Religion has always been really interesting to me. I have always gone to church but not because I truly want to but because I kind of have to. My aunty being a strong believer in Jesus Christ, rather a fanatic, likes it when I go to church and almost forces me too. Just recently I have started to question what am I 'serving' and praising.
Religion is a huge part of society today, and there must be something that keeps people believing. I would never know, I have never had an experience with God or something along those lines. It seems to me that a main reason why Religion is a big part people's lives is it is an answer to the unknown, or life after death. What happens after death? Where do you go? Are you born again? Death brings up many questions, and none of them can really be answered. However Religion gives an answer. It tells you their is a heaven, nirvana, or whatever place your religion calls it. Living a religious life is sort of living your life by guidelines or rules to help you to achieve the right to go to this 'place' [and not hell] after death. What confuses me is when people fight or discrimnate agaisnt other religions. Like the Sunni and the Shites, that is stupid to me because they believe in the same God and are the same religion. I know that they believe in different versions but shouldn't religion be about peace with others not turmoil? It bothers me when people discriminated agaisnt other religions just because they don't believe in the same God. For example my aunty thinks that any other religion, even sect of Christianity that is different than what she believes in is evil. This is silly to me because generally I think that every religion believes in the same moral values. Religion is good to learn and practice moral values but it becomes discriminatory or somebody becomes a fanatic I think that is too much.
One day in church I felt like an outsider looking in. It got me thinking, is it healthy to devote and WORSHIP something that could easily not be there, or exist, something that you will never see until you die, perhaps you do not even see it when you die we do not know, no one will ever know, atleast while they are alive. But I also listened to the pastor say, "if you have any question on how to become a member...." and that sparked a question in my head, a member of what? I thought church was something you could come freely to whenever you wanted to learn a good lesson, I didn't know it was something you could join. The pastor also said something about sharing your experience with God, so perhaps I need an experience with God, to help me devote my life to him. But then I started to wonder about tithes and offerings. It is strange to me how the church takes your money, but you are "offering" [to God?] and giving it to the church, so it is a good deed because you are giving it to the church right? I don't know. Church and money is an interesting topic because you can look at history and see that the church has been corrupt before, like in the medieval times when people would pay the church, because they thought all their sins would be washed away after. My aunty also use to give me money when i came to church, and that is messed up to me. I mean church should be something i want to come to because i enjoy in it not because i am forced and because i get paid.
I wonder what all the Gods must think of our world. They must all be up there, looking down at us, shaking their heads because we are all fighting against each other. Or maybe there only is one God, I mean we never really here his name or identity. Does he even have a name? I only see him as 'God.' Perhaps every religion believes in the same God. But no matter if there are Gods or just one God he or she or they must be disapproving our world today.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Chang Rae Lee Reflection
I really enjoyed listening to Chang Rae Lee speak to our class. It was insightful to hear the author speak about his book. It was surprising to hear that Chang Rae Lee never really felt out of place in his life, and that he didn't ever struggle with his place in society as a Korean-American. Reading his book I would think the opposite but after Chang Rae Lee said that most of his book is fiction, and not based on his life it was understandable. It was interesting to know that alot of his book is fiction and that his real father was a mellow psychiatrist rather than a "tough-love" type of father.
The discussion that we had after asking Chang Rae Lee questions brought up some good points. On the issue of immigration in Hawaii, many interesting questions were asked. Who has the right to tell people that they do not have the right to live here? Do only natives have the right to tell immigrants they can't live here? But they are a minority group on this island and do not have much authority or power anymore. Even if someone did have the right, how can you tell someone they can not live here. Would they actually listen or do what they want to do. But everyone should have the right to want to better their lives and become successful and no one has the right to tell someone that they can't do that.
The discussion that we had after asking Chang Rae Lee questions brought up some good points. On the issue of immigration in Hawaii, many interesting questions were asked. Who has the right to tell people that they do not have the right to live here? Do only natives have the right to tell immigrants they can't live here? But they are a minority group on this island and do not have much authority or power anymore. Even if someone did have the right, how can you tell someone they can not live here. Would they actually listen or do what they want to do. But everyone should have the right to want to better their lives and become successful and no one has the right to tell someone that they can't do that.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Trouble
The conflict I chose to write about is the death of Henry Park's mother. Through the eyes of Henry Park's father this was just a problem, something that just needed to be fixed.
