So, today we had a heated debate in British literature about human nature. We started speaking about freedom of the press and its application today because of Milton's "Areopagitica." Somehow the discussion turned into a debate about human nature. It made me start thinking...what is the nature of humans?
Well, there are three trains of thought: human beings are inherently good, human beings are inherently neutral, and human beings are inherently evil. All three have good points for and against, but I feel as though one must be true based off of Biblical, experential, and secular proofs. Let me expand on my idea: humans are inherently, or naturally, evil.
Let's start by establishing the idea that we can all agree that humans are capable of both good and evil, almost equally in some areas, and in others in a more lop-sided way. Humans are not perfect, and never can be (except Christ, which is a completely different discussion). Therefore, we can establish the understanding that all humans are potentially good and potentially evil, which all people can agree on with little debate.
Next, we must determine if the natural state of humans is chaos or order, evil or good. Take a child, for our example. A child (until a certain age) is innocent and cannot comprehend the difference between good and evil. They must be taught and disciplined in order to distinguish between the two. Do we teach a child how to do evil or how to do good? That is the question. By examining a child's inherent habits, one can see that we must teach a child how to do good, not how to do evil.
For example, if one child brings a toy car over to play with another child, it does not take very long until the second child begins to covet what he does not have. He tries to steal the other child's toy car and is therefore doing evil. No one tells him that he is doing wrong, or even that there will be consequences. He only does what he knows how to do and doesn't analyze his actions. Children are innocent, not being socialized or affected by their surroundings, and they are therefore the most natural state of humanity that can be found.
So, even if the child doesn't know that what he is doing is wrong, does that make it wrong? The answer is yes, of course. If a person grew up in a society where morality was not taught, or better yet, where the good was taught and not the bad, and the person grew angry with another person and killed him/her, would that not be wrong? It's like this..."If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?" Of course, because that is the natural state of things. That's why they are called NATURAL LAWS.
Let me pose another question: is it easier to do wrong or right? Is it easier to tell a lie to someone in order to gain an advantage over them? Or is it easier to apologize after hurting someone by lying? The lie takes less effort and feels natural at the time, while the apology is harder but is more beneficial in the long run.
I know I have come to this conclusion in a roundabout way, but it's the best I could do. Post any comments with thoughts, refutations, or revelations from God (jk) that you might have.
Showing posts with label essays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label essays. Show all posts
so the year passes into many yesterdays...
I was reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight for my british lit class today and came across this little descriptive passage. Notice the alliteration line by line, those poets had some talent:
"But then the weather of the world chides with winter;
the cold withdraws itself, the clouds uplift,
and the rain falls in warm showers on the fair plains.
Then the flowers come forth,
meadows and grove are clad in green,
the birds make ready to build,
and sing sweetly for solace of the soft summer
that follows thereafter.
The blossoms bud and blow
in the hedgerows rich and rank,
and noble notes enough
are heard in the fair woods.
After the season of summer, with the soft winds,
when zephyr breathes lightly on seeds and herbs,
joyous indeed is the growth that waxes thereout
when the dew drips from the leaves
beneath the blissful glance of the bright sun.
But then comes harvest and hardens the grain,
warning it to wax ripe ere the winter.
The drought drives the dust on high,
flying over the face of the land;
the angry wind of the welkin wrestles with the sun;
the leaves fall from the trees and light upon the ground,
and all brown are the groves that but now were green,
and ripe is the fruit that once was flower.
So the year passes into many yesterdays,
and winter comes again, as it needs no sage to tell us."
I love the description in this passage, talking about the movement between seasons. It really emphasizes the beauty and liveliness of spring, the growth of summer, autumn's harvest, and both literal and figurative death experienced in winter. The author talks about how "the year passes into many yesterdays, / and winter comes again, as it needs no sage to tell us." It is so true. Years in our lifetime seem to mix seamlessly together. We can't distinguish one from the other because time, in our sense of the word, is a human invention.
Before human beings were around, the world moved on as it always had. The birds kept no records of history, the squirrels didn't have their own timeline, and the fish couldn't tell each other the exact date the new coral reef came into being, because that is not how nature worked. It is a cycle of life and death, continually moving forward. When those on the earth now die off, the world doesn't cease to exist. It goes on like it always has.
That is why this passage touched me so much. The author captured the beauty of nature, of its life-cycle, and came to grips with the fact that even though humanity is not eternal, there are natural things (and many things super-natural) that ARE eternal, the seasons being one of many.
The beauty of nature is great, but it is no accident. Time didn't just come into being, it has a purpose. Human beings are not merely on Earth to live and die, we have a meaningful life. All of these facts can be debated, but I have no doubt in my mind that there is something (or someone) greater out there to live for, and the beauty of nature just makes that idea seem so much more true.
