Intro to Religion Blog

Today in class we learned about the different yearly events on the Jewish calendar. The only one I was aware of before today was Hanukkah so that is the one I will discuss first. My knowledge of this holiday was very limited. I just new that there was candles and kids got gifts everyday. Hanukkah is actually the Celebration of Independence. December 21st is the shortest day of the year and then starting the 22nd it stays lighter out longer. Many thousands of years ago, before Jesus was even born the Jewish believed that they had just enough lamp oil left to light up the temple. The light represents sacredness. However it turns out that the oil lasted 8 whole days. This holiday also represents re-dedication. Some christians think that the Jewish started Hanukkah trying to copy Christmas. However this is not true.

I find this book very interesting to say the least. The story of how this guy just tried something completely different is inspiring i think. I would never have the courage to do such a thing. I wish he would talk more about the difficulties of how it was transform from a Brown student to a Liberty student. I think its something that everybody would like the chance to do or at least know what it is like on the inside of a christian school. I think this book is a good everyday example of the Turner model that people can easily identify. Im not really sure what the axis mundi would be in this novel but I’m guessing it just have to do with being a good christian and living by “The Liberty Way.”

I found ready about the Turner Model difficult. The reading was just hard to comprehend. After discussing it more in class it became more clear to me and I came to really agree with it. I like the idea how we are always trying new things and seeing what it out there in the world for us to explore. But after we explore we must go back and apply that to our everyday life. This is what makes a more round about person. It was very easy to see how the Turner Model really applies to us all. The movie clips in class showed how it is all around us. We just need to be able to identify it.

The world is made up of three simple levels. At the top there is heaven. Below heaven lies the world, and this two are connected by axis mundi. Pretty much anything can be an axis mundi. Usually church steeples, or something that is the main center point. Everybody wants to be closes to the axis mundi because it is to the most sacred and furthermost away from chaos. Here at Morningside the “M” or Lewis Hall is out axis mundi. I think that Lewis Hall is probably the best axis mundi here on campus because it is where we all start our adventure here at Morningside through admissions. The last part of the world would be the underworld which lies underneath the world.

As we discussed each theorist in class I listened and evaluated them in my head with my own personal values and beliefs. On the first day I came to the conclusion that I agreed more with Durkheim. After we broke each theorist down into parts I finally could understand what the readings meant. But after the first day of discussing Frazer and Durkheim I formed my opinions. I decided that Durkheim was the closes to my definition of religion. I like how he has a fixed system and how the taboos are reasonable.  Some people might not like how its such a fixed system but I think it is just good self discipline. I believe that religion shouldn’t be easy but something you can always be working on to improve.  On the other hand my least favorite theorist is Freud. I think Freud is so black and white and  is just sick in the head. I don’t understand how one person can seriously be that messed up in the head. I think he was just embarrassed of what he did and tried to cover it up.

Welcome to Morningside.edu Blogs. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Your blog is set to “Private” by default and will not be listed on the main page. To change this behavior use your dashboard, “Settings” and look inside “Privacy”.