When Henry's mother dies there is something missing in the daily routine of the lives of the Park family (now only consisting of Henry and his father). When Henry's mother dies she is no longer there to do the every day things, Henry and his father were use to when she was alive. After her death, Henry would come home to an empty house after school, he wouldn't walk in to the smell of Korean food, and his father and him would be forced to spend more time together. After the death of Henry's mother, Henry's father would have to change his daily schedule to accomodate his son. Henry's father's solution to this problem was to bring the "Aujuhma". The Aujuma was a replacement for their lives, a solution to their problem. On p. 64 Henry's father says "you know, it's difficult now. your mommy dead and nobody at home. You too young for that. This nice lady, she come for you. Take care home, food. Nice dinner. Clean house. Better that way." "I didn't answer him." I better tell you before, I know, but I know you don't like. So what i do? I go to store in morning and come home late, nion o' clock, ten. No good, no good, nice lady, she fix that." The aujumeh fixes all the problems that were caused by the death of Henry's mother. Henry's father could have left all these things to be done on their own, and they were for a short while. After Henry's mother's death Henry and his father were forced to spend more time with each other, Henry had to do the things, traditionally a Korean mother would do, and his father had to take time off from work. Henry and Henry's father's lives were both changed and inconvienced by her death. On p. 77 Henry says, "She was buried in a Korean ceremony two days afterward, and for me it was more of a dissappearance than a death." By bringing in the aujuma, Henry's father restored the normal and daily routines, that they were used to and fixed the problem.
When Henry's mother dies there is something missing in the daily routine of the lives of the Park family (now only consisting of Henry and his father). When Henry's mother dies she is no longer there to do the every day things, Henry and his father were use to when she was alive. After her death, Henry would come home to an empty house after school, he wouldn't walk in to the smell of Korean food, and his father and him would be forced to spend more time together. After the death of Henry's mother, Henry's father would have to change his daily schedule to accomodate his son. Henry's father's solution to this problem was to bring the "Aujuhma". The Aujuma was a replacement for their lives, a solution to their problem. On p. 64 Henry's father says "you know, it's difficult now. your mommy dead and nobody at home. You too young for that. This nice lady, she come for you. Take care home, food. Nice dinner. Clean house. Better that way." "I didn't answer him." I better tell you before, I know, but I know you don't like. So what i do? I go to store in morning and come home late, nion o' clock, ten. No good, no good, nice lady, she fix that." The aujumeh fixes all the problems that were caused by the death of Henry's mother. Henry's father could have left all these things to be done on their own, and they were for a short while. After Henry's mother's death Henry and his father were forced to spend more time with each other, Henry had to do the things, traditionally a Korean mother would do, and his father had to take time off from work. Henry and Henry's father's lives were both changed and inconvienced by her death. On p. 77 Henry says, "She was buried in a Korean ceremony two days afterward, and for me it was more of a dissappearance than a death." By bringing in the aujuma, Henry's father restored the normal and daily routines, that they were used to and fixed the problem.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Freedom
The most important American value that my parents and I decided was, freedom. The discussion was interesting to me because my father, has always been an American and my mother, originally born in Korea, had a foreigner’s view of America. The main value that my mother talked about was freedom. She first mentioned how America had more opportunity. The artifact that I chose to represent freedom, is a dollar bill. I chose this because of freedom there is opportunity. America is a place with many open doors for anyone and everyone. Many people from America, and not from America have the freedom to become successful and make a living for themselves. My mother, born in the rural countryside of Korea, came to America for a better lifestyle. In America there were more opportunities, and better education; with hard work and determination she slowly became successful and acquired a more comfortable living life. The freedom in America is also about being more liberal or open minded about things. We are more accepting to differences in people and what they might value. We allow people to act (to a certain extent) the way they want to, and express themselves. The freedom in America is not just about being able to do more things or get away with more things but it is also about being who you want to be and what you want to believe in. The freedom of religion in America allows anyone to practice any religion that they desire. America is a more accepting and liberal place, which allows more diversity in culture, religion, people, and race etc. The dollar bill also represents freedom in America because money is different in every country and the freedom in America is unique and different than in other countries. The more accepting liberal society in America allows people to openly express who they truly are. More opportunities and better education in America allow people to work hard and achieve a more prosperous lifestyle.
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