March 25thhh

I am really starting to enjoy Breathing Space and I am liking Neumark more and more. It is so crazy how many stories she has to tell. Every single story is so descriptive and is sooooo powerful. Like we talked about in class, Claiborne has a different way preach his message to people than she does. I'm not quite sure I would really want to meet him, but I would love to sit down and talk to Neumark. I am a strong believer in teaching a man to fish. Just like in Panama City, the only thing that "Repent You Whores" does is cause confrontation. How are you going save anyone when you look down on them? Neumark cares about every single person no matter who they are. She not only helps them she respects them so much. I really look up to that and can tell why she made such a strong impact, and I'm amazed on how well she writes about it. 

One story that really stood out to me was the one about the Lepers in the Bed. I can't believe that he was trying to become closer to God and started praying to a chair, and the people which should be taking care of him came in and shot him. That stopped my heart. Not only did that make me sad, it made me very mad. How could people think that they have the right to kill anyone. Also, they didn't even give him a chance to explain himself. People are so fast to just assume the worst in our country. Reading these intense stories really start to get me thinking about a lot. I have always imagined its hard in the Bronx, but I could never imagine these things she has heard. Not only has she heard these stories, she helped them and worked with them spreading the love of Jesus. I really like what she is doing and she is the type of christian which our society needs. Hopefully something can rub off on all of us. 

Project Propozzzellllll

My project has been changing in my head every day. Even though I would love to do a film, I don't think that I'm going to get enough people to make any valid conclusion. I was told to look at the world that is immediately around you. Try to think more about how the prophets act. My Dad is a social worker in Kensington, PA and he would be open to do a thorough interview. He has been working with the poor for over 20 years and he is currently getting his masters at Rutgers . Also, My High School in Radnor, PA is part of the Mainline. This is one of the richest counties in the country and is the polar opposite of the city of Philadelphia. I am hoping to research more about these two places. I always would ask to myself, how can this suburb be so obnoxiously rich while my Dad has had hundreds of clients who our addicts and criminals, all products of being born into such a horrid place? The steps that I am planning to take is to research Philadelphia and Radnor and talk about experiences I have had in both. Interviewing my Dad as well as explaining through scripture and our reading what the prophets would have to say about all this. I'm not quite sure how I am going to present it, but maybe a PowerPoint or a collage or like some like slideshow? But I'll figure that out soon hopefully. 

March 18th Blog

Unfortunately, not all the listening worked for me for some reason, but I got the NPR interview, Speaking of Faith, to work so i'll talk about that. While I was listening to these people talk about Heschel he seemed like a extremely noble man. I never knew that he marched along with Dr. King which is really cool. As I listened to Heschel's speaking about the prophets he explained that their actions are very much a live today. I believe that there are prophets everywhere such as Dorothy Day and Dr. King. They both devoted their entire lives to justice even while they were being persecuted. With Joshua Heschel they kept calling him a mystic. I looked this word up and this was a person who claims to attain or believes in the possibility of attaining insight as by direct communication with the divine. I would agree with calling him that. Heschel had more than a understanding of God, he was connected to him on a personal level. He has worked with every theologian as well as meeting the Pope. A great idea he taught was that you must be open to everyone in order to teach from them. I wish that I could live my life like that. To often I put peoples differences into to much of a problem, while they could teach me something that I have never thought about, such as talking to a person of Jewish faith. 

Another thing that surprised me was how similar Heschel and Dr. King were. They both grew up in different faiths, however their parents were both teachers and brought them up with a personal relationship with God. Heschel was an important piece in the Civil Rights movement, and stood up to speak for Justice. During his last interview recorded he talks about how important prayer is. Heschel says, "prayer may not save us, but prayer may make us worthy of being saved... a partnership of god and men." I believe that if we have such a partnership with God like King and Heschel did we would be able to understand the differences in everyone, because God is within everyone and Heschel definitely understood that, no matter if they were jew, christian, or athiest. 

