Philosophy 525-are are experienced?
This page will contain (hopefully) daily or weekly responses to class discussions, readings, and whatever else happens to pop off in my head at the time.
Sept.3.2008
I've been reading 8 (or 7) theories constantly these last days. What Freud writes is interesting. The "totem and taboo" book which he published sounds bizarre yet reflective of his original finds about the Oedipus complex. The primitive man killing his father and marrying his mother. On the anniversary of the murder there is a ceremonial feast or offering in honor of the fallen father. Freud relates this murder to that of Jesus, again trying to solidify his previous research. I've started to read Durkheim whom I've started to find amazing, but not quit finished because I need to stat Freud's "The future if an Illusion". Still not too savvy with the wiki glossary thing.
Sept.7. 2008
For some reason I can not get onto ilearn, which totally sucks. Why is it that on a sunday, the day that most students do their homework the online forum is not connecting. Just my luck. Read James lecture I, kind of taken back by what he is trying to say about religion. Must start Freud's illusion before tuesday. Also wiki is something I still haven't tried yet....
Sept.14. 2008
Okay to clarify to all this is my "semester long journal" blog to show the growth of my knowledge in religious experience.
Since the 9th of Sept. our class has been discussion Freud and his theories. In the first chapter of Freud's book "Future of an Illusion" he states that only someone who has knowledge of the past and the experience of life can be able to for tell the future. Freud has this passion to exclude individuals because he doesn't think them fit? Also I feel Freud is trying to hard to connect to many human emotions together (fear, passion, society, religion). Freud states that religion is the efforts of few to control the masses. Also that religion comes out of the fear of nature, and the human instinct to want to control that. Freud is also someone how connects his ideas with analogies and nothing else.
Need to keep up with my read James is who I keep forgetting about, and start my essays which are due on THURSDAY SEPT. 18. 2008, oh and my discussion on ilearn!!!
Sept.28.2008
On thursday in class we were talking about how reductionism is not as bad as we (I) once thought. When discussing illnesses one would want to know the root cause of a problem instead of talking about the symptom as mentioned by Professor Pam, which for me is a different way of looking at religion. I previously felt like substantivism was the only way to explain religion, because i didn't like Freud's explanation of reducing religion into a neurosis. When looking at Durkheim and his views on how religion is basically social cohesion is reductionism at its best, but i like his theory. In a world of difference religion gives individuals a small aspect of similarities.
Been reading James, accidentally read chapters that i didnt have too. So trying to keep up with values of saintliness and Marx, still never wiki'd. Need to check forum for discussions and any other homework that i've missed
Oct.26.2008
The further that I read the further I fall down the rabbit hole. The extent of what D.Z. Phillips is writing is stirring something within my soul. The misconception that the mass population has with the language which we use to express ourselves is never enough to fully explain the emotions and feelings that one [I] could have. Never has the box been so transparent as the one that sits in the middle of the room.
There is a quote from Phillips that I truly felt in the hole of my being..."No matter how many of our endeavours have been crowned by success, there is always the possibility that this crown will be snatched away when we least expect it." There is something in that quote that hits right into the heart of the American drive for success and the fear that is instilled into each and every citizen of this culture. In the beginning of the book Phillips states that the secret is in finding the place that religion fits into the lives of people. Then can we learn something more or different about religion.
Still haven't wiki'd and I still need to write about Evan-Pritchards in the forum questions.
Nov.29.2008
Waiting to return to my beloved city I sit and ponder not only of how much food I just consumed but of our last class meeting. Miracles, an event or action that brakes the laws of nature. Listening in class to what others had to say about the subject helped me appreciate the very smallest of thankings that I expressed this week. This week has also shown that individuals do use the term miracle very loosely. I found the time pass sitting amongst old friends and a pint and correcting some as they talked of recent experiences from months past. I would say "no it's luck", forgetting that most of these individuals don't think to much about what a miracle truly means. I would chuckle and think if they only knew that meeting that guy during halloween was not a miracle but pure dumb luck. After listening further and consuming more liquor I remembered that miracles are gifts from god or if not a gift a event that defies god. If god is the metaphysical, the laws of the laws of nature, and if those laws are broken that would mean that all those laws that god created really didn't mean much of anything. Except if you don't believe in god and just the laws of nature then luck could be the only explanation for such events as the unexplainable. But then why would nature morph or change to let something spectacular, unknowing occur?
Dec.1.2008
Feuerbach has just blown my mind with a .45. Not only is god just a anthropomorphic express of our own characters but also if " god can renounce his divinity out of love, this shows that ultimately, love is more important that god. As god has renounced himself out of love, so we, out of love, should renounce God." Feuerbach goes even further in his analysis states that if man did not died, there would be no need religion."
