Friday, November 23, 2012
Movie Review: Lincoln
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Tuesdays with Lewis: Atheism and Evil
“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and
unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a
line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing
this universe with when I called it unjust?”
Some of C.S. Lewis’s most profound observations appear as he
dissects atheism. Lewis systematically dismantles all the popular arguments,
including the classic “why is there evil?” one. Personally, I have sometimes
struggled to answer friends who have challenged me with this argument. In Mere Christianity,
Lewis offers an elegant answer that strikes at the premise behind the question.
We cannot argue against God’s existence by citing the injustice inherent in the
universe.
Search the internet for arguments in support of God’s
existence and we will invariably find a common response: “But if God existed,
why is there so much evil?” This question seems to have influenced hundreds of
people to reject Christianity and theism. People look around and see death,
destruction, and pain everywhere. How could God allow such a cruel existence?
Thus, atheists believe in a random and non-spiritual universe devoid of meaning
or overarching purpose. If the world governs itself by self-interest, survival
instincts, and probabilities, atheists can accept both the beauty and evil of
the world together.
Yet Lewis cuts to the heart of the argument by questioning
the terms people use. After all, we cannot label something as evil without also
identifying good. Even those opposed to Christianity would agree with the above
statement. However, when we extend the same label to the universe, we arrive at
a contradiction in the atheistic worldview. If we condemn the universe as
unjust and cruel, we compare it with some “ideal” or “good” universe. Since no
man living has witnessed such a universe, we must conclude that this standard
is a universal ideal hidden in our nature.
If we truly consist of just molecules, we would not possess
ideals. Man’s highest ideals should consist of their instincts: wealth, power,
and pleasure. I do not deny that many men do indeed pursue their survival
instincts. However, all men speak of their emptiness and yearning for a greater
purpose than selfish desires. Even atheists desire to engage in philanthropy,
altruism, and legacy-building. This desire to find meaning cannot stem from a
purely natural universe.
Ultimately, only God can reveal their emptiness to someone who does not believe. Even so, their
plaintive cry against injustice may serve to unearth their longing for justice
and higher standards. As Lewis says, atheism disproves itself.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Tuesdays with Lewis
“One of the marks of a certain type of bad man is that he cannot give up a thing himself without wanting every one else to give it up. That is not the Christian way. An individual Christian may see fit to give up all sorts of things for special reasons--marriage, or meat, or beer, or the cinema; but the moment he starts saying the things are bad in themselves, or looking down his nose at other people who do use them, he has taken the wrong turning.” - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Some of C.S. Lewis’s most profound observations appear as he dissects morality. Lewis deals with the touchy subject of social mores. Many Christians have bitter disagreements about alcohol, movies, and other such topics. Christians who hold strict positions accuse their freer brethren of indulgence and sin. Those who hold different views accuse their opponents of legalism and pharisaical behavior. Personally, I have sometimes struggled to find the fine line between these camps. In Mere Christianity, Lewis slices to the heart of the dispute, arguing that while we can make a decision to abstain, we must not look down on others who do not.
First, Lewis declares the Bible asks for temperance instead of absolute abstinence (78). Paul wrote, “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful” (1 Cor. 10:23). When it comes to “gray areas” such as entertainment, alcohol, or modesty, Paul asks us to judge not by law but by the Spirit. If all things are indeed lawful, the Bible must call for wisdom in judgment and moderation in participation. For various reasons, Christians have come to different conclusions on such topics, ranging from complete freedom to complete abstinence.
Lewis now brings down the hammer: Christians who judge others for their stance commit sin themselves. As the Bible says, “Judge not lest ye also be judged” (Mt. 7:1). As Lewis points out, all of us find ourselves blind to sin in our lives. While the Bible calls us to hold our brethren accountable, others may draw different conclusions in the same area. Although Lewis charges us to avoid causing others to stumble, he asks us to also avoid condemning others for their prayerful decision on the matter.
