Spectacular. Lady Gaga is gold.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
What is the purpose of religion?
Religion has absolutely been puzzling me lately.
First of all, there are so many different religions- and with it accompanies a whole history of vast populations of people believing so strongly in their religion- that they are willing to lay down their lives (in whatever way) for it.
Problem number one: they can't all be right- which means that either everyone is wrong, or a very few people are right and the rest of the world's population is wrong.
Problem number two: how can we know for sure which one is right?
I was raised Catholic (so i have fundamentally Christian beliefs inbuilt- however i don't think that stops me from being objective about the religion. I am a pretty openminded person afterall.) Then my secondary school years were primarily occupied by strong minded Atheists and Christians debating the debacle that is "Does God really exist?". Currently i attend a university that is dominated by students of the Islamic faith. Perhaps the influence by opinionated people of different belief systems has caused me to doubt myself.
Now i sit here, 19 years old, realising that i don't know a whole lot about my supposed religion.
I can see how religion can influence the course of your life- so i think it is imperative that i find out exactly what i believe.
Originally i thought if i was determined enough i would find out which religion was true. But the more i've looked into it, i see that evidence for or against each religion consists primarily of people's views. Nothing more concrete than a person's opinion (in addition to some historical figures, events and artifacts to back this up). Can i really put my whole belief of what i perceive to be the truth of the universe on the words of what another person has said? How am i to choose which person to believe?
I have no idea. I shall update you all when i figure it out, if i ever do.
First of all, there are so many different religions- and with it accompanies a whole history of vast populations of people believing so strongly in their religion- that they are willing to lay down their lives (in whatever way) for it.
Problem number one: they can't all be right- which means that either everyone is wrong, or a very few people are right and the rest of the world's population is wrong.
Problem number two: how can we know for sure which one is right?
I was raised Catholic (so i have fundamentally Christian beliefs inbuilt- however i don't think that stops me from being objective about the religion. I am a pretty openminded person afterall.) Then my secondary school years were primarily occupied by strong minded Atheists and Christians debating the debacle that is "Does God really exist?". Currently i attend a university that is dominated by students of the Islamic faith. Perhaps the influence by opinionated people of different belief systems has caused me to doubt myself.
Now i sit here, 19 years old, realising that i don't know a whole lot about my supposed religion.
I can see how religion can influence the course of your life- so i think it is imperative that i find out exactly what i believe.
Originally i thought if i was determined enough i would find out which religion was true. But the more i've looked into it, i see that evidence for or against each religion consists primarily of people's views. Nothing more concrete than a person's opinion (in addition to some historical figures, events and artifacts to back this up). Can i really put my whole belief of what i perceive to be the truth of the universe on the words of what another person has said? How am i to choose which person to believe?
I have no idea. I shall update you all when i figure it out, if i ever do.
Inside Job
A film by Charles Ferguson, it explores how and why the 2008 financial crisis occured. It was on tv- just finished watching it 25 minutes ago, and i must say it was eyeopening.
I am struck by how this was allowed to happen in today's society and baffled by why the people who were evidently to blame for the crisis still remain in powerful positions in Obama's government. It is (as said in the movie) a Wall Street government.
The style of the documentary-esque film was impressive too. Using just facts and figures and direct quotations from the perpetrators' mouth to execute their actions. It's a thoughtprovoking and engaging watch. Before watching it, i had a very limited knowledge as to the reasons for the 2008 crash, it was pretty educational actually!
I am struck by how this was allowed to happen in today's society and baffled by why the people who were evidently to blame for the crisis still remain in powerful positions in Obama's government. It is (as said in the movie) a Wall Street government.
The style of the documentary-esque film was impressive too. Using just facts and figures and direct quotations from the perpetrators' mouth to execute their actions. It's a thoughtprovoking and engaging watch. Before watching it, i had a very limited knowledge as to the reasons for the 2008 crash, it was pretty educational actually!
"Why should a financial engineer be paid four times to a hundred times
more than a real engineer? A real engineer builds bridges; a financial
engineer builds dreams. And you know, when those dreams turn out to be
nightmares, other people pay for it."
-Andrew Sheng, chief advisor to the China Banking Regulatory Commission
Lady Gaga's Marry the Night
What's not to love? It's unique, different and ridiculously catchy. Gaga has done it again!