Still pondering my thoughts...
Dec.8. 2008
Phillips does a great job at exploring the world of Feuerbach in a not too biased way. With such views as anthropology as the true study of man an religion since god is man. When looking at religion we are truly looking at the history of how the views of ourselves have changed. Individuals project onto their god[s] anthropomorphic values. For example from the old testament to the new the views of god changed from jealous, vengeful, and murderous to loving, all knowing, and gracious. One can see the naturally switch from one to the other. The beginning of christianity was embedded in turmoil and segregation during the early Roman times. Once these religions became more mainstream the characteristics of their god changed as well.
Last thursday in class professor was getting into the thought that [I think it was Feuerbach that said] the individuals that follow the dogma and rituals that think that that is all there is to religion, are not truly religious at all. Further not going to church but practicing the virtues of religion makes one more spiritual/ religious.
Dec.14.2008
This will be my closing remarks about everything that I've learned and experienced this last four months. In the beginning what I thought I know about religion was a mere inkling to what has been theorized and discussed over the years. Starting with Taylor and Frazer and ending with Feurerbach with a spectrum of other theorists in the middle I have come to think that the truth of religion is the love for the earth and the love for other human beings.
cont'
When thinking about history, because that is my major, I find that with time there has always been changing views about religion and human existence. However the ultimate question of "why" will never change. One theorist said that sometimes the questions have to stop and individuals just have to live. Now this does not mean that individuals should stop exploring and learning about the world around them, but at some point just experiencing life is become a tool to learn more about ourselves.
When I started this class I was not sure if there was a god, perhaps I thought this way because nothing has been shown to me to think differently. After spending months in this class I am no closer to explaining if there is a god or not, but have come to the conclusion that I do not want to be the biggest thing in this world to be the human race. There has to be something, how remote or obscure it may be but something larger than myself and others in this world. Do I think that religion is the way to salvation...no. I think realizing that we are all connected on this crazy planet. All most like ripples in a pool, each one of us effects the other and so on. There is a metaphysical being that keeps the laws of nature in order, weather someone wants to call that god is fine to me, but with that simple word so many different meanings come into my mind. Like Feuerbach love is my god and with that I close this statement with a quote from John Lennon[ The Beatles] "All you need is love", and that is it.
Sept.3.2008
I've been reading 8 (or 7) theories constantly these last days. What Freud writes is interesting. The "totem and taboo" book which he published sounds bizarre yet reflective of his original finds about the Oedipus complex. The primitive man killing his father and marrying his mother. On the anniversary of the murder there is a ceremonial feast or offering in honor of the fallen father. Freud relates this murder to that of Jesus, again trying to solidify his previous research. I've started to read Durkheim whom I've started to find amazing, but not quit finished because I need to stat Freud's "The future if an Illusion". Still not too savvy with the wiki glossary thing.
Sept.7. 2008
For some reason I can not get onto ilearn, which totally sucks. Why is it that on a sunday, the day that most students do their homework the online forum is not connecting. Just my luck. Read James lecture I, kind of taken back by what he is trying to say about religion. Must start Freud's illusion before tuesday. Also wiki is something I still haven't tried yet....
Sept.14. 2008
Okay to clarify to all this is my "semester long journal" blog to show the growth of my knowledge in religious experience.
Since the 9th of Sept. our class has been discussion Freud and his theories. In the first chapter of Freud's book "Future of an Illusion" he states that only someone who has knowledge of the past and the experience of life can be able to for tell the future. Freud has this passion to exclude individuals because he doesn't think them fit? Also I feel Freud is trying to hard to connect to many human emotions together (fear, passion, society, religion). Freud states that religion is the efforts of few to control the masses. Also that religion comes out of the fear of nature, and the human instinct to want to control that. Freud is also someone how connects his ideas with analogies and nothing else.
Need to keep up with my read James is who I keep forgetting about, and start my essays which are due on THURSDAY SEPT. 18. 2008, oh and my discussion on ilearn!!!
Sept.28.2008
On thursday in class we were talking about how reductionism is not as bad as we (I) once thought. When discussing illnesses one would want to know the root cause of a problem instead of talking about the symptom as mentioned by Professor Pam, which for me is a different way of looking at religion. I previously felt like substantivism was the only way to explain religion, because i didn't like Freud's explanation of reducing religion into a neurosis. When looking at Durkheim and his views on how religion is basically social cohesion is reductionism at its best, but i like his theory. In a world of difference religion gives individuals a small aspect of similarities.
