I recently visited the Hindu temple in Maple Grove. Here’s what I have to say about my experience. This was for a class, but if you want to experience it for yourself, tours are given and encouraged.
The temple is very large, and rightfully so. They explained that the temple needed to be near water, since water is the source of all life. One lady asked “If that swamp dried up, would you have to move the temple?”. I thought that question was kind of silly. Our guide responded by saying “We’d just put water back into the swamp. Moving water is much easier than moving a whole temple”.
The group was mostly made up of Christian students from Texas, who traveled to Minnesota to learn about our diverse cultures, including our large Somali population as well as our large Hindu population. I asked them why they came, and they were very kind enough to answer a few of my questions before the tour started.
Our guide told us what Hinduism is all about. We learned a few more things than we learned in class, but for the life of me, I couldn’t understand some of the things our guide was saying. But that’s cool, I understood most of the things he was talking about. He even shared a few children’s stories with us, which I thought was cute. These stories taught me more about the specific gods and goddesses of Hindu culture, and how each one has an interesting story behind them.
Ganesh’s backstory is a bit scary, though. He was decapitated as a baby, and his parents found a baby elephant and replaced the baby’s head with the elephant’s. Hence, his elephant-like appearance. We learned further that Ganesh is perhaps the smartest and wisest of the gods, being hailed as the god of knowledge.
There were many statues at the Hindu temple, especially in what I like to call “The Statue Room”. I couldn’t take any pictures or use my phone, so I wasn’t able to record anything, but hey, it’s not like I needed to for this project. The temple is very sacred, and I respected their wishes. Most of these statues were in these tomb-like structures, and the whole room smelled like one of those odd incense shops at the renaissance festival they have every summer in Shakopee.
Taking a closer look, I noticed a large oven that seemed to be burning the stuff. It looked like the oven/heater was connected to the airflow system, but I could be wrong. All I know is, the place smelled pleasant. A few monks from the temple were chanting and were circled around the oven. I later learned that the use of incense is a tradition in Hinduism, used by the monks as an offering to the gods. This is a daily routine. They must go through a lot of incense if they do it every day, enough to make the entire temple smell like that.
I was not able to make it to the luncheon, due to prior engagements. However, I have eaten at the temple before, years ago, in fact. I remember much (If not all) of the food having no meat whatsoever, which we learned about in class. I had an Indian roommate who was a vegetarian, and I accepted that. To me, it doesn’t matter what a person eats, especially if the food doesn’t taste that bad. In fact, I’d give Indian food a second shot, if I could just find a place that served it.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Jediism: The Way of the Force
“We are a Jedi church and international ministry of the religion Jediism and the Jedi way of life. Jedi at this site are not the same as those portrayed within the Star Wars franchise. Star Wars Jedi are fictional characters that exist within a literary and cinematic universe. The Jedi here are real people that live or lived their lives according to the principles of Jediism, the real Jedi religion or philosophy. Jedi followers, ministers and leaders embrace Jediism as a real living, breathing religion and sincerely believe in its teachings.
Jediism does not base its focus on myth and fiction but on the real-life issues and philosophies that are at the source of myth. Whether you want to become a Jedi, are a real Jedi looking for additional training or just interested in learning about and discussing The Force, we're here for you. We believe in Peace, Justice, Love, Learning and Benevolence: It is unlikely that the Jedi way conflicts with other beliefs and traditions.” - https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/
On May 25th, 1977, Star Wars premiered in theatres. Before long, it was a cultural phenomenon, spanning two direct sequels, an entire prequel trilogy, a sequel trilogy, spin-off movies, books, videogames, toys, merchandise, and about everything you could find under the sun. It is no surprise that Star Wars became such a beloved brand. With its groundbreaking special effects, Star Wars flew off silver screens and immersed audiences in “a galaxy far, far away...”
By now, pretty much everyone knows the story of Star Wars, also called A New Hope: Luke Skywalker gathers a group, made of lovable robots and sharp-shooting smugglers–including the dashing Han Solo, loyal Chewbacca, and the droids C3PO and R2-D2–on his mission to rescue Princess Leia from the Empire, governed by the wicked, robotic Sith Lord, Darth Vader. The film made all three of its lead actors instant stars, turning Carrie Fisher into an object of adoration for millions of young male fans and launching Harrison Ford’s now-legendary career as an action-hero superstar.
But it didn’t stop there. There was a sequel released three years later, The Empire Strikes Back. Three years after that, the duology became a trilogy with Return of the Jedi. After that, Star Wars became more than a movie, and more than a trilogy. It was a phenomenon. Video games, novels, toys, and beyond, media stretching to a galaxy, far, far away. For many, Star Wars is, was, and will be a way of life. Of course, it didn’t even stop at that.
About a year or so after the release of The Phantom Menace, according to a 2001 census conducted in many English-speaking countries, people listed “Jedi Knight” as their religion. Originally, the “Jedi Knight” answer was supposed to be a joke. A farce. A parody of a religion, not unlike the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Soon, the joke became a way of life, and the religion of Jediism was born.