"But then the weather of the world chides with winter;
the cold withdraws itself, the clouds uplift,
and the rain falls in warm showers on the fair plains.
Then the flowers come forth,
meadows and grove are clad in green,
the birds make ready to build,
and sing sweetly for solace of the soft summer
that follows thereafter.
The blossoms bud and blow
in the hedgerows rich and rank,
and noble notes enough
are heard in the fair woods.
After the season of summer, with the soft winds,
when zephyr breathes lightly on seeds and herbs,
joyous indeed is the growth that waxes thereout
when the dew drips from the leaves
beneath the blissful glance of the bright sun.
But then comes harvest and hardens the grain,
warning it to wax ripe ere the winter.
The drought drives the dust on high,
flying over the face of the land;
the angry wind of the welkin wrestles with the sun;
the leaves fall from the trees and light upon the ground,
and all brown are the groves that but now were green,
and ripe is the fruit that once was flower.
So the year passes into many yesterdays,
and winter comes again, as it needs no sage to tell us."
I love the description in this passage, talking about the movement between seasons. It really emphasizes the beauty and liveliness of spring, the growth of summer, autumn's harvest, and both literal and figurative death experienced in winter. The author talks about how "the year passes into many yesterdays, / and winter comes again, as it needs no sage to tell us." It is so true. Years in our lifetime seem to mix seamlessly together. We can't distinguish one from the other because time, in our sense of the word, is a human invention.
Before human beings were around, the world moved on as it always had. The birds kept no records of history, the squirrels didn't have their own timeline, and the fish couldn't tell each other the exact date the new coral reef came into being, because that is not how nature worked. It is a cycle of life and death, continually moving forward. When those on the earth now die off, the world doesn't cease to exist. It goes on like it always has.
That is why this passage touched me so much. The author captured the beauty of nature, of its life-cycle, and came to grips with the fact that even though humanity is not eternal, there are natural things (and many things super-natural) that ARE eternal, the seasons being one of many.
The beauty of nature is great, but it is no accident. Time didn't just come into being, it has a purpose. Human beings are not merely on Earth to live and die, we have a meaningful life. All of these facts can be debated, but I have no doubt in my mind that there is something (or someone) greater out there to live for, and the beauty of nature just makes that idea seem so much more true.
Martian Excursion
I actually wrote this for my college application...go figure. Anyways, I was happily pleased with the way it turned out.
Stardate: Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2107
Dear Mom and Dad,
What a day it was! Today, I took an excursion to Mars on the new Hyperspace Dart Line. The ride was a little rough due to the meteor shower we flew through, but the turbulence subsided in a matter of minutes. As we flew over the Red Planet, I couldn’t help but gasp at first glance. I had seen it numerous times on CNN, the Cyber News Network, but only in conjunction with information about the new Mars colony. It was so tremendously red (obviously). As I watched the sand storms roll across its surface, it reminded me of the waves on the shores of a desert island, powerful yet peaceful, a monster with the gracefulness of a ballerina.
As we descended, I heard the hiss of the brakes and then…thud, we had landed. I stepped out and right away I was bombarded with a wave of salesmen, all ready to prey on the tourists coming to the Martian colony. I hurriedly walked past them and when I got past the crowd I caught a glimpse of the monstrosity of the structure in which I stood. The giant Biodome stood twenty stories high, and from its ceiling hung numerous green plants: ferns, trees, bushes, flowers, all being held in hanging pots, reminding me of Babylon’s Hanging Gardens.
This little metropolis was teeming with life, people were running around frantically, heading to work, visiting friends, going to find the best bargains at the nearest outlet mall, and it was all too much for me. So after a mere five minutes of being on the surface, I turned around and headed back for the Dart station. I boarded the next ship and sat quietly at the back, watching the diverse people stream in and sit down also.
I thought about home on Earth and the way it was changing for the future. The moon had been colonized twenty years before, and now Mars was being inhabited. “What is the fate of Earth?” I thought. “What if it becomes merely a relic of the long-forgotten past?” And almost immediately after I asked myself that question, I got an answer…the Earth will never be forgotten. Just because times change, doesn’t mean the past is gone. Sure there are colonies on the Moon and Mars, and Donald Trump III is thinking about going for Jupiter next because it’s “the best real estate in the galaxy,” but it will all fade away. People will get tired of being so isolated and they will become sick, longing for their home and heritage…Earth.
So, Mom and Dad, Mars was fun, if only for a short time, but I think I’ll stick with Earth. It’s my home, and it will always have a place in my heart.
