Last week I mentioned that I was reading a book, but could not remember the name or the author. I promise I did not make up a ghost of an author or reading material. Here is the information, and thus far, highly recommended. However, I must admit, it is only the introduction time has allowed me to wade through. I would like to continue this week with another segment from the book's introduction. Perhaps it will stir some thought provoking ideas about our views on society. From "Landscapes of the Soul, The Loss of Moral Meaning in American Life" by Douglas V. Porpora we are posed with the question, "Who are we"?
Not a person to support the postmodernist views, the author suggests that who we are as individuals within society has been lost in the overwhelming portrayal of media representations and group affiliations. "Sociologists typically see our identities as entirely constructed in what they call social space, the space in which our personal relations and group affiliations are laid out...These are all relational identifiers in social space. Who we are in social space is the intersection of all these overlapping roles." These roles he explains include categories of ethnic affiliation, family affiliation, Rotary or Communist Youth League. He goes on to state, "In fact, we will see that as long as we remain rooted in social space, we will never be able to give a complete answer to the Caterpillar's question posed to Alice (in Alice and Wonderland): 'Who are you?' Most people also think of their personal identities solely within the realm of social space - solely, that is, in terms of their social relationships and group memberships. As a result, when asked who they are, most people are as startled as Alice was to find they have no adequate answer."
Mr. Porpora poses the idea that as individuals we not only identify with groups, but also with values; a moral space. "We are what we stand for. We are the quests we are embarked on, the callings that move us. In moral space, our souls are like arrows that point to visions of the good. To know more deeply who we are, we need to know the moral directions in which our souls are pointing." If we are to speak of the moral space, we speak of moral purpose. "In the end, the moral worth of our lives must be judged not only by the values we have chosen, but also by the values we have declined."
What do you think? Do you spend much time contemplating who you are and all that defines you as an individual? Do you consider individuality important, or is your life defined by your involvements, organizations, church affiliations, doctrines, family roles, and so forth? Do you think individuality has a place in our lives? Does individuality have a place within the Christian church, or are we so united and bonded together that there is no room for exercising individuality? Would you say that society today as a whole has bought into a sense of who they are through media and this social space the author mentions? What moral values do you embrace? Which ones do you decline?
Again, I would love to hear some of your thoughts on such issues.
Until next time, my contemplations will be amongst colored leaves, brisk fall air, blue skies, full moons that light up the clouds, and the anticipations of coming holidays.
Have a wonderful week.
Brenda
Thursday, October 8, 2009
PASSION OR PASSIONLESS
A liberal sociology professor in a prominent university of America, with Catholicism as his religion, wrote a book on the absence of passion within our country's citizens, especially among young college students. His desire to write this book came from classroom experiences in which he would, unapologetically, make adamantly known his dissatisfied views of America. He really didn't care if his students agreed with him or not; they were free to convey their views without penalty. What he found greatly disturbed him, his students took what he said as absolute truth, not questioning if their professor was correct in his claims. The purpose for sharing his views was to encourage and stimulate dialogue in hopes that his students might speak out and offer arguments in opposition to his position. It didn't happen. He decided to press the students to speak about their religious views and what their personal religions meant to them. Trite answers such as, "My religion emphasizes family," and "My religion allows me to live any way I please throughout the week," awakened him to the fact that an element of purpose for life is no longer existent in our society. He decided to introduce issues such as euthanasia, poverty around the world and within America, abuse, abortion, human rights, and other matters of concern. In the attempt to stir emotional response towards humanity concerns, he faced classrooms of students who only had blank stares on their faces and offered the following response, "So? What does all this have to do with us? We really don't care." Understanding the postmodern philosophies ramped throughout society, teamed with these encounters with college students, he decided to write a book about the absence of religion in our society; the absence of meaning and purpose to life beyond just ourselves.
