Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #9: The Incarnation of God

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #9: The Incarnation of God: "After viewing 'The Nativity Story', analyzing your chosen Christmas carol, and reading Philippians 2:1-7, reflect on the meaning of Christma..."

Christmas is the revelation of God to the world. It commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the son of God, to a young couple from Galilee.

Jesus is widely recognized to be the messiah, our savior. Even among the non-believers, he is acknowledged as a good man of many good deeds. A man of great power, yet a greatly humbled man.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

This describes the moment upon which the shepherds first see the baby Jesus. Angels were said to have surrounded the baby, and a light bathed him. It describes the majesty of such a baby, the son of God, here on Earth with us.


Mary had to have faith in the Lord for this to work, as she became the subject of many accusations. Joseph also had to put his faith in God, both to protect and believe Mary. The shepherds and astrologists just had to put their faith in a higher power, and hope it actually meant something.


Coming to Earth as a child shows us that God isn't as out of reach as perhaps we may have thought before. He walks among us, humbly as one of us. Instead of seizing, he seeks to simply help. Perhaps he simply wanted to understand us on our own terms, or to put a friendly face on his healing work.


We also associate babies and birth as beautiful, innocent things. Just maybe, God played on that image to win us over.

Modern Religious Experience: Personal Commemoration- Reflection #7

Modern Religious Experience: Personal Commemoration- Reflection #7: "Think of an event in your life- past, present or future. You are going to create a commemorative ritual for this event. First, describe the ..."

December 17th 2009 will forever be a memorable time in my life. There were many long years filled with countless events that built up to it, but when taken individually these things are insignificant. It is the outcome fueled by the collective that will hold the most significance to me.

It was the day I left my father and my home of almost 15 years for the first time. The day I would live with my mother for the first time, who I had seen increasingly less of as I grew older. Over the years our relationship became strained; he had his life, and I had mine. We barely interacted, and when we did it was only to clash horns. At the time I blamed him for many things, as did he with me. Eventually I became so independent that he couldn't raise me anymore, and so my mother agreed to take care of me. The date of the flight to Korea was set on the 17th. I had only just moved to a new town about 3 months before this, and now had to leave another home, school, and many new friends I had made.

It was an emotional experience. I barely knew anything about Korea, living abroad, or even my own mother who I was to live with. It was the first time I ever saw my father break down and cry. Saying goodbye to all my family in England, and leaving just over a week before Christmas.

I still can't decide whether it was a change for the better or the worse. Maybe I never will. As of now I deeply regret ever moving, but for what its worth there was some good that came out of it. Finally seeing my father being open with me for the first time in a while, and seeing a new land and culture from a different perspective than just a visitor. But one thing that both surprised and touched me was the response from the new school I had only just joined and left. My last day was very special, with my uniform covered with marker expressing lots of good luck wishes and goodbyes. One of my friends had made a Facebook group dedicated to me, wishing me all the best on my new life in Korea, with nearly the entire school joining it and contributing to it. Until then I wasn't very confident in myself, but just seeing how much of an impact I had made on that school in such a short time completely changed my perspective on myself.

The "ritual" shall last from dawn on the 17th, when I first left my home for the airport, to dusk on the 18th, when I first set foot outside the airport in Korea. It will be a time of reflection, a time I shall spend completely alone, just like I had done on the flight and how I felt for a long time before and after this event. In hindsight, I could have easily prevented the strain on the relationship with my father, but I was much too proud for that. This will serve to remind me how I am the largest barrier to my own life. And on this day, I shall remember the one phrase my father held so dearly. A quote from Calvin and Hobbes, a comic strip my father adored and from which he gave me my middle name of Calvin. The very last line Calvin ever says to Hobbes before the series ended. The line engraved on the back of my iPod I was given by my father as my last Christmas present on my last week in the UK:

"It's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy. Let's go exploring!"

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #8 Islam: Two Perspectives

Modern Religious Experience: Reflection #8 Islam: Two Perspectives: "Find where Islamic religious beliefs intersect with current events. Research a Western news source on the story and summarize the artic..."

http://infowars.net/articles/february2007/150207Obama.htm

The 9/11 attacks caused a huge commotion in the international scene. Much of this commotion came from America itself, with many people suspecting the government's involvement. Obama addresses the concerns of the nation, dismissing the rumors surrounding the event.

http://www.caps.af/detail.asp?Lang=e&Cat=2&ContID=9183

This time the Iranian president expresses his opinions on America's involvement with the 9/11 attacks, with Obama once again having to defend the governments actions.

Surprisingly, both articles seem to be against Obama, although even more surprising is how the american website seems to have much stronger beliefs. It voices its concerns over the many "mistakes" and "blunders" the government made, and goes so far as to try to "uncover the truth that has been hidden behind a wall of whitewashing." The Islamic piece however is much less opinionated, although there is definitely a slight bias towards Iran.