The Jedi have many beliefs and tenants, all of which can be broken down into a few basic lists and creeds, taken from the various Star Wars media. Jedi believe:
“In the Force, and in the inherent worth of all life within it. In the sanctity of the human person. We oppose the use of torture and cruel or unusual punishment, including the death penalty. In a society governed by laws grounded in reason and compassion, not in fear or prejudice. In a society that does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or circumstances of birth such as gender, ethnicity and national origin. In the ethic of reciprocity, and how moral concepts are not absolute but vary by culture, religion and over time. In the positive influence of spiritual growth and awareness on society. In the importance of freedom of conscience and self-determination within religious, political and other structures. In the separation of religion and government and the freedoms of speech, association and expression.” - https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/doctrine-of-the-order
The three tenants of the Jedi Order are focus, knowledge, and wisdom. “Wisdom is the sound application of accrued knowledge and experience through patient, good judgment. Knowledge can be acquired by focusing on the task at hand. Focus is the art of pruning the irrelevant and pouring the best of your mind into what you are doing.” - https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/doctrine-of-the-order
In addition, the Jedi have 16 “Teachings” and 21 “Maxims” which make up what a Jedi must do and must not do. These beliefs can be broken down to a few basic rules:
Jedi, along with all living things, are part of the force. Jedi are those in touch with the force. A Jedi must trust in the ways of The Force, no matter how strange it may seem. What belongs in the physical realm belongs in the physical realm, yet all life is connected to The Force. Our minds and emotions are gateways to The Force, and thus, our emotions and wisdom connect us to the universe. All Jedi seek to be one with The Force and live in harmony. The sole purpose of being a Jedi is to better understand the universe and all life within it.
A Jedi must be patient and kind. A Jedi’s mind is clear and calm. Jedi are mindful of the future, yet not at the expense of the moment. Jedi must understand that one’s self is made up of three parts: mind, body, and spirit. A Jedi must use his skills to the best of his ability; no matter how small of an act of kindness may be, it is still an act of kindness. Every good deed a Jedi does makes the universe calmer and more balanced. A Jedi will act with motivation and purpose, and will never blindly seek violence and will only do so to protect others, for inaction and action alike are two sides of the same coin.
A Jedi believes that love and compassion are what makes life whole. While emotions can get the better of us, emotions serve as a connection to one another, and with that, The Force. A Jedi will cultivate empathy, and must try to understand the emotions of others. No life capable of emotions is any greater or less valuable than that of a Jedi Knight. Above all, a Jedi must be one with his emotions and wisdom.
In this way, Jediism is a very inclusive and peace-loving way of life and belief. Like in the movies, Jedi will not force their beliefs on non-force users, and were only drawn to violence under extreme circumstances. In the words of Mace Windu from Attack of the Clones: “We are keepers of the peace, not soldiers.” Jedi believe in the strict separation of church and state, because the freedom of all life is important. No religion, not even Jediism, can be trusted with the state, and therefore, must be separated, regardless of popularity and size.
Jedi see all living things as equal, regardless of species, race, or previous religion. In short, Jedi and non-Jedi alike are judged by their character, rather than who they were/are. There are no specific rituals or rites that a person must go through to become a Jedi. All that matters are what the Jedi does. The real test of whether or not a Jedi is fit to be a Jedi are within the Jedi’s acts. The only test of being a Jedi is being a Jedi. Spirituality isn’t something that can be tested or measured, but instead, lived.
Jediism has no god or deity, at least, not in the traditional sense. Jedi believe in The Force, a sort of energy that binds the universe together. To quote Obi-Wan Kenobi from A New Hope: "Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together."
In short, The Force is akin to ki/qi from Taoist beliefs, or the Holy Spirit from Christianity. Beyond physical form and true comprehension. The Force has been called the spirit of the universe, representing everything good and evil. The two opposing forces that create all of reality, bringing order and peace.
In the Star Wars media, The Force is what give the Jedi amazing powers; the ability to read minds, move objects by thought alone, and the like. Real-world Jedi are adamant that The Force does not give people extraordinary powers, at least, none that have been discovered. This shows that Jediism has gone beyond a joke religion, and has become a real way of thinking and a way of life.
Even in the Star Wars media, Jedi will not boast or show off their abilities, because that would be a misuse of The Force. The Force must only be used to protect and defend, and never to attack. Real-life Jedi are told not to brag about what they are, and instead focus on what they can do with their existence to help others: To give, and to do good acts, based on the teachings of the Jedi Knights.
The approximate number of Jedi in the world is hard to say for sure, due to the humorous conception of the idea. It must be said, however, how many people chose “Jedi” when asked about their religion. In Australia, for instance, more than 70,000 people identified themselves as Jedi, about .35% of Australia’s total population. In addition, in order to be recognized as a religion in Australia, an organization must reach over 10,000 people. It is fair to say that thousands of people consider themselves Jedi.
Jediism has grown in recent years, well above the “thousands” mark. In England, Jediism is the seventh-largest religion with over 150,000 members. In the Czech Republic, almost 15,000 people consider themselves to be Jedi. In Canada, over 9,000 listed “Jedi” as their religion. Recent reports from online surveys have stated, in the United States, almost 5,000 people call themselves Jedi.
However, this rise in popularity is not without problems. Many “real” Jedi are put off by Jediism being called a fake or joke religion. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, Jediism is seen as a joke. A draft of the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill compared Jedi to Satanists, Scientologists, cultists, practitioners/believers of animal/human sacrifices, and Pagans. This bill would have stripped the Jedi from all legal protection, seen nothing more than a joke/cult.