Terminate
transmission,
David
P.S. Maybe next weekend I’ll visit the Moon…
Stardate: Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2107
Dear Mom and Dad,
What a day it was! Today, I took an excursion to Mars on the new Hyperspace Dart Line. The ride was a little rough due to the meteor shower we flew through, but the turbulence subsided in a matter of minutes. As we flew over the Red Planet, I couldn’t help but gasp at first glance. I had seen it numerous times on CNN, the Cyber News Network, but only in conjunction with information about the new Mars colony. It was so tremendously red (obviously). As I watched the sand storms roll across its surface, it reminded me of the waves on the shores of a desert island, powerful yet peaceful, a monster with the gracefulness of a ballerina.
As we descended, I heard the hiss of the brakes and then…thud, we had landed. I stepped out and right away I was bombarded with a wave of salesmen, all ready to prey on the tourists coming to the Martian colony. I hurriedly walked past them and when I got past the crowd I caught a glimpse of the monstrosity of the structure in which I stood. The giant Biodome stood twenty stories high, and from its ceiling hung numerous green plants: ferns, trees, bushes, flowers, all being held in hanging pots, reminding me of Babylon’s Hanging Gardens.
This little metropolis was teeming with life, people were running around frantically, heading to work, visiting friends, going to find the best bargains at the nearest outlet mall, and it was all too much for me. So after a mere five minutes of being on the surface, I turned around and headed back for the Dart station. I boarded the next ship and sat quietly at the back, watching the diverse people stream in and sit down also.
I thought about home on Earth and the way it was changing for the future. The moon had been colonized twenty years before, and now Mars was being inhabited. “What is the fate of Earth?” I thought. “What if it becomes merely a relic of the long-forgotten past?” And almost immediately after I asked myself that question, I got an answer…the Earth will never be forgotten. Just because times change, doesn’t mean the past is gone. Sure there are colonies on the Moon and Mars, and Donald Trump III is thinking about going for Jupiter next because it’s “the best real estate in the galaxy,” but it will all fade away. People will get tired of being so isolated and they will become sick, longing for their home and heritage…Earth.
So, Mom and Dad, Mars was fun, if only for a short time, but I think I’ll stick with Earth. It’s my home, and it will always have a place in my heart.
Terminate
transmission,
David
P.S. Maybe next weekend I’ll visit the Moon…
It's a Breeze...
It's amazing what a cool breeze can do to improve one's morale. Just to feel the wind's soft touch can make someone feel one hundred times better. On a sticky, stagnant summer day, there is nothing better than looking up at the roofs of the rustling trees and hearing the quiet whisper of the wind. Mother Nature's Spirit comes and caresses our faces, comforting us and giving us hope.
Sometimes, our lives can become stagnant too. We seem to be going through the motions, never finding an escape from that humidity of life. Many people just check out and decide to stop living their lives, so they sit under a shady tree, waiting until that heat gives way to a cool day. But what if the heat never stops? What if everyday of our lives becomes hotter and hotter until the heat waves coming off the scalding Earth engulf and burn us? What if...
But that's just it, merely a what if. Our lives don't always turn into a metaphorical desert (no matter how much we think they may). There will always be hot days and always be cold days, but that doesn't give us an excuse to give up and wait under a tree. A life lived in waiting is better than no life at all. Sitting still in our lives doesn't do us any good, especially when there is plenty of work to do. Why be afraid of the heat at midday when there is a chance the breeze will catch us?
We don't know when exactly those breezes will come, but when they do there is no better feeling. So why not get out into the world and sweat in the heat? Maybe one day we will feel God's Spirit refresh our lives, and when it does, it will be the most hope-giving feeling we have ever experienced.
Sometimes, our lives can become stagnant too. We seem to be going through the motions, never finding an escape from that humidity of life. Many people just check out and decide to stop living their lives, so they sit under a shady tree, waiting until that heat gives way to a cool day. But what if the heat never stops? What if everyday of our lives becomes hotter and hotter until the heat waves coming off the scalding Earth engulf and burn us? What if...
But that's just it, merely a what if. Our lives don't always turn into a metaphorical desert (no matter how much we think they may). There will always be hot days and always be cold days, but that doesn't give us an excuse to give up and wait under a tree. A life lived in waiting is better than no life at all. Sitting still in our lives doesn't do us any good, especially when there is plenty of work to do. Why be afraid of the heat at midday when there is a chance the breeze will catch us?
We don't know when exactly those breezes will come, but when they do there is no better feeling. So why not get out into the world and sweat in the heat? Maybe one day we will feel God's Spirit refresh our lives, and when it does, it will be the most hope-giving feeling we have ever experienced.
Knights, Dragons, and Used Car Salesmen
What ever happened to chivalry? Where are the days of old when the valiant knights in shining armor used to rescue the fair maidens from the clutches of a ferocious dragon, an ugly troll, or an evil witch? Ok, so maybe that never really happened except in fairy tales, but there did used to be a time when a man would lay down his comfort, time, or even life in order to show compassion and love for someone less fortunate.
