Why the Blog?
A long time ago I started this blog but found that a website better filled my needs at that time. Today, Raven said that we need to do something about the blog; either use it or delete it. She suggested that a blog could be a great place for my students to have further discussion outside of the classroom. I agreed.
But I told her that I wanted to include my former students and friends. And I did not want discussion to be limited only to what we talked about during class. What I have in mind is for us to post a weekly question or idea for consideration that would invite open discussion. Responses might include: unfinished class business, practical application, ideas about how we use these ideas and any questions or comments we want to share.
But I told her that I wanted to include my former students and friends. And I did not want discussion to be limited only to what we talked about during class. What I have in mind is for us to post a weekly question or idea for consideration that would invite open discussion. Responses might include: unfinished class business, practical application, ideas about how we use these ideas and any questions or comments we want to share.
posted by Gerry Smit @ 5:51 PM
4 Comments
4 Comments:
I am so glad this is finally up and running. I am excited to see how this will supplement your courses and allow the discussion you do not have time for during class.
This is a test comment to see how choosing an identity works here.
I think your students who do not already have another web identity can select "Name/URL" and are not required to actually enter a web address for themselves.
There was a statement made in one of the classes today that wasn't really in the context of the class material, but I feel needs to be refuted. And, if you follow this note, I will relate back to material that is part of the class. That is, that Islam is a more militant religion then Christianity. My studies (including the course taught in the ALL last year) indicates that in fact quite the opposite is true. 100's of millions of Islam followers go to bed at night hoping for nothing more then an improved life the next day. In fact, during the middle ages, when European Christians were persecting each other in the name of God, Islam provided a repository for most of the scientific and philosphic learnings in the world which would otherwise have been lost since the church was buring scientific texts. The fringes of all religions, using literal interpretations of their sacred texts to justify their actions, are violent, no question. We should not identify these fringe elements and generalize their action to cover several billion followers of the faith, any faith. Islam holds no special place above all other. In fact, Islam is divided into numerous sects, many of which have more problems with each other then they do with other religions. That said, those of us that come from the Christian tradition, as we examime the EGO that makes us into someone we are not, need to look at this tradition, including the shadow aspects. In examing our EGO identity, the hardest part is looking in the shadows to identify those qualities that are negative and have been repressed since childhood. Being a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim, or Hindu is usually part of that identity. You need to understand what that means in your daily life. If you identify yourself as 'Christian', you cannot ignore the persection of the church, the millions murdered in the name of Christianity. Few people chose to recognize that Columbus discovered the new world, and proclaimed it for Spain, AND THE POPE, who basically funded his mission. The result is that several million Indians died, millions of peoples were bound over in slavery, and millions killed in the name of, or as a result of expanding the faith to the heathen. I find this not a proud legacy, and quite frankly am having some remores trying to deal with it. So, when I heard the comment about militant Islam, my response would have been, "Hay, let's take a look in the mirror and see what that really means for us"
Thanks for mention this, Eric. I’m totally in agreement with you about the fact that the majority of Muslims are peaceful believers. Also that many in Christianity have been vengeful as you brought out. And we ourselves must admit that we have an ‘ego’ “that makes us into someone we are not”. Muslims more militant that Christians? Let’s look in the mirror and get to know ourselves better.
Gerry
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