While there are no specific legal titles held by the Jedi, there are many honorary titles given, based on merit. Again, based on the Star Wars franchise, the ranks are as follows: Novice: A Temple Member who is currently studying the “Initiate Program”. Initiate: A Novice who has completed the Initiate Program and has taken the oath of the Jedi, which has been validated by a higher-ranking member of the order. Apprentice: An Initiate who has been accepted by a Teaching Master as their Apprentice. This involves tasks and lessons. It relies on a good working relationship, dedication and recognition of mutual improvement. An Apprentice must be at least sixteen years of age, for legal reasons. Jedi Knight: An Apprentice who has successfully completed their apprenticeship to the satisfaction of their Teaching Master and the Council. They uphold the principles of Jediism as defined by the Solemn Vow of the Jedi Order, and have completed the Associate level of the degree scheme. They can take on Apprentices of their own. A Knight must be at least eighteen years of age, again, for legal reasons. Senior Jedi Knight: A Knight who has completed the Degree Scheme training to Bachelor’s level. Jedi Master: A Senior Knight who has successfully taught three apprentices. Grand Master: An honorary title bestowed upon Masters for exceptional dedication and service to the Temple of the Jedi Order. As such it is not considered to be higher than the rank of Jedi Master.
The degrees described are validated by senior members of the order, and taught by such. Much like in the movies, a “Padawan” is trained by a Jedi Master. Through good deeds and a better understanding of one’s self, one climbs the “ladder” of Jedi rankings. Thankfully, becoming a higher-ranking Jedi has nothing to do with one’s ability to swing a lightsaber.
When a person dies and passes on, they become one with The Force. According to jedichurch.org, “The original Star Wars trilogy was the best visualization of what we believe, as it is what binds us all together in this faith. There are repetitive references to an afterlife, in which people in the afterlife can talk to us. I think it is fair to say that many Jedi probably to believe in an afterlife of some sort or another, however, this is really left up to each of us to make a judgement call.”
All teachings of what the Jedi are and what they do come from various Star Wars media, and have been pieced together by real-life Jedi. However, several books have been published that discuss Jediism as a serious religion. Jediism -Philosophy and Practice, written by Matthew Vossler, offers a spiritual and philosophical way of understanding The Force.
While there are no specific legal rituals in Jediism, Jedi are able to conduct weddings and funerals, either in the parody/themed variety or the real thing. Some Jedi take their religion seriously, and are happy to conduct weddings. This is curious, however. It is strictly stated in Star Wars that Jedi cannot be married, because it would play with their emotions and make them forget who they are. It must also be noted that lightsaber combat is not taught by real-world Jedi, so there are some obvious differences.
In conclusion, Star Wars is more than a franchise, it is a way of life. When George Lucas wrote his first drafts for his sci-fi space opera in the early 70’s, he would have no idea what Star Wars would become. It took several drafts, millions of dollars, and after many delays, Star Wars made over 775 Million dollars at the box office, shattering records, and restoring faith in science fiction movies.
And from then on, Star Wars snowballed into a franchise. The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi were successes on their own, and it didn’t take long for a prequel trilogy to be produced. Not long after The Phantom Menace came along, real-life Jedi rose up from obscurity and founded their own religion. A Jedi is not a mystical space wizard with a sword made of light. A Jedi is instead a guardian of peace and prosperity.
A Jedi Knight does not let emotions get the best of him/her, but instead acts through the emotions of others. Jedi are taught not to hate, and not to seek revenge. A Jedi is not a superhero, but instead, a guardian of all that is right a non-violent. A Jedi will not incite or applaud violence, but instead, do everything to prevent it. In the words of the Jedi masters of old, may The Force be with you, always.
Jediism does not base its focus on myth and fiction but on the real-life issues and philosophies that are at the source of myth. Whether you want to become a Jedi, are a real Jedi looking for additional training or just interested in learning about and discussing The Force, we're here for you. We believe in Peace, Justice, Love, Learning and Benevolence: It is unlikely that the Jedi way conflicts with other beliefs and traditions.” - https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/
On May 25th, 1977, Star Wars premiered in theatres. Before long, it was a cultural phenomenon, spanning two direct sequels, an entire prequel trilogy, a sequel trilogy, spin-off movies, books, videogames, toys, merchandise, and about everything you could find under the sun. It is no surprise that Star Wars became such a beloved brand. With its groundbreaking special effects, Star Wars flew off silver screens and immersed audiences in “a galaxy far, far away...”
By now, pretty much everyone knows the story of Star Wars, also called A New Hope: Luke Skywalker gathers a group, made of lovable robots and sharp-shooting smugglers–including the dashing Han Solo, loyal Chewbacca, and the droids C3PO and R2-D2–on his mission to rescue Princess Leia from the Empire, governed by the wicked, robotic Sith Lord, Darth Vader. The film made all three of its lead actors instant stars, turning Carrie Fisher into an object of adoration for millions of young male fans and launching Harrison Ford’s now-legendary career as an action-hero superstar.
But it didn’t stop there. There was a sequel released three years later, The Empire Strikes Back. Three years after that, the duology became a trilogy with Return of the Jedi. After that, Star Wars became more than a movie, and more than a trilogy. It was a phenomenon. Video games, novels, toys, and beyond, media stretching to a galaxy, far, far away. For many, Star Wars is, was, and will be a way of life. Of course, it didn’t even stop at that.
About a year or so after the release of The Phantom Menace, according to a 2001 census conducted in many English-speaking countries, people listed “Jedi Knight” as their religion. Originally, the “Jedi Knight” answer was supposed to be a joke. A farce. A parody of a religion, not unlike the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Soon, the joke became a way of life, and the religion of Jediism was born.