March 4th Blog

During the reading of Dr. King's Letter from Birmingham I was once again blown away from his words. It was amazing to me to read such a beautiful letter that was written in such harsh conditions. Every word that he wrote I could tell was well thought out and backed up with multiple examples. First Dr. King made it known that there is a big difference between just and unjust laws. He explains that when a law is just on its face, but unjust on its application then there is a moral sense of breaking these laws. Just like Isaiah calling out to Israel to flee, Dr. King is calling out to everyone to step up against these unjust laws. Another great point that he had was when people outside the bubble of injustice question the African American people's motives. He makes a point that you have never seen the hardships we have witnessed. How can you tell his son or daughter that your not aloud to go into this restaurant because of the color of your skin? That was a very powerful part, and I agree with him in every way possible. 

Another part that I enjoyed was when Dr. King called out the Southern Churches. Watching "behind the anesthetizing security of the stained-glass windows". This reminded me of Claiborne. Its so ridiculous that the church would explain that we should not step up for justice because it is against the law. We are seen by God as brothers and sisters, however as soon as you have to get your hands dirty people start making excuses. The comparison to a Thermometer and a Thermostat hit the nail on the head. To much does the church only record ideas and principals and talk about justice, while they need to transform injustices and help make our society work for all people. It's ridiculous that not even the churches were stepping up for these injustices. 

If I was locked up in a southern Jail in this time period I would have lost all hope. However, Dr. King expresses that he has hope in that we will change, and he has hope in the church. He talks about extremist and how they stood up for justice. The idea that Dr. King is working so hard for justice as well as partaking in non-violence movements makes him even better. Its amazing that he speaks of Agape love and advocates it so well. Just like Dr. King said, "Justice delayed is Justice denied". He is confident in his words and he knows that soon all his protesting will pay off. 

Perplexing Post about Pacifism

During Monday's discussion I really started to think differently about Pacifism. Since I was young people have told me that they were Pacifist or they were extremely passive, and I sat there nodding my head thinking that they wouldn't punch me if I provoked them. However, Pacifism is not that simple. At first while we were discussing our ideas about the subject we were all thinking of this as a reaction. For example, if there was a man trying to fight me I would explain to them that fighting would never solve the problem. Pacifism is not the correct word to use. If you were a Pacifist you would never put yourself into that negative situation, therefore that man would never yell at you and try to fight. It seems like this word is more of a Utopia. Our harsh world that we live in causes us to think that this is unreachable, but I believe if we understood the word more than just not fighting, this would change a lot of peoples minds.

For a week now I have been thinking if I could ever be a pacifist, and honestly I do not think so. I was a little punk growing up, and I always resorted to fighting. My anger gets the best of me sometimes, and I am very argumentative. On the other hand, I would never support violence and never intentionally start a problem with someone. It seems that this word has the tendency to be hypocritical. I am living in a world that has been transformed by War, we wouldn't be the United States without our War with the English, and England was dominant because of the Power they had. 

Now when I think about pacifism I stop myself when I think about fighting back. On Monday we learned that if we never brought our society to believe that fighting was the only solution, and took that eye for an eye, we would of never gotten so deep into the whole. pacifism is a great concept, but I believe, because of our history and our human nature that there will never be an opportunity to start being all pacifist. We all have to much pride and way to much hunger for Power and being #1 

Feb. 18th: Response to Day

I haven't really talked much about Day in my blogs and i want to go back to her journey to find God. I feel like many people can relate to the early Dorothy Day when it comes to faith in God. While she was in jail for the first time she asked for the Bible. The saying goes: "you can never find an atheist in a bunker". Meaning, when people are cornered and there is no turning back people will ask for a Bible or pray for the first time. Even though Dorothy had that Bible it seemed that once her hunger strike was done and they went back to county she rejected God once again. Those stories made me question Day's motives. While she fought for equal rights and against poverty she always seemed to relate everything back to God, however at that time God was not in her mind. I wonder what the first part of her book would be like if she wrote it at the time?