One conclusion this professor came to concerning the lack of desire to involve ourselves in other people's lives stems from an understanding that it does not matter who people are, what background people have, or what religion a person practices, if religion is taken completely out of society, a passionless society arises; socialism is what he named it. However, he did mention that no one is exempt from some kind of faith. Some may attempt to flee from any faith at all, but faith itself cannot become extinct in anyone's life. With great depth, he shares his insights about what creates or produces passion. One idea presented and held by many, is that people create passion themselves and make life what they want it to be. Within this idea, the passion stems from following laws, the do's and don'ts of right and wrong. Another contrasting idea he presents suggests that a passion for life is not following laws, but in becoming who we need to be for a greater purpose and living life according to that purpose. It is also suggested that people do not pull the cart before the horse; that our lives are not meant to be on the search for something of passion so we can find meaning in life. Rather, our lives are driven by passion; the passions lead us to do and become what we need to be as people. He goes a step further and makes the statement, that for matters of worth to lead us, there has to be a source behind all that offers meaning to life. He supports this idea by boldly stating there has to be a higher power driving matters of importance that stimulate passion within people to strive for goals and accomplish great things in their lifetimes. As a Catholic, even though he admits to being extremely liberal, he also boldly uses an example from the Bible and names "God" as being the source for Christianity. He then concludes, if the source of people's passions is eliminated from society, people no longer have a reason to experience meaning in their lives, except to live unto one's self. Why should people care about what occurs to Christians in China, or the inhumane treatment occurring in Iran, the poverty within our own country, or even a neighbor who has lost a loved one?
Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of this book or the author. I began it at 8:30 when things slowed down at the college last night and am unable to check it out until I get my ID. Monday I will be able to bring it home. That's the next chance I get to read it. However, what do you think? Would you agree that we live in a passionless society? Is passion associated with specific groups? Are flares of passion sent up only when we become uncomfortable, only to quickly die away because we don't have enough fire to keep the flame burning? Which argument might you stand behind: life is lived, conquered, and accomplished because we have made it what we think it should be, searching for meaning to life, or does passion grab our hearts, our minds, and our desires, leading us through life to become who we need to be? Do the issues of our country, our world, our communities, our churches, and our families arouse a passion in your heart? What gives your life meaning? Why? Where does it originate? What do you hope to accomplish from your passions?
Life is not just a matter of existence day to day. God was purposeful in his creation; he was purposeful in the laws he gave the Israelites; he was purposeful in his plans for the world; Christ was purposeful in every word he spoke. God is a God of passion, should we not be the same if we are created in his image?
A lot to consider. I have my work cut out for me this week, how about you?
Until next time,
Brenda
One conclusion this professor came to concerning the lack of desire to involve ourselves in other people's lives stems from an understanding that it does not matter who people are, what background people have, or what religion a person practices, if religion is taken completely out of society, a passionless society arises; socialism is what he named it. However, he did mention that no one is exempt from some kind of faith. Some may attempt to flee from any faith at all, but faith itself cannot become extinct in anyone's life. With great depth, he shares his insights about what creates or produces passion. One idea presented and held by many, is that people create passion themselves and make life what they want it to be. Within this idea, the passion stems from following laws, the do's and don'ts of right and wrong. Another contrasting idea he presents suggests that a passion for life is not following laws, but in becoming who we need to be for a greater purpose and living life according to that purpose. It is also suggested that people do not pull the cart before the horse; that our lives are not meant to be on the search for something of passion so we can find meaning in life. Rather, our lives are driven by passion; the passions lead us to do and become what we need to be as people. He goes a step further and makes the statement, that for matters of worth to lead us, there has to be a source behind all that offers meaning to life. He supports this idea by boldly stating there has to be a higher power driving matters of importance that stimulate passion within people to strive for goals and accomplish great things in their lifetimes. As a Catholic, even though he admits to being extremely liberal, he also boldly uses an example from the Bible and names "God" as being the source for Christianity. He then concludes, if the source of people's passions is eliminated from society, people no longer have a reason to experience meaning in their lives, except to live unto one's self. Why should people care about what occurs to Christians in China, or the inhumane treatment occurring in Iran, the poverty within our own country, or even a neighbor who has lost a loved one?
Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of this book or the author. I began it at 8:30 when things slowed down at the college last night and am unable to check it out until I get my ID. Monday I will be able to bring it home. That's the next chance I get to read it. However, what do you think? Would you agree that we live in a passionless society? Is passion associated with specific groups? Are flares of passion sent up only when we become uncomfortable, only to quickly die away because we don't have enough fire to keep the flame burning? Which argument might you stand behind: life is lived, conquered, and accomplished because we have made it what we think it should be, searching for meaning to life, or does passion grab our hearts, our minds, and our desires, leading us through life to become who we need to be? Do the issues of our country, our world, our communities, our churches, and our families arouse a passion in your heart? What gives your life meaning? Why? Where does it originate? What do you hope to accomplish from your passions?
Life is not just a matter of existence day to day. God was purposeful in his creation; he was purposeful in the laws he gave the Israelites; he was purposeful in his plans for the world; Christ was purposeful in every word he spoke. God is a God of passion, should we not be the same if we are created in his image?
A lot to consider. I have my work cut out for me this week, how about you?
Until next time,
Brenda
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