The Divine

I've been thinking about God a lot lately. Most people go through varying phases of religious belief from full on church-going to apathy to agnosticism to atheism. I didn't think I abided by any particular religious dictates, but a few days ago I realized how much I take from my Catholic upbringing and how it informs the way I perceive the world.... and that unsettled me.

Now I have a lot of problems with religion. I don't even feel comfortable going to mass anymore because I have serious issues with Catholic doctrine on contraception, not to mention the role of women and gays in the church. Anyway, I digress. I don't like organized religion for most of the same reasons the irreligious would give.

I thought of myself an enlightened figure eons ahead of the Bible thumpers who hand out free King James' versions on campus or my peers who go to the third world to spread their beliefs Then here I was one night talking to a friend about my thoughts on spirituality and science and I realize that I'm purporting common religious principles like intelligent design which is explained by evolutionary theory, if you believe in it (which I always have).

I learn that most elite scientists (like those who win Nobel Prizes or belong to the National Academy of Sciences) if they even believe in a higher power, promote an abstract, Spinoza-type God who doesn't interfere with human affairs; one who rather designed the set of principles which govern the universe. Then I read strong arguments as to why people created spiritual beliefs (namely Marxist and scientific) and it makes perfect sense but it also means what I believe in is moot. Then I acknowledge that...

Science can't explain everything. It can't explain why there is such a thing as existence nor can it give me answers to the purpose of my life. There are even some contradictory concepts in evolutionary theory regarding human emotions and actions.

It is unsettling to think that the way I perceive the world could be moot or a lie, but even if all my beliefs hold no veracity, I'd rather believe them then the alternative. I came to realize that the purposes of religion that some say denote as primitive are not bad. Yes, religion can foster ignorance and promote archaic views of humanity, but there are many people who do horrible things on their own accord without possessing a religious base for their actions. Like the artwork at the beginning of this entry, though I might not believe that Heaven or God is like what is portrayed, it nonetheless represents the good that can come from religion, which I appreciate. As long as people keep an open mind and accept that their view might not be ultimate, I think I have hope for humanity.

A Sunday Smile

What is it with all the songs about Sundays?

"A Sunday Smile" by Beirut
"Sunday  Morning" by not only the Velvet Underground but Maroon 5 and No Doubt

Okay so I didn't exactly make a comprehensive list, but that's more than I can say for songs about Wednesday or for that matter Friday or Saturday, the other days in the weekend. I guess the spirit of those weekend days are probably just incorporated under all "club songs."

Though Sunday was usually the time of the week to go to Church and pay respect to God, its role has deviated somewhat to a restful time to spend with lovers or family. So though not as many people are going to Church on Sundays as they did 50 years ago in America, its purpose remains rooted in tradition - time to be at peace with people you love! awww!

Songs have different meanings for people... like memories they can be tied to an event or person in someone's life. Have you ever noticed that groups of friends often share a love for a particular band even though they may have divergent tastes in music overall? The original intent/meaning of the song matters to the lyricist himself/herself. When a listener/fan gives a song meaning in their life, that's where the magic happens!
If you look at the lyrics of some of the songs I mentioned it's interesting to see how the writers juxtapose Sunday's traditional meaning in our culture with their own sentiments.
--Lou Reed is feeling restless and looking back at all the wasted years.
--Zach Condon describes his love's smile as a Sunday smile which you could take to mean a few things (I personally think of peaceful) and alludes to the sky and a white church in his song.
--Adam Levine's song is more happy and details happy times with someone he loved, though like the previous two songs it's about longing for something missed or lost.

So Sundays also foster memories for people and things lost?

Persian Flaw

Persian carpets are known throughout the world for their craftsmanship and quality. I think of Persian carpets as somewhat synonymous to flying carpets à la "One Thousand and One Nights" so either way they possess a magical quality. When artisans weaved these carpets they make sure to leave some sort of flaw within it which is meant to attest to perfection lying solely with God.

Here's a bit more background from persianflaw.org
"The meaning of Persian Flaw comes from a long time ago when Persian tribes made carpets while migrating from one part of the Persian Empire to other regions. The Persian tribe members worked together to weave carpets that would tell their story of trials and tribulations. Just one princely Persian carpet would take years to complete with help of many tribe members to achieve a perfect Persian carpet (well almost). The Persians believed only God or a higher power was perfect in all aspects and to show this carpet makers would intentionally place flaws or mistakes in the carpet."


This random fact really intrigued me. Such a beautiful coveted object worldwide has a deliberate flaw stitched in! People focus so much attention on being perfect that in reality its our flaws that makes us who we are and unique. That's my sappy bit for the day, now some eye candy:

April Showers Bring May Flowers?

There's a famous T.S. Eliot poem, you know, called "The Wasteland" it starts off like this:

April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.

Though it's May, the poem's message is still pretty darn relevant. It's about resurrection... how Spring sort of forced the people in the poem to come to terms with the problems in their lives because of the hope for a new life that it brought them. April is cruel in its beauty. I guess there is something to the Son of God being born again in Spring. :P

I sort of feel like this happens to me every year during this time. Instead of having seasonal sadness when winter hits like a lot of people do, I have a life re-evaluation every spring and I can tell ya it ain't always pleasant to see that what I'm doing with my life in the present isn't exactly helping me to where I want to be in the future. Don't get me wrong, I'm so incredibly blessed, but sometimes I make the same mistakes over and over, without seeming to learn from them or change.

Spring comes around and I sort of go through this mini stress attack from a culmination of finals, a change in the seasons, a change in lifestyle/setting (whether that be from moving back home after staying in school and leaving a lot of people behind in the process) or getting used to a different schedule and pace to my life. And this year is no different. This sort of "Spring Cleaning" approach I'm talking to my life, has not been going so smoothly... it seems to have left me with more doubts than assurance. Though I've been getting much better about not letting the little stuff get to me, I still have a few things I need to learn to let go of.


On that note -- I'm seriously considering for the first time practicing meditation. I'll let you know how that goes.. :P