The Jedi have many beliefs and tenants, all of which can be broken down into a few basic lists and creeds, taken from the various Star Wars media. Jedi believe:
“In the Force, and in the inherent worth of all life within it. In the sanctity of the human person. We oppose the use of torture and cruel or unusual punishment, including the death penalty. In a society governed by laws grounded in reason and compassion, not in fear or prejudice. In a society that does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or circumstances of birth such as gender, ethnicity and national origin. In the ethic of reciprocity, and how moral concepts are not absolute but vary by culture, religion and over time. In the positive influence of spiritual growth and awareness on society. In the importance of freedom of conscience and self-determination within religious, political and other structures. In the separation of religion and government and the freedoms of speech, association and expression.” - https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/doctrine-of-the-order
The three tenants of the Jedi Order are focus, knowledge, and wisdom. “Wisdom is the sound application of accrued knowledge and experience through patient, good judgment. Knowledge can be acquired by focusing on the task at hand. Focus is the art of pruning the irrelevant and pouring the best of your mind into what you are doing.” - https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/doctrine-of-the-order
In addition, the Jedi have 16 “Teachings” and 21 “Maxims” which make up what a Jedi must do and must not do. These beliefs can be broken down to a few basic rules:
Jedi, along with all living things, are part of the force. Jedi are those in touch with the force. A Jedi must trust in the ways of The Force, no matter how strange it may seem. What belongs in the physical realm belongs in the physical realm, yet all life is connected to The Force. Our minds and emotions are gateways to The Force, and thus, our emotions and wisdom connect us to the universe. All Jedi seek to be one with The Force and live in harmony. The sole purpose of being a Jedi is to better understand the universe and all life within it.
A Jedi must be patient and kind. A Jedi’s mind is clear and calm. Jedi are mindful of the future, yet not at the expense of the moment. Jedi must understand that one’s self is made up of three parts: mind, body, and spirit. A Jedi must use his skills to the best of his ability; no matter how small of an act of kindness may be, it is still an act of kindness. Every good deed a Jedi does makes the universe calmer and more balanced. A Jedi will act with motivation and purpose, and will never blindly seek violence and will only do so to protect others, for inaction and action alike are two sides of the same coin.
A Jedi believes that love and compassion are what makes life whole. While emotions can get the better of us, emotions serve as a connection to one another, and with that, The Force. A Jedi will cultivate empathy, and must try to understand the emotions of others. No life capable of emotions is any greater or less valuable than that of a Jedi Knight. Above all, a Jedi must be one with his emotions and wisdom.
In this way, Jediism is a very inclusive and peace-loving way of life and belief. Like in the movies, Jedi will not force their beliefs on non-force users, and were only drawn to violence under extreme circumstances. In the words of Mace Windu from Attack of the Clones: “We are keepers of the peace, not soldiers.” Jedi believe in the strict separation of church and state, because the freedom of all life is important. No religion, not even Jediism, can be trusted with the state, and therefore, must be separated, regardless of popularity and size.
Jedi see all living things as equal, regardless of species, race, or previous religion. In short, Jedi and non-Jedi alike are judged by their character, rather than who they were/are. There are no specific rituals or rites that a person must go through to become a Jedi. All that matters are what the Jedi does. The real test of whether or not a Jedi is fit to be a Jedi are within the Jedi’s acts. The only test of being a Jedi is being a Jedi. Spirituality isn’t something that can be tested or measured, but instead, lived.
Jediism has no god or deity, at least, not in the traditional sense. Jedi believe in The Force, a sort of energy that binds the universe together. To quote Obi-Wan Kenobi from A New Hope: "Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together."
In short, The Force is akin to ki/qi from Taoist beliefs, or the Holy Spirit from Christianity. Beyond physical form and true comprehension. The Force has been called the spirit of the universe, representing everything good and evil. The two opposing forces that create all of reality, bringing order and peace.
In the Star Wars media, The Force is what give the Jedi amazing powers; the ability to read minds, move objects by thought alone, and the like. Real-world Jedi are adamant that The Force does not give people extraordinary powers, at least, none that have been discovered. This shows that Jediism has gone beyond a joke religion, and has become a real way of thinking and a way of life.
Even in the Star Wars media, Jedi will not boast or show off their abilities, because that would be a misuse of The Force. The Force must only be used to protect and defend, and never to attack. Real-life Jedi are told not to brag about what they are, and instead focus on what they can do with their existence to help others: To give, and to do good acts, based on the teachings of the Jedi Knights.
The approximate number of Jedi in the world is hard to say for sure, due to the humorous conception of the idea. It must be said, however, how many people chose “Jedi” when asked about their religion. In Australia, for instance, more than 70,000 people identified themselves as Jedi, about .35% of Australia’s total population. In addition, in order to be recognized as a religion in Australia, an organization must reach over 10,000 people. It is fair to say that thousands of people consider themselves Jedi.
Jediism has grown in recent years, well above the “thousands” mark. In England, Jediism is the seventh-largest religion with over 150,000 members. In the Czech Republic, almost 15,000 people consider themselves to be Jedi. In Canada, over 9,000 listed “Jedi” as their religion. Recent reports from online surveys have stated, in the United States, almost 5,000 people call themselves Jedi.
However, this rise in popularity is not without problems. Many “real” Jedi are put off by Jediism being called a fake or joke religion. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, Jediism is seen as a joke. A draft of the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill compared Jedi to Satanists, Scientologists, cultists, practitioners/believers of animal/human sacrifices, and Pagans. This bill would have stripped the Jedi from all legal protection, seen nothing more than a joke/cult.
