derived from that educations is what is beautiful. In old times, alchemists stated that in order to get something miraculous, something of equal value must be given. The same could be said in education. Ergo, education is not without its sacrifice. It is not a mere physical sacrifice, but it involves something more. One cannot be wise and innocent at the same time. The path to become educated is its sacrifice. It is a rough and dangerous road, but at the end, the reward is worth it. However, whenever there is a right way there is also an easy way. Through the easy way, the end of the path becomes closer. However, once the easy path is taken, one realizes that the easy way yields no rewards. Nothing is lost; therefore, nothing is given. This consideration helps understand that Isocrates was true to his word when saying "the root of education is bitter." Sports are parallel to this. Without the sacrifice given in practice, there is no outcome. Thus, Isocrates could be considered an alchemist of sorts. Without the sacrifice in the practice of learning, wisdom is not reached. Witty Isocrates talks about education in such a clear manner that his wisdom is marveled.
Ingeniousness is an art. Isocrates shows that this art is painted and written onto many different sayings. He, however, chose that that artwork of his is much more important than he was himself. His witty remark on education justifies this. Education itself is a very rough process; however, what is derived from that educations is what is beautiful. In old times, alchemists stated that in order to get something miraculous, something of equal value must be given. The same could be said in education. Ergo, education is not without its sacrifice. It is not a mere physical sacrifice, but it involves something more. One cannot be wise and innocent at the same time. The path to become educated is its sacrifice. It is a rough and dangerous road, but at the end, the reward is worth it. However, whenever there is a right way there is also an easy way. Through the easy way, the end of the path becomes closer. However, once the easy path is taken, one realizes that the easy way yields no rewards. Nothing is lost; therefore, nothing is given. This consideration helps understand that Isocrates was true to his word when saying "the root of education is bitter." Sports are parallel to this. Without the sacrifice given in practice, there is no outcome. Thus, Isocrates could be considered an alchemist of sorts. Without the sacrifice in the practice of learning, wisdom is not reached. Witty Isocrates talks about education in such a clear manner that his wisdom is marveled.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Not this again...
Technology is the future, but it is once again getting the short end of the stick. Supposedly, we students are spending more and more time texting, playing video games, going on the computer, and listening to music everyday. What we DON'T hear, however, is that students are using technology for school as well. In fact, some schools use technology for just about everything. Ironically, we are still blamed for "having our lives ruled by technology." This paradox is not addressed, and what I wonder is why technology is such a bad thing in the first place because news stations, ironically show this issue on TV all the time...
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
about me
Hello Everybody!
My name is Josh and I am a rhetorician. A few of the things I enjoy are running, lifting weights, and playing/listening to music. I am considering being either a physics or math major and I am planning to go into medicine. Over the course of the semester, I plan to become better at writing and arguing.
I admit that I am not a lover of English. In fact, if I did not like the professor of this course, I would not be taking it. :P
My name is Josh and I am a rhetorician. A few of the things I enjoy are running, lifting weights, and playing/listening to music. I am considering being either a physics or math major and I am planning to go into medicine. Over the course of the semester, I plan to become better at writing and arguing.
I admit that I am not a lover of English. In fact, if I did not like the professor of this course, I would not be taking it. :P