Personally, Lewis’s charge to “believe the good of others . . .and make others as comfortable as you can” has helped me immensely (95). For instance, I believe in a stricter form of courtship, while my friends engage in dating in high school. Rather than condemning them, I probed deeply into their position, asking them to defend their view from a Biblical perspective. After many friendly yet intense discussions, I still don’t agree with them, but I respect their decisions as their personal convictions based on their spiritual journey. When meeting other students who identify as homosexual, I treat them with courtesy and respect, without offering condemnation and without hiding my own conviction. After all, they do not have the same standard as I do. Rather, I have tried to share the love of God with them. Instead of condemning them under a standard they do not recognize, I try to bring them under my standard first, before challenging them directly.
Although I know many Christians who would disapprove of my actions, I believe they represent what Christ would want me to do. Lewis offers practical advice about morality – advice that if followed, could change the way Christians interact with the world. Many people reject Christ because they see condemnation instead of love, legalism instead of grace, and hypocrisy instead of honesty. Christ has called the Church to love without compromise, grace without excess, and transparency without indulgence. Following the middle path between these two extremes is hard, but it bears much fruit in the end.
Some of C.S. Lewis’s most profound observations appear as he dissects morality. Lewis deals with the touchy subject of social mores. Many Christians have bitter disagreements about alcohol, movies, and other such topics. Christians who hold strict positions accuse their freer brethren of indulgence and sin. Those who hold different views accuse their opponents of legalism and pharisaical behavior. Personally, I have sometimes struggled to find the fine line between these camps. In Mere Christianity, Lewis slices to the heart of the dispute, arguing that while we can make a decision to abstain, we must not look down on others who do not.
First, Lewis declares the Bible asks for temperance instead of absolute abstinence (78). Paul wrote, “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful” (1 Cor. 10:23). When it comes to “gray areas” such as entertainment, alcohol, or modesty, Paul asks us to judge not by law but by the Spirit. If all things are indeed lawful, the Bible must call for wisdom in judgment and moderation in participation. For various reasons, Christians have come to different conclusions on such topics, ranging from complete freedom to complete abstinence.
Lewis now brings down the hammer: Christians who judge others for their stance commit sin themselves. As the Bible says, “Judge not lest ye also be judged” (Mt. 7:1). As Lewis points out, all of us find ourselves blind to sin in our lives. While the Bible calls us to hold our brethren accountable, others may draw different conclusions in the same area. Although Lewis charges us to avoid causing others to stumble, he asks us to also avoid condemning others for their prayerful decision on the matter.
Personally, Lewis’s charge to “believe the good of others . . .and make others as comfortable as you can” has helped me immensely (95). For instance, I believe in a stricter form of courtship, while my friends engage in dating in high school. Rather than condemning them, I probed deeply into their position, asking them to defend their view from a Biblical perspective. After many friendly yet intense discussions, I still don’t agree with them, but I respect their decisions as their personal convictions based on their spiritual journey. When meeting other students who identify as homosexual, I treat them with courtesy and respect, without offering condemnation and without hiding my own conviction. After all, they do not have the same standard as I do. Rather, I have tried to share the love of God with them. Instead of condemning them under a standard they do not recognize, I try to bring them under my standard first, before challenging them directly.
Although I know many Christians who would disapprove of my actions, I believe they represent what Christ would want me to do. Lewis offers practical advice about morality – advice that if followed, could change the way Christians interact with the world. Many people reject Christ because they see condemnation instead of love, legalism instead of grace, and hypocrisy instead of honesty. Christ has called the Church to love without compromise, grace without excess, and transparency without indulgence. Following the middle path between these two extremes is hard, but it bears much fruit in the end.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Update on the Blog
Right now, I know I haven't finished up the Israel trip recap. I'll try to get that done soon.