While there are no specific legal titles held by the Jedi, there are many honorary titles given, based on merit. Again, based on the Star Wars franchise, the ranks are as follows: Novice: A Temple Member who is currently studying the “Initiate Program”. Initiate: A Novice who has completed the Initiate Program and has taken the oath of the Jedi, which has been validated by a higher-ranking member of the order. Apprentice: An Initiate who has been accepted by a Teaching Master as their Apprentice. This involves tasks and lessons. It relies on a good working relationship, dedication and recognition of mutual improvement. An Apprentice must be at least sixteen years of age, for legal reasons. Jedi Knight: An Apprentice who has successfully completed their apprenticeship to the satisfaction of their Teaching Master and the Council. They uphold the principles of Jediism as defined by the Solemn Vow of the Jedi Order, and have completed the Associate level of the degree scheme. They can take on Apprentices of their own. A Knight must be at least eighteen years of age, again, for legal reasons. Senior Jedi Knight: A Knight who has completed the Degree Scheme training to Bachelor’s level. Jedi Master: A Senior Knight who has successfully taught three apprentices. Grand Master: An honorary title bestowed upon Masters for exceptional dedication and service to the Temple of the Jedi Order. As such it is not considered to be higher than the rank of Jedi Master.
The degrees described are validated by senior members of the order, and taught by such. Much like in the movies, a “Padawan” is trained by a Jedi Master. Through good deeds and a better understanding of one’s self, one climbs the “ladder” of Jedi rankings. Thankfully, becoming a higher-ranking Jedi has nothing to do with one’s ability to swing a lightsaber.
When a person dies and passes on, they become one with The Force. According to jedichurch.org, “The original Star Wars trilogy was the best visualization of what we believe, as it is what binds us all together in this faith. There are repetitive references to an afterlife, in which people in the afterlife can talk to us. I think it is fair to say that many Jedi probably to believe in an afterlife of some sort or another, however, this is really left up to each of us to make a judgement call.”
All teachings of what the Jedi are and what they do come from various Star Wars media, and have been pieced together by real-life Jedi. However, several books have been published that discuss Jediism as a serious religion. Jediism -Philosophy and Practice, written by Matthew Vossler, offers a spiritual and philosophical way of understanding The Force.
While there are no specific legal rituals in Jediism, Jedi are able to conduct weddings and funerals, either in the parody/themed variety or the real thing. Some Jedi take their religion seriously, and are happy to conduct weddings. This is curious, however. It is strictly stated in Star Wars that Jedi cannot be married, because it would play with their emotions and make them forget who they are. It must also be noted that lightsaber combat is not taught by real-world Jedi, so there are some obvious differences.
In conclusion, Star Wars is more than a franchise, it is a way of life. When George Lucas wrote his first drafts for his sci-fi space opera in the early 70’s, he would have no idea what Star Wars would become. It took several drafts, millions of dollars, and after many delays, Star Wars made over 775 Million dollars at the box office, shattering records, and restoring faith in science fiction movies.
And from then on, Star Wars snowballed into a franchise. The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi were successes on their own, and it didn’t take long for a prequel trilogy to be produced. Not long after The Phantom Menace came along, real-life Jedi rose up from obscurity and founded their own religion. A Jedi is not a mystical space wizard with a sword made of light. A Jedi is instead a guardian of peace and prosperity.
A Jedi Knight does not let emotions get the best of him/her, but instead acts through the emotions of others. Jedi are taught not to hate, and not to seek revenge. A Jedi is not a superhero, but instead, a guardian of all that is right a non-violent. A Jedi will not incite or applaud violence, but instead, do everything to prevent it. In the words of the Jedi masters of old, may The Force be with you, always.
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
The Hercules of the Revolution
This is Peter Francisco. He was born on July 9th, 1760. He is an American hero.
His early life is shrouded in mystery, as he was abandoned when he was five years old. When he was found on the cold Virginia night, he spoke no English. All the boy could say was "Pedro Francisco", and was given the name "Peter" by the locals, shortly after being taken to the local poorhouse.
How Peter arrived in America and why he was dressed so well is debated amongst historians. Records say that Pedro said himself that he had lived in a mansion near the ocean. He and his sister were kidnapped from the grounds, but his sister escaped, while Francisco was bound and taken to a ship. Historians believe it is possible that the kidnappers intended to hold the children for ransom or that they had intended to sell them as indentured servants at their destination port in North America, but changed their minds. I guess kidnappers have standards.
Taken in by a wealthy judge and raised on a farm, Peter grew to be big and strong. How big and strong? It has been said he grew to be 6'8" and weighed about 260-280 pounds. To put this in perspective, the average human male at the time stood about 5'7".
In 1776, when the Revolutionary War started, Peter enlisted into the continental army and fought in some of the bloodiest battles the beginning of the war had to offer. He survived two gunshot wounds, and made it through the tough winter when he was stationed at Valley Forge. It didn't take long for news of his strength and stature to reach Washington. General Washington, that is.
Did I mention he had a sword? Well, he used a sword. Not just any sword, mind you. A sword given to him by General Washington himself. And not just any sword given to him by General Washington himself, it was a broadsword.
Now, the term "broadsword", for lack of a better term, is a very broad term. The definition of broadsword can mean anything, but is usually falls under the "Early Modern Sword" category. Without throwing enough jargon at you, this is what Peter's sword looked like.
No, I'm not kidding. Easily five feet in length, Peter used his broadsword to great effectiveness, notably at the Battle of Stony Point in 1779. Leading the charge, Peter managed to cleave more than a dozen men down with his broadsword, and survived a sword slash to the chest. It is said that he tore down the British Flag himself, signaling victory for the rebels.
At the Battle of Camden, Peter managed to save his commanding officer by taking a horse from an enemy cavalryman and helping him escape. Peter then charged back towards the battlefield to save an American cannon from being captured by the British. While the battle was a British victory, Peter managed to do all he could. Without him, many more American troops would have died.
