Marie's posterous

The Woods - Bon Iver

Three words are repeated throughout this song to no background music. Autotuning is used as the primary instrumental effect.

"I'm up in the woods, I'm down on my mind.
I'm building a sill, to slow down the time."

The repetition reminded me of a prayer. The deeper you get into the song, the more it grows into something spiritual (much like a prayer). No definite music allows the listener to get a personal connection to the song/the lyrics.

Goodbye :(

This senior year was not at all what I had originally expected. It’s always been a strong thought in my mind that the end is nearing, but I’ve never had it in the perspective I do now. Through injuries, break-ups, new friends, old friends, ex-friends, heartbreaks, arguments, weird times, and the good times, we’ve come out alive and well, and of course ready. Even though this will always be my home, the place I spend my holidays and free time for the next four years, it will always seem like the memories I have from high school will be so far away (they already are). It finally hit me today in English. No Mrs. Smart, no more work, no more Hamlet, it hit me. The instant brought so much emotion that it was hard to differentiate between the excitement and the fear.

Here’s to the next three months. Hopefully we’ll do all we can to leave ends tied at home and maintain the greatest friendships we’ve ever had. Thanks for a great two years Mr. Smart! I really enjoyed both classes I’ve taken with you.

What constitutes a religion?

When Mr. Male came back, we reviewed what exactly constitutes a religion. Of course the most popular response included the seven dimensions as immediate indicators, but some of them are understandably less necessary than others. For instance, the lack of material couldn't possibly make one religion lesser than another, one simply with more historical documentation. I think it should be more focused on the personal experience rather than what an individual has to work with. In Shinto, actions are the primary focus. But what does someone have to show for their worship of they don't necessarily have a strong connection to it?
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Guru Ram Das

Guru Ram Das

 

Known as Jetha, the Fourth Guru, Guru Ram Das (servant of God) was born on September 24th, 1534 and died September 1st, 1581. He was raised by simple, God-fearing parents, and spent most of his time in the company of religious people. He gained the hand of Bibi Bhani in marriage, and went on to have three sons with her. He eventually became a disciple of Guru Amar Dar, who defended him before the Mughal royal court when jealous Muslims and Hindus tried to prosecute him.

Guru Ram Das had many accomplishments throughout his life. He successfully built the city of Ramdaspur. Pilgrims came from all over to worship in this city and hear Guru Ram Das speak. Also, the standard Sikh marriage ceremony is centered around a four stanza hymn written by Guru Ram Das.

 

 

Guru Ram Das' first cousin wanted him to visit Lahore in honor of his son's wedding ceremony, but he was unable. Hi eldest two sons were not fit enough to go in his eyes, and became jealous when he sent his youngest son, Arjan Dev to go instead. He was asked to remain in Lahore until necessary to come home. Arjan Dev sent two poems to Guru Ram Das which his eldest son hid. The last one was written with a large "3" on it, and Arjan Dev gave specific delivery instructions to be handed personally to Guru Ram Das. He noticed the three and considered questioning his jealous older son if he knew anything about the missed poems. The eldest son denied at first, but then admitted to his deceitful behavior.

 

All These Things That I've Done, The Killers

The use of the words soul reminds me of the belief in the afterlife, an aspect of many religions. There is such a variety in interpretations of life after death!

When there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on
I wanna stand up, I wanna let go
You know, you know - no you don't, you don't
I wanna shine on in the hearts of men
I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand

Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no no no no

Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
You know you got to help me out

And when there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
These changes ain't changing me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be

Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down

I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
...

Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down

Over and out, last call for sin
While everyone's lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I've done
All these things that I've done
If you can hold on
If you can hold on


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Charity

When we did our lesson just before the Thanksgiving holiday and spoke about the fact that charity/charities were immoral organizations, I was highly surprised. It didn't make sense to call something immoral when it clearly helps millions more than one person could ever do. I still hold disposition to this belief, but I agree that circumstances do apply; a person's true reasoning and purposes will not always be clear from the beginning, but if they are acknowledged and are moral reasons purposes, the act is overall moral.

Non-Religions

The seven dimensions justify what is and what is not a religion. So if a certain ritual belief were to be completely applied successfully to the seem dimensions, would it qualify [as a religion]? Take environmentalism for example. All dimensions can somehow be proven to comply. Practical and ritual due to certain ritual aspects in terms of helping the environment, ethical and legal due to specific beliefs that the environment should be upheld, and social and institutional because there are followers (who happen to act with similar interest), just to name a few. I think that religion and spiritually should come from a person's passion and what they believe, not necessarily dependent on the belief. If you feel that passionately about something, the religion is all in what you make of it.
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