But in reality, the real reason the blog has been inactive is a combination of factors. I've been super busy with schoolwork. I've been narrowing down my college choices and working on my Common Application in my free time. Recently, I've been very busy with college essays and a very intensive 1-semester C.S. Lewis writing course that has me writing four essays per week. I'll try to post when I can but no promises from here on out. :D
But in reality, the real reason the blog has been inactive is a combination of factors. I've been super busy with schoolwork. I've been narrowing down my college choices and working on my Common Application in my free time. Recently, I've been very busy with college essays and a very intensive 1-semester C.S. Lewis writing course that has me writing four essays per week. I'll try to post when I can but no promises from here on out. :D
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Grading Obama's Foreign Policy
I'm a co-writer for an excellent election blog being written by Meghan O'Neil, Jon Hixson, and myself. Today, I published the first in a series of posts. You can read it here:
Friday, August 17, 2012
Part 3: The Galilee
Our breakfast was very...unique. There was a peas/carrots quiche, four types of fresh yogurt, curds, honey, rye bread, a salad bar, and three types of semi-raw fish. With the skin still on it. They had a poached-eggs consistency. I did try it but its not something I'd eat again. :) I wish I had pictures, but I didn't manage to snap one at the hotel. After breakfast, we took the bus from Nazareth to the beautiful resort town of Tiberias. Tiberias, named for the Roman emperor Tiberius, was the ancient capital of the king Herod Antipas, who ruled over the Galilee. Now in peak season, this resort would be bustling with people, but we had arrived in the offseason, early in the morning. This was part of the view we got as we walked down to the seaside...
The boat we traveled on was supposedly a replica of an ancient Galilean fishing boat.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Part 2: From Mt. Nebo to Nazareth
"And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And The Lord showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. And The Lord said to him, "This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there."
This is the view from atop Mt. Nebo in Jordan. This isn't the Promised Land - it's the 'plains of Moab'.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Day 1: Jordan
I'm going to get through our entire trip and do a daily post. Here's Day 1 of our trip to the Holy Land.
We flew from India early in the morning to Doha on Qatar Airways.This is the plane we boarded in Doha. The country is completely desert. Seriously, the entire landscape is sand. It was blisteringly hot (110 degrees). Qatar Airways is the number one airline in the world, and it shows in the comfort of the seats, the attention of the staff, and the food (they serve even on 3-hour flights).
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Five interesting/hilarious/crazy...
5 Things you should know about Jordan...
1. It's dry and hot. Most of it is a rocky desert. Houses are made of stone. There are hardly any trees.
2. Natural resources are few. In the Middle East, you either need water or oil. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE - all have oil. So their populations all get free government handouts, healthcare, etc. Cities like Dubai or Abu Dhabi surpass anything you can find in the US. But Jordan has neither water or oil. Thus, the people are poor and area is dry.
3. They are ruled by King Abdullah, a guy who's half British. According to our tour guide, he's pretty awesome and everybody loves him, but then again, our guide is required to say that to tourists. He's married to a lady whom the British call the third-most beautiful woman in the world. :P
4. It's famous for the city of Petra, an ancient wonder of the world - an entire city cut into the side of a cliff. We didn't go there because it was out of the way.
5. They've had many wars with Israel and probably will again. But according to our guide, "Israel and us are good friends now". Another required statement. :)
5 Things you probably don't know about Israel...
1. It's GREEN. Everywhere you look, there's fruits, vegetables, olive trees. It's actually quite nice. Sure, it's arid as you come near the Dead Sea area, but Northern Israel is positively beautiful.
2. The Old City, the area of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus, is tiny. It's possible to walk across the whole width in a couple hours fairly easily. Considering the size of our American suburbs and small towns, Jerusalem wasn't very imposing physically.
3. It's got great food. Very few places in the world can compare to the quality of the produce in Israel. The vegetables and fruits are absolutely amazing. Plus I love love Middle Eastern food. :)
4. It's really tiny. While it may have taken a day for Jesus to travel from Nazareth to the other side of Galilee, it's just a couple of hours drive for modern tourists. Bethlehem is practically a suburb of Jerusalem in modern terms. It's literally a 30 minute drive...driving at 40 mph.