Nowadays, so many people are out merely to please themselves, to make a profit, or to get revenge. It saddens me to think of the numerous women who are holding out hope for that knight to ride in on his white horse and sweep them off their feet and whisk them away to a castle in a faraway land to live happily ever after, only to find that the so-called "knight" is really a slime-ball who could really talk a big game, but when it came down to it he was about as chivalrous and gentlemanly (sp?) as a used car salesman.
What about the guys who really do care? Sure, they will eventually win out, hopefully, but why does it take the fair maidens so long (if ever) to realize that what the "nice guys" have to offer is just as good if not better than what the "knights" have to offer. I may be interpreting reality far from what it is, but can we give the good guys a break? They bend over backwards to please the woman-folk, only to get excuses like, "listen, I really like you, but I guess we'll always just be really good friends," or how about, "I just look at you like my brother; we've been good friends for too long," or my personal favorite, "you're such a nice guy, really, and you will find someone later in life who is so much better than me, believe me..."
So, all I'm saying is that just because a man doesn't wear a suit of armor, or ride a beautiful stallion, or can slay the ferocious dragon, it doesn't make him any less of a man. Sometimes you will find a knight in the places (or people) you would least expect to look.
Nowadays, so many people are out merely to please themselves, to make a profit, or to get revenge. It saddens me to think of the numerous women who are holding out hope for that knight to ride in on his white horse and sweep them off their feet and whisk them away to a castle in a faraway land to live happily ever after, only to find that the so-called "knight" is really a slime-ball who could really talk a big game, but when it came down to it he was about as chivalrous and gentlemanly (sp?) as a used car salesman.
What about the guys who really do care? Sure, they will eventually win out, hopefully, but why does it take the fair maidens so long (if ever) to realize that what the "nice guys" have to offer is just as good if not better than what the "knights" have to offer. I may be interpreting reality far from what it is, but can we give the good guys a break? They bend over backwards to please the woman-folk, only to get excuses like, "listen, I really like you, but I guess we'll always just be really good friends," or how about, "I just look at you like my brother; we've been good friends for too long," or my personal favorite, "you're such a nice guy, really, and you will find someone later in life who is so much better than me, believe me..."
So, all I'm saying is that just because a man doesn't wear a suit of armor, or ride a beautiful stallion, or can slay the ferocious dragon, it doesn't make him any less of a man. Sometimes you will find a knight in the places (or people) you would least expect to look.
People-watching: A Lesson in Life
Have you ever gone people-watching? You know, when you just sit down somewhere in a public spot with a lot of pedestrian traffic and watch people as they pass. You may not be looking for anything, or you may be focusing on one thing. Whatever the case may be, you will always find that human beings are just plain-old weird!
It's not that I am calling the individuals strange beings, but that all of humankind itself is weird. Everybody has that weird niche that sets them apart, whether it be an extra bounce in one's step, the way one talks on a cell phone, the sounds one makes while eating, or the uncanny ability to fall asleep on a park bench with not a care in the world about who around is watching as small drops of drool drip onto one's newly bought Lacoste polo. It is just a natural phenomena. Since Homo sapiens do not live by mere instinct, we all have that free will and reason that the rest of the organisms in nature lack, giving us a chance to make different choices and to develop different habits than our fellow animals.
My apologies for boring you with a biology lesson in the middle of my story, but I think I proved my point. The beauty of people-watching is that it teaches you how best to interact with other people, but more so how to really appreciate the beauty of diversity. If everyone walked the same, talked the same, ate the same, and slept the same the world would be a rather boring place. It is that one person I see falling asleep on the park bench drooling on theirself that makes me smile and say to my Father, "Thank you, God, for creating me the way I am, even if I smack when I eat a hot dog!"
It's not that I am calling the individuals strange beings, but that all of humankind itself is weird. Everybody has that weird niche that sets them apart, whether it be an extra bounce in one's step, the way one talks on a cell phone, the sounds one makes while eating, or the uncanny ability to fall asleep on a park bench with not a care in the world about who around is watching as small drops of drool drip onto one's newly bought Lacoste polo. It is just a natural phenomena. Since Homo sapiens do not live by mere instinct, we all have that free will and reason that the rest of the organisms in nature lack, giving us a chance to make different choices and to develop different habits than our fellow animals.
My apologies for boring you with a biology lesson in the middle of my story, but I think I proved my point. The beauty of people-watching is that it teaches you how best to interact with other people, but more so how to really appreciate the beauty of diversity. If everyone walked the same, talked the same, ate the same, and slept the same the world would be a rather boring place. It is that one person I see falling asleep on the park bench drooling on theirself that makes me smile and say to my Father, "Thank you, God, for creating me the way I am, even if I smack when I eat a hot dog!"
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