At the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, Peter managed to slay 13 men, but became surrounded by musket-men and cavaliers. Taking several sword wounds, Peter passed out from blood loss, and was left for dead. When he woke up, Peter crawled towards a nearby town and was nursed back to health by the locals.
A small detachment of British cavalrymen, under the command of Sir Banastre Tarleton, were tasked with raiding the colonial countryside. A few of the cavalrymen managed to track Peter down, still heavily wounded. Tarleton and his men were known for killing prisoners of war and unarmed civilians. Peter would have none of that.
Peter managed to disarm the commanding officer of the group. And by that, I mean Peter grabbed the guy's sword and chopped his own hand off with it. To be fair, the officer did shoot him with a pistol, but all is fair in love and war.
After killing another cavalryman or two, and with a bit of luck and wit, Peter made it out alive, taking six British horses and a few weapons in tow with him towards the Colonial army.
After the war, Peter learned how to read and became a blacksmith. He died on January 16th, 1831. He is buried in Shockoe Hill Cemetery in Virginia.
So, next time you have a 4th of July barbecue, and you decide to toast to the heroes of the Revolution, make sure you give the 6'8", 260-pound, Portuguese-descended, sword-swinging freedom-fighter a shout out.
 |
| Such a handsome fellow, isn't he? |
How Peter arrived in America and why he was dressed so well is debated amongst historians. Records say that Pedro said himself that he had lived in a mansion near the ocean. He and his sister were kidnapped from the grounds, but his sister escaped, while Francisco was bound and taken to a ship. Historians believe it is possible that the kidnappers intended to hold the children for ransom or that they had intended to sell them as indentured servants at their destination port in North America, but changed their minds. I guess kidnappers have standards.
Taken in by a wealthy judge and raised on a farm, Peter grew to be big and strong. How big and strong? It has been said he grew to be 6'8" and weighed about 260-280 pounds. To put this in perspective, the average human male at the time stood about 5'7".
In 1776, when the Revolutionary War started, Peter enlisted into the continental army and fought in some of the bloodiest battles the beginning of the war had to offer. He survived two gunshot wounds, and made it through the tough winter when he was stationed at Valley Forge. It didn't take long for news of his strength and stature to reach Washington. General Washington, that is.
Did I mention he had a sword? Well, he used a sword. Not just any sword, mind you. A sword given to him by General Washington himself. And not just any sword given to him by General Washington himself, it was a broadsword.
Now, the term "broadsword", for lack of a better term, is a very broad term. The definition of broadsword can mean anything, but is usually falls under the "Early Modern Sword" category. Without throwing enough jargon at you, this is what Peter's sword looked like.
No, I'm not kidding. Easily five feet in length, Peter used his broadsword to great effectiveness, notably at the Battle of Stony Point in 1779. Leading the charge, Peter managed to cleave more than a dozen men down with his broadsword, and survived a sword slash to the chest. It is said that he tore down the British Flag himself, signaling victory for the rebels.
At the Battle of Camden, Peter managed to save his commanding officer by taking a horse from an enemy cavalryman and helping him escape. Peter then charged back towards the battlefield to save an American cannon from being captured by the British. While the battle was a British victory, Peter managed to do all he could. Without him, many more American troops would have died.
At the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, Peter managed to slay 13 men, but became surrounded by musket-men and cavaliers. Taking several sword wounds, Peter passed out from blood loss, and was left for dead. When he woke up, Peter crawled towards a nearby town and was nursed back to health by the locals.
A small detachment of British cavalrymen, under the command of Sir Banastre Tarleton, were tasked with raiding the colonial countryside. A few of the cavalrymen managed to track Peter down, still heavily wounded. Tarleton and his men were known for killing prisoners of war and unarmed civilians. Peter would have none of that.
Peter managed to disarm the commanding officer of the group. And by that, I mean Peter grabbed the guy's sword and chopped his own hand off with it. To be fair, the officer did shoot him with a pistol, but all is fair in love and war.
After killing another cavalryman or two, and with a bit of luck and wit, Peter made it out alive, taking six British horses and a few weapons in tow with him towards the Colonial army.
After the war, Peter learned how to read and became a blacksmith. He died on January 16th, 1831. He is buried in Shockoe Hill Cemetery in Virginia.
In the words of General George Washington:
 |
| Couldn't have said it better myself. |
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
The History of Libraries: Part Two
So, where we last left off, the Library of Alexandria burned down. The sad part is, Rome sort of went along with it, but that's a different story altogether.
Skipping to the Early Middle Ages, monastery libraries developed, such as one of the most important ones at the Abbey of Montecassino in Italy. Books, being priceless tomes of knowledge, were usually chained to the shelves, reflecting the fact that manuscripts, which were created via the labour-intensive process of hand copying, were valuable possessions. And when I mean valuable, I mean... Valuable. Worth their weight in silver, perhaps.
Yeah, this is back in the days before the printing press. Don't know what a printing press is?
Many libraries loaned books if provided with security deposits (usually money or a book of equal value). Lending was a means by which books could be copied and spread. In 1212 the council of Paris condemned those monasteries that still forbade loaning books, reminding them that lending is one of the chief works of mercy. Good on the Catholic Church, I suppose.
The early libraries located in monastic cloisters and associated with scriptoria were collections of lecterns with books chained to them. Shelves built above and between back-to-back lecterns were the beginning of book presses. The chain was attached at the fore-edge of a book rather than to its spine. Book presses came to be arranged in carrels (perpendicular to the walls and therefore to the windows) in order to maximize lighting, with low bookcases in front of the windows.