5. The Dead Sea isn't all its cracked up to be. I'll explain in a later post. :P
5 Hilarious Holy Sites I saw...
I'll count these down to number 1.
5. The place where Jesus ate fish with his disciples after the resurrection. Yup, it's a big limestone rock...just like any other limestone rock. Not sure how they found that one.
4. Joseph's carpenter shop. We know this because...because it's a cave in the ground.
3. The Tomb of King David. The crusaders were really awesome because wherever they went they messed stuff up. They ruined great archeological sites by building churches and believed anything people told them. So when they discovered "the Upper Room", they excavated right underneath to build cellars for the monastery that was going to be built there. They found a big sarcophagus with menorahs on the side. Obviously, this was King David's tomb. Today, archeologists are clear that this couldn't have been King David's tomb. It's not the right place or the right time period.
2. The tomb of the Virgin Mary. According to Orthodox, this is where the Virgin Mary was buried. But after three days, she rose again and went up to heaven. Catholics disagree. This is instead the spot that the Virgin Mary was assumed. The Assumption of Virgin Mary is when she just went up into heaven the way that Jesus did. Both churches agree that as she went up (either after resurrection or not), she left her girdle, symbol of virginity, behind. :P
1. Mary's Milk Grotto: So supposedly, this site in Bethlehem is where Mary nursed Baby Jesus. You go into this little cave with tons of pictures of Mary nursing Jesus and you can light a candle of course. The cave's rock is white, supposedly because as Jesus was nursing, Mary spilled some milk...and...yeah...it turned the entire cave white. But that's not the best part...nowadays...Catholics come from all over to buy packets of powdered milk-rock to ingest, in the hopes of regaining...uh...fertility.
No joke.
5 Best places I went to...
5. The Shepherd's Fields in Bethlehem: I don't know if these are real or not. All I know was that there was a huge archeological excavation of some caves that had been used by early Christians. The excavations are open to the public so naturally, I went with a friend to explore. We used our cellphones as flashlights, crawled through tunnels, found ancient carvings, and generally had a blast.
4. The Via Dolorosa: You can't help but grasp the deep cruelty and beauty of the crucifixion of Jesus as you trace his steps from Pilate's court to the cross and tomb. It's tough to describe it. You need to go to understand.
3. The Mount of Olives. This is the place where Jesus will come back. That's pretty mind-blowing.
2. The Way of Hosannas: The route Jesus took to arrive in Jerusalem for his final mission. You walk along that route, come up onto the side of the Mount of Olives, and suddenly, the entire city of Jerusalem is in front of you and you're directly overlooking the Temple Mount. There's a church there to commemorate the place where "Jesus wept." It's a deeply moving experience.
1. Simon Peter's House: Archeologists have done extensive studies and concluded that this excavation in Capernaum is indeed his house. This is the place where Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law, where the paralytic was lowered through the roof, where Jesus stayed. When you go to this town, largely intact from the time of Jesus, the Bible becomes tangible. The bedtime stories become historical accounts. You aren't just an believer anymore, you're now a witness as well.
1. It's dry and hot. Most of it is a rocky desert. Houses are made of stone. There are hardly any trees.
2. Natural resources are few. In the Middle East, you either need water or oil. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE - all have oil. So their populations all get free government handouts, healthcare, etc. Cities like Dubai or Abu Dhabi surpass anything you can find in the US. But Jordan has neither water or oil. Thus, the people are poor and area is dry.
3. They are ruled by King Abdullah, a guy who's half British. According to our tour guide, he's pretty awesome and everybody loves him, but then again, our guide is required to say that to tourists. He's married to a lady whom the British call the third-most beautiful woman in the world. :P
4. It's famous for the city of Petra, an ancient wonder of the world - an entire city cut into the side of a cliff. We didn't go there because it was out of the way.
5. They've had many wars with Israel and probably will again. But according to our guide, "Israel and us are good friends now". Another required statement. :)
5 Things you probably don't know about Israel...
1. It's GREEN. Everywhere you look, there's fruits, vegetables, olive trees. It's actually quite nice. Sure, it's arid as you come near the Dead Sea area, but Northern Israel is positively beautiful.