Another thing I want to talk about is her babies daddy: Forster. I would love to hear other people's opinions on him. It confused me so much that she just married this man out of the blue. I'm sure she knew him for a long time, but while I was reading it didn't seem like that. I don't understand how she could love someone who is so anti-religion. Even though he was a communist and hated structure like Day it really didn't seem like they got along. "Forster did not believe in bringing children into such a world as we lived in." What in the world is that statement? I really hope that she wasn't serious, but it doesn't seem like Day is a jokester. If you are not proud of the present, our only hope is the future. Even though Day ended up leaving him she still acted like she loved him. I really didn't like that part of the book. I would of never thought that Dorothy would fall in love with someone like that. I know this part of the book is only bio, but it still really bothered me. 

As I read about her learning about catholicism and coming closer to God I started to think about my own life. I grew up in a very Catholic family and there were rules upon rules upon rules. It seems like Day enjoys this structure and all these rules, however her being an activist goes against the whole structure thing? I feel like Catholicism brought me away from God in the beginning, because it was too much of a leap from not believing. It seems like Day doesn't think that at all, and this second half of the book I think doesn't really fit well with the first part. But thats my opinion...

I am sad that I missed Charles Strobel, but from what I have read and heard from other people he had a lot a powerful things to say. Poverty is never ending issue and it seems that we will never truly get it as a whole. Throughout history, the poor has always been a problem that the rich do not want to deal with. As I hear more and more about these things it makes me want to really step up and help, but I'm not sure if that would even help. In the beginning of the year I was hopeful for the poor, however I really didn't understand our global issues. Bono would be telling me on T.V. but reading Claiborne and Day it seems that nothing has changed at all in a century. Also, reading about the Bible there has been the same problem since the beginning of time. The only way it will stop is if governments step in and stop World Hunger, or it will be too late. There is only so much people can do, but governments control these people. They spend Trillions of dollars on wars and oil, but they can't even get together thirty or forty Billion. That is nothing when you think in terms of Trillions. But maybe we are passed the point of no return, and it is already too late to help the hungry? I really hope that's not true, but how long will it take till that horrible statement is reality? 

Blogstaaa

While i was reading about Jeremiah i got the feeling that God is officially fed up with his people. " The Lord wrests the decision to judge from Himself: He would at once forgive, he has attempted to do so by means of disciplinary training, now he can no more forgive, he must avenge himself,..." If i was in the jewish people's position at this time i would like to think i would listen to these Prophets, however i know that your own needs get the best of you. Just like Isaiah, Jeremiah is trying to get through to the people that God is not happy. Heschel points out that Jeremiah speaks of the wrath of God more than any other prophet. I feel like at this point in theology people are completely unaware of what God actually wants. 

Its crazy how much of these Prophets word's could be taken today as much as the past. During the past ten years in America we have been fighting in Iraq in order to "help". After September 11th everyone justified the war saying this is God's war. That always made me mad that someone would bring God into something as terrible as war. This is similar to what is happening during the Prophets time, because people think they are fighting for God. In reality, Isaiah and Jeremiah are trying to get through to the people that this is Not what God wants. We need to have faith in God that he will judge wrong doings. It is not our responsibility to judge and make the decision whether another human lives or dies. Human nature causes people to react without thinking. My mom always tells me you gotta think before you act, and I think the Prophets are prime example of doing that. Maybe if we step back and meditate for a little bit before getting pissed off and attacking the first person you see, our decision might be more christian like. 

I believe that Day is a great example of keeping faith in God. Another part of Day that i enjoy is that we are walking along Day's journey with God. While i was reading Claiborne it kinda seemed like he was trying to make himself look like the GREATEST CHIRSTIAN EVERR!!!! But with Day i relate with her a lot more on a personal level. That is why i really am enjoying this book. Her story is amazing! She seems like the most down to earth person, and I believe it is because she has the same mindset as the past Prophets. Not only does she not react immediately she understands that it is not up to her, she leaves everything up to God. That is why these Prophets seem so frustrated. God's people have completely lost faith and don't understand that God will provide for them. He always has, but not quite in ways that we understand. God sees what we are unable to understand, and that is why we must have Faith that everything will work out if we leave it up to Him.