However, it would be the printing press that would change the library forever.
To be Continued...
Don't worry. I can't wait either.
But that's a different story.
Yeah, this is back in the days before the printing press. Don't know what a printing press is?
This. This is a printing press.
Back in the day, if you wanted to read the Bible, there were a few things to consider.
1. You probably couldn't read it.
2. You needed to go to church to hear the Bible being read.
Did you want your own Bible?
Too bad. Before the days of the printing press, you couldn't have one, unless you were... You know, the church. This is partially a literacy thing, and partially a "Books are wicked expensive" thing. The church had money and educated people who could read latin. If you weren't part of the church, you had to go to church every Sunday and hoped that the Priest was translating the latin correctly.
Okay, so you're not a part of the church. And you want a book that's NOT the Bible. Do you have money? Good. Do you have a lot of money? Perhaps. Can you wait 20 years? Didn't think so.
Imagine taking a book, copying it page for page, and making sure that there are absolutely no mistakes. That's what creating a book was like before the printing press. The only book available back then was the Bible. Really, if you wanted anything else, you weren't in much luck, as other books were kept in these libraries. And you couldn't really take these books with you. Well, you could... I guess.
Many libraries loaned books if provided with security deposits (usually money or a book of equal value). Lending was a means by which books could be copied and spread. In 1212 the council of Paris condemned those monasteries that still forbade loaning books, reminding them that lending is one of the chief works of mercy. Good on the Catholic Church, I suppose.
The early libraries located in monastic cloisters and associated with scriptoria were collections of lecterns with books chained to them. Shelves built above and between back-to-back lecterns were the beginning of book presses. The chain was attached at the fore-edge of a book rather than to its spine. Book presses came to be arranged in carrels (perpendicular to the walls and therefore to the windows) in order to maximize lighting, with low bookcases in front of the windows.
However, it would be the printing press that would change the library forever.
To be Continued...
Don't worry. I can't wait either.
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
The Environmental Effects of the Meat Industry, AKA: I Got Much Better at Coding
Did you miss me?
For my final project in my HTML programming class, we were tasked with writing an entire website. The project also dealt with environmental issues, so I decided to choose the meat industry!
For starters, I am not a vegetarian. I sure as heck don't look or eat like one. Regardless, the world has a problem. An eating problem. Specifically, the world eats way too much meat for the world to keep up. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a crisis.
It took millions and millions of years, but humans made it to the top of the food chain, due to our highly-evolved brains. Our most brilliant scientists have recently discovered that Neanderthals, AKA Cavemen, were possibly much more herbivorous than we used to assume. And that makes sense. Before fire and tools, it was very difficult to force a 500-lb proto-deer to the ground with brute strength. Unless if you're Ted Nugent, I suppose.
Once we became homo sapiens, everything started to change. It was slow at first, but then again, do humans like to stay slow? 10,000 years ago, the agricultural revolution began. With it, came animal husbandry and society as we know it. Ever since then, humans have made more and more land for the cattle, swine, sheep and chicken to roam. Even now, roaming is out of the question for some poor animals, stuck in cages, being force-fed antibiotics to make sure that hungry customers don't get sick.
If I haven't chased you off yet, I implore you to check out this website, to learn a few things, and to think twice about what you eat and take for granted. Again, I'm no vegan, but it wouldn't hurt to eat a little less meat. I hope you enjoy my stupid website and learn something from it. I certainly did.
Read the Rest Here!
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Begotten, Not Made: The Nature of God
I currently am taking a summer class about religion. This is the result of me thinking about one of the main arguments that God exists.
Oh God, literally. Where do we begin? God has been described as many things. A bearded man in white robes akin to Zeus or Odin, a kind and gentle creator, who created the universe out of love and kindness, a vengeful spirit that smites the souls of lesser beings that dare speak ill of his name, and then there’s the view of God not being a man in the first place, which makes all of this confusing. People seem to have a lot of answers. They all happen to contradict, and yet, this doesn’t bother people putting those arguments forward. My explanation to the nature of God is as such: There is no way through science, logic, reasoning, or mathematics that God could be defined, described, or identified. We cannot fully comprehend our creator. Though many have dared to try, including natural theology’s number one superstar: Thomas Aquinas, AKA: “The Dumb Ox”. If I can’t pick apart the beliefs of somebody called “The Dumb Ox”, then that says a lot about what I know about religion, and how much I’ve paid attention in class.
Where should I begin to put Aquinas down, using my 500-year advantage of scientific discovery and progress? It’s necessary to start from the first argument: The Argument from Motion. “Nothing can move itself. If every object in motion had a mover, then the first object in motion needed a mover. Movement cannot go on for infinity. This first mover is the Unmoved Mover, called God.” So, this is basically restating Newton’s law of motion. A good start, but it’s odd to assume that the first mover is God, at least in my opinion.
The second argument of five: Causation of Existence, basically restates the previous argument, just without the whole “Motion” thing. “There exists things that are caused (created) by other things. Nothing can be the cause of itself (nothing can create itself.) There cannot be an endless string of objects causing other objects to exist. Therefore, there must be an uncaused first cause called God.” I have a question: How do we know God was uncaused? There is no evidence that explains that there was not an endless string or not. This proves that there is either an infinite string, or no string at all, being that the universe just came into being out of nothing, which is just as confusing.
The third: Contingent and Necessary Objects. “Contingent beings are caused. Not every being or creature can be contingent. There must exist a being which is necessary to cause contingent beings. This necessary being is what we know as God.” Again, this assumes that God exists, and doesn’t prove it.