Been reading James, accidentally read chapters that i didnt have too. So trying to keep up with values of saintliness and Marx, still never wiki'd. Need to check forum for discussions and any other homework that i've missed
Oct.26.2008
The further that I read the further I fall down the rabbit hole. The extent of what D.Z. Phillips is writing is stirring something within my soul. The misconception that the mass population has with the language which we use to express ourselves is never enough to fully explain the emotions and feelings that one [I] could have. Never has the box been so transparent as the one that sits in the middle of the room.
There is a quote from Phillips that I truly felt in the hole of my being..."No matter how many of our endeavours have been crowned by success, there is always the possibility that this crown will be snatched away when we least expect it." There is something in that quote that hits right into the heart of the American drive for success and the fear that is instilled into each and every citizen of this culture. In the beginning of the book Phillips states that the secret is in finding the place that religion fits into the lives of people. Then can we learn something more or different about religion.
Still haven't wiki'd and I still need to write about Evan-Pritchards in the forum questions.
Nov.29.2008
Waiting to return to my beloved city I sit and ponder not only of how much food I just consumed but of our last class meeting. Miracles, an event or action that brakes the laws of nature. Listening in class to what others had to say about the subject helped me appreciate the very smallest of thankings that I expressed this week. This week has also shown that individuals do use the term miracle very loosely. I found the time pass sitting amongst old friends and a pint and correcting some as they talked of recent experiences from months past. I would say "no it's luck", forgetting that most of these individuals don't think to much about what a miracle truly means. I would chuckle and think if they only knew that meeting that guy during halloween was not a miracle but pure dumb luck. After listening further and consuming more liquor I remembered that miracles are gifts from god or if not a gift a event that defies god. If god is the metaphysical, the laws of the laws of nature, and if those laws are broken that would mean that all those laws that god created really didn't mean much of anything. Except if you don't believe in god and just the laws of nature then luck could be the only explanation for such events as the unexplainable. But then why would nature morph or change to let something spectacular, unknowing occur?
Dec.1.2008
Feuerbach has just blown my mind with a .45. Not only is god just a anthropomorphic express of our own characters but also if " god can renounce his divinity out of love, this shows that ultimately, love is more important that god. As god has renounced himself out of love, so we, out of love, should renounce God." Feuerbach goes even further in his analysis states that if man did not died, there would be no need religion."
Still pondering my thoughts...
Dec.8. 2008
Phillips does a great job at exploring the world of Feuerbach in a not too biased way. With such views as anthropology as the true study of man an religion since god is man. When looking at religion we are truly looking at the history of how the views of ourselves have changed. Individuals project onto their god[s] anthropomorphic values. For example from the old testament to the new the views of god changed from jealous, vengeful, and murderous to loving, all knowing, and gracious. One can see the naturally switch from one to the other. The beginning of christianity was embedded in turmoil and segregation during the early Roman times. Once these religions became more mainstream the characteristics of their god changed as well.
Last thursday in class professor was getting into the thought that [I think it was Feuerbach that said] the individuals that follow the dogma and rituals that think that that is all there is to religion, are not truly religious at all. Further not going to church but practicing the virtues of religion makes one more spiritual/ religious.
Dec.14.2008
This will be my closing remarks about everything that I've learned and experienced this last four months. In the beginning what I thought I know about religion was a mere inkling to what has been theorized and discussed over the years. Starting with Taylor and Frazer and ending with Feurerbach with a spectrum of other theorists in the middle I have come to think that the truth of religion is the love for the earth and the love for other human beings.
cont'
When thinking about history, because that is my major, I find that with time there has always been changing views about religion and human existence. However the ultimate question of "why" will never change. One theorist said that sometimes the questions have to stop and individuals just have to live. Now this does not mean that individuals should stop exploring and learning about the world around them, but at some point just experiencing life is become a tool to learn more about ourselves.
When I started this class I was not sure if there was a god, perhaps I thought this way because nothing has been shown to me to think differently. After spending months in this class I am no closer to explaining if there is a god or not, but have come to the conclusion that I do not want to be the biggest thing in this world to be the human race. There has to be something, how remote or obscure it may be but something larger than myself and others in this world. Do I think that religion is the way to salvation...no. I think realizing that we are all connected on this crazy planet. All most like ripples in a pool, each one of us effects the other and so on. There is a metaphysical being that keeps the laws of nature in order, weather someone wants to call that god is fine to me, but with that simple word so many different meanings come into my mind. Like Feuerbach love is my god and with that I close this statement with a quote from John Lennon[ The Beatles] "All you need is love", and that is it.
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by mespillane525
This is my SFSU philosophy 525 blog. Class- The Nature of Religious Experience 525 Professor- Dr. Hood
"cure my neurosis" (more)