Warning: watching the video may induce strange state of cereal cravings
(note: all pictures have been sourced- clicking on them redirects you to their original webpage)
The Elation of Separation
Time heals most things it seems. Probably because it allows you to reflect and review upon the past and come to terms with it in a way that is difficult when you are amidst the chaos.
It is easy to become attached to things, places, people that are part of our everyday lives.
So when that thing breaks, you move away from that place, or that person changes and is no longer part of your life- you suddenly find yourself struggling. Surprisingly so.
The emotions experienced over a short timeline are vast and extreme.
-Blame
-Annoyance
-Regret
-Hurt
-Anger
-Confusion
-Understanding
-Peace
-Joy
-Freedom
and at last the Elation of Separation is reached.
I feel a lot more independent and in control of my life. I don't think i've properly felt like this since my college years. Attempting not to sound too corny, it does seem as if everything happens for a reason.Which is quite reassuring really.
It is easy to become attached to things, places, people that are part of our everyday lives.
So when that thing breaks, you move away from that place, or that person changes and is no longer part of your life- you suddenly find yourself struggling. Surprisingly so.
The emotions experienced over a short timeline are vast and extreme.
-Blame
-Annoyance
-Regret
-Hurt
-Anger
-Confusion
-Understanding
-Peace
-Joy
-Freedom
and at last the Elation of Separation is reached.
I feel a lot more independent and in control of my life. I don't think i've properly felt like this since my college years. Attempting not to sound too corny, it does seem as if everything happens for a reason.Which is quite reassuring really.
Monday, 28 November 2011
Losing
I am currently reading Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose"
Trying to understand, grasp and apply everything he says has proven... tricky
For example, today i lost a badminton match 4-5. We should've won- but sadly we didn't
Afterwards i immediately thought of how much of a shame it was that we didn't win and i got frustrated with myself and my fellow team. I blamed myself for being a bad captain and perhaps not playing as well as i should've. I blamed my team for not being commited enough, players dropping out last minute and losing some easy matches.
Playing the blame game.
Shoulda Woulda Coulda.
I have realised (with the help of Eckhart) that ultimately trying to alter the past by thinking up alternative ways i could've responded is hopeless if it is used merely as a fuel for frustration and regret.
Another realisation is that i cannot directly change other people- i can only decide how i will act. So irritation directed at others is futile.
So after i got past the "being irritated" phase, following the match. I started asking God "Why did this happen? What are you trying to tell me? What would you like me to learn from this?" (I literally did this on the street, walking home- people were staring at me).
A long time ago my mom gave me a piece of paper. I stuck that paper onto my wardrobe because it made so much sense. It says
Trying to understand, grasp and apply everything he says has proven... tricky
For example, today i lost a badminton match 4-5. We should've won- but sadly we didn't
Afterwards i immediately thought of how much of a shame it was that we didn't win and i got frustrated with myself and my fellow team. I blamed myself for being a bad captain and perhaps not playing as well as i should've. I blamed my team for not being commited enough, players dropping out last minute and losing some easy matches.
Playing the blame game.
Shoulda Woulda Coulda.
I have realised (with the help of Eckhart) that ultimately trying to alter the past by thinking up alternative ways i could've responded is hopeless if it is used merely as a fuel for frustration and regret.
Another realisation is that i cannot directly change other people- i can only decide how i will act. So irritation directed at others is futile.
So after i got past the "being irritated" phase, following the match. I started asking God "Why did this happen? What are you trying to tell me? What would you like me to learn from this?" (I literally did this on the street, walking home- people were staring at me).
A long time ago my mom gave me a piece of paper. I stuck that paper onto my wardrobe because it made so much sense. It says
"IF LIFE IS A GAME, THESE ARE THE RULES
You will be presented with lessons
There are no mistakes, just lessons
Lessons are repeated until they are learned
Learning does not end
'There' is no better than 'here'
Others are only mirrors of you
What you make of your life is up to you
All the answers lie inside you"
by Dr. Cherie Scott Carter
Now to be honest i haven't yet completely sussed out the last half- but i think i understand the first half.
Everything happens for a reason- and if we don't learn from our mistakes, they will continue to repeat themselves until we do learn.
Admittedly i'm not quite sure what i'm supposed to have taken away from losing today. But I was definitely less upset about it than i was last time i lost a match- i also got over the "being irritated" phase much faster. Does this mean that i am growing spiritually? Am i less attached to the pride and recogniton that comes with winning, -and the shame that accompanies losing? Hopefully
Anyway just ramblings from a thoughtful mind
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