The main problem with the first three arguments of the great cosmological argument is that they all seem to assume that God exists. Let me explain. I find it very odd that he uses the term “Called God” as if the God that we’ve studied is the only logical choice. The three claims tend to stray towards the belief that only God could have created the universe, when it’s quite possible, due to scientific evidence, that the cosmological argument does not explain how the universe came into being.
As for the “First Mover” argument, the one that holds the most ground in terms of logic, also, paradoxically, gives the greatest counter-argument. If the universe could not have existed, had there been a first mover, being God in this case, that would also mean God existed before the universe. This raises a gigantic question about God and the nature of the universe. Since energy cannot be created or destroyed, and if God moved the universe into being, having existed before the universe, which would mean that both God and/or energy would have had to exist before the universe, which by all logical standings, makes absolutely no sense.
You can’t create something unless you exist. But since the universe is everything, and you existed before it, it must be assumed that you were created yourself. The only semi-legitimate answer that I could think of is that God created himself. But watch out! This would also contradict the “First Mover” argument, as one needs to exist before one is able to create. This means, by the laws governed and stated by the cosmological argument, that the only way that this could have happened is that if God and the universe were created at the same moment, which the bible contradicts, stating that God came first, bringing the universe into existence, leaving us with the ultimate paradox, akin to the “God lifting a rock he could/couldn’t lift” conundrum.
I’ve spent plenty of time on this paper explaining about how I’m right, but the question persists: What if I’m not right? Perhaps I’m not. Perhaps I should look at things a different way, and try to understand where Saint Thomas Aquinas was coming from in his cosmological argument. Given the time and lack of scientific evidence, I will forgive Aquinas’s possible lack of knowledge of the laws of motion and the laws of energy.
The one counter-argument that comes to mind is “Aquinas would have noticed the paradox, so there shouldn’t be one”. This is a good argument, but as I’ve stated, his understanding of the universe is one before the times of Newton. If he could read and write, I’m pretty sure he understood logic quite well. Aquinas seems to leave out any other possibility of how the universe could have been created, God or no God.
The point is, Saint Thomas’s Cosmological Argument neither proves nor disproves the existence of God. While it makes many assumptions, many of these assumptions are based on logic and understanding of how things work. No, these do not give us a definitive answer, but neither do they lack in a basic understanding of logic. The final answer is that there is no answer. As I’ve stated before, if we know so little about our own universe, then there’s no way that we can even begin to understand who or what God is.
The real question remains, however: Why did God create the universe? And what are we to him? Who knows? Perhaps, this universe was begotten, not made. That’s right, I like to bookend things. Maybe God doesn’t exist, maybe God does exist. Maybe he wants us to know the secrets of the universe, and perhaps, it would be better if we didn’t know at all. Perhaps we should have never tasted the fruit of knowledge.
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Jack's Dream Journal (Volume One)
It's odd. I only remember two dreams from my childhood fondly. I once dreamt that I was at a birthday party, and one of the gifts that the birthday boy/girl received was a replica of Charlie McCarthy.
Now, if you don't know who Charlie McCarthy is, turn off your device, go into your bedroom, and thank any deity you can think of, even if you choose not to partake in a monotheistic religion. There's a good chance that you might after seeing Slappy the Dummy's ancestor.
To quote the film Predator: "If it bleeds, we can kill it"
Wood doesn't bleed.
So, in the dream, as soon as the box was opened, Charlie popped out and began to chase me. I remember waking up, screaming. I then went back to sleep and had the same dream. Life sucks sometimes.
What's important to note here is that dreams are often a reflection of real life. I can draw a logical conclusion to this dream, since when I was a young child, my brothers and I would watch the 1947 Disney film Fun and Fancy Free, which featured the said hellspawn.
What I decided to do was try and list dreams whenever I could remember them, after waking up. From these, I'm going to try and figure out why I had these dreams. I've also realized that I could do this for a while. Let's have some fun.
My grandparents have an old Pac-Man "cocktail-style" machine at their cabin.
4/6/17 - Dreamed of a cool idea for a game. It's like the new Friday the 13th Game, but for kids. Four kids use toys to battle monsters inside of nightmares. 4 vs 1 concept. That actually sounds pretty cool.
I've wanted to design video games for a long time, and I was really looking forward to the new Friday the 13th game. I guess I just wanted to see if I could market that to kids.
4/11/17 - Had a REALLY weird dream that was a movie about a moral lesson, but somehow, someone got bit by a dinosaur.
Conclusion: I think about dinosaurs too much.
4/12/17 - I was eating popcorn, and there were ants in it. I didn't mind.
This hits home hard, as I've been gaining weight. I think this is my brain telling me that I shouldn't shove things into my mouth, especially if I know that they're bad for me.
4/27/17 - Had a dream where Kylo Ren ends up killing Luke Skywalker in the new Star Wars movie. Jesus, I hope this doesn't happen.
It could happen. I'm afraid it might happen. And you fear it, too.
5/21/17 - Dreamed that I got drunk, resulting in me falling on a young child, then joining a musical which I had never heard of.
I used to be in musicals. I'm not quite sure about the falling on children while drunk part.
5/18/17 - Had a really long dream where I found a secret used books store where they were selling novelizations of Simpsons episodes, each one of them as thick as Harry Potter books, costing around 100 bucks. The strangest part is that in order to find this book store, I had to travel past a maze of weird holographic walls, the kind that would show different images depending on the angle you looked at them from.
I'm completely stumped here.
See you next time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)