2. The Old City, the area of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus, is tiny. It's possible to walk across the whole width in a couple hours fairly easily. Considering the size of our American suburbs and small towns, Jerusalem wasn't very imposing physically.
3. It's got great food. Very few places in the world can compare to the quality of the produce in Israel. The vegetables and fruits are absolutely amazing. Plus I love love Middle Eastern food. :)
4. It's really tiny. While it may have taken a day for Jesus to travel from Nazareth to the other side of Galilee, it's just a couple of hours drive for modern tourists. Bethlehem is practically a suburb of Jerusalem in modern terms. It's literally a 30 minute drive...driving at 40 mph.
5. The Dead Sea isn't all its cracked up to be. I'll explain in a later post. :P
5 Hilarious Holy Sites I saw...
I'll count these down to number 1.
5. The place where Jesus ate fish with his disciples after the resurrection. Yup, it's a big limestone rock...just like any other limestone rock. Not sure how they found that one.
4. Joseph's carpenter shop. We know this because...because it's a cave in the ground.
3. The Tomb of King David. The crusaders were really awesome because wherever they went they messed stuff up. They ruined great archeological sites by building churches and believed anything people told them. So when they discovered "the Upper Room", they excavated right underneath to build cellars for the monastery that was going to be built there. They found a big sarcophagus with menorahs on the side. Obviously, this was King David's tomb. Today, archeologists are clear that this couldn't have been King David's tomb. It's not the right place or the right time period.
2. The tomb of the Virgin Mary. According to Orthodox, this is where the Virgin Mary was buried. But after three days, she rose again and went up to heaven. Catholics disagree. This is instead the spot that the Virgin Mary was assumed. The Assumption of Virgin Mary is when she just went up into heaven the way that Jesus did. Both churches agree that as she went up (either after resurrection or not), she left her girdle, symbol of virginity, behind. :P
1. Mary's Milk Grotto: So supposedly, this site in Bethlehem is where Mary nursed Baby Jesus. You go into this little cave with tons of pictures of Mary nursing Jesus and you can light a candle of course. The cave's rock is white, supposedly because as Jesus was nursing, Mary spilled some milk...and...yeah...it turned the entire cave white. But that's not the best part...nowadays...Catholics come from all over to buy packets of powdered milk-rock to ingest, in the hopes of regaining...uh...fertility.
No joke.
5 Best places I went to...
5. The Shepherd's Fields in Bethlehem: I don't know if these are real or not. All I know was that there was a huge archeological excavation of some caves that had been used by early Christians. The excavations are open to the public so naturally, I went with a friend to explore. We used our cellphones as flashlights, crawled through tunnels, found ancient carvings, and generally had a blast.
4. The Via Dolorosa: You can't help but grasp the deep cruelty and beauty of the crucifixion of Jesus as you trace his steps from Pilate's court to the cross and tomb. It's tough to describe it. You need to go to understand.
3. The Mount of Olives. This is the place where Jesus will come back. That's pretty mind-blowing.
2. The Way of Hosannas: The route Jesus took to arrive in Jerusalem for his final mission. You walk along that route, come up onto the side of the Mount of Olives, and suddenly, the entire city of Jerusalem is in front of you and you're directly overlooking the Temple Mount. There's a church there to commemorate the place where "Jesus wept." It's a deeply moving experience.
1. Simon Peter's House: Archeologists have done extensive studies and concluded that this excavation in Capernaum is indeed his house. This is the place where Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law, where the paralytic was lowered through the roof, where Jesus stayed. When you go to this town, largely intact from the time of Jesus, the Bible becomes tangible. The bedtime stories become historical accounts. You aren't just an believer anymore, you're now a witness as well.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Live Blog: My Trip to India
11:27: Boarding call. :) Ok we're in Abu dhabi. Sorry for not updating sooner. I have to brush my teeth after 20 hours in planes. :)
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