Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason is a very interesting text in my opinion. Paine gives a total opinion against the most published book in the history of the world and expects people to agree with the text. This was to say the least, radical, for his time. Now, however, we look at this pamphlet to learn about multiple things that have nothing to do with the original goal of the author when he was writing it. Thomas Pain wrote this revolutionary pamphlet before being sent off to prison, thinking he was going to be killed. Without a Bible, he challenged the institutionalized religion and legitimacy of the book. Of course this did not go over well at the time, but now is looked at as an educational piece.
I believe one good reason to study The Age of Reason is because one can look at the perspective of a radical piece in history and how it has been viewed over time throughout history. Thomas Paine included deistic arguments that lead to some free thinkers to follow the pamphlet. This is very different from today, how Paine sent out a paper pamphlet to gain followers. In this day in age, I believe there a couple of different ways Thomas Paine could have voiced his views to a mass audience. One way would be through social networking on the internet. With these networks it is easy to distribute views with pages and groups. Also using the internet, Paine could have written a blog or newsletter and sent it out. However, I am not sure if this would be as effective as the third way he could voice his opinion, which is media. With a movie or music, Paine would be able to gain interest from wide varieties of people and probably gain momentum. It's crazy to think about how quickly Paine's views would be spread with today's media market.
Another good way to study Paine's pamphlet is to look at the style of the text. For his time, Paine was considered a great writer, and his works can be looked at from a purely linguistic way. He used a straight forward style that was much different than most at the time. When you read The Age of Reason you tend to catch yourself immersing in the text and the beliefs it presents. The pamphlet is persuasive without the reader even noticing it. I think this really contributed to how known the work came to be and why we are still studying now at Temple.
Thomas Paine put out this pamphlet to voice his own opinion, thinking he was going to be killed in the near future. For this, the views are radical and passionate. However, the Age of Reason is still being studied today for the linguistic elements it contains and what it can teach us about history. Being the last book we read for Mosaics, I think it is interesting to leave it on a note of someone writing with nothing to lose. As radical as Paine might have been, he would probably be pretty normal today.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Daodejing and The Bible (Genesis)
Although I have not studied the Bible throughout my life, I have looked at it critically in two of my classes now at Temple. I find the difference of thoughts when reading for worship or for study very interesting. Along with this, the Bible can be taken in many alternate ways other than the most common for each chapter. For the Daodejing, this promotes a specific way of knowing without actually searching for it. The Bible and Daodejing have similarities relating to the unit for the class, as well as differences in how they achieve this "way of knowing." One does not have to necessarily "believe" in these certain faiths, yet they can understand critically how each one is constructed.
The Bible is the most popular book in the world. It is the standard for Catholic/Christian faith and Genesis, also part of the Judaic faith. Genesis contains stories that are meant to exemplify what one is to do/not to do. This is a little different from Daodejing, because it uses stories, rather than direct text. The stories in Genesis can contain multiple meaning, and the reader can have their own opinions/thoughts on what it is trying to promote. One can see this in the first story of creation. There is an alternate story included right after the first story of creation. However, the stories are all there to support some kind of action/non action. This is a key opposite of Daodejing; the Daodejing promotes not doing anything to achieve a happy medium.
The Daodejing of Laozi, translated by Ivanhoe, is an interesting look into a totally different way of thinking and culture of another society. This was a new way of thought for me, and I believe is good to study/compare to cultures of today. It gives one a perspective of how ways of thinking has transformed throughout history. The key in Daodejing is doing nothing means everything. Without searching for happiness, one will achieve this by having a balanced life. The Dao is very adament on not striving for excess of anything. One will not achieve this balance if going on overboard on greed. This reminds me of the popular saying, "You can't always get what you want, but you get what you need." The Dao promotes having happiness with only what you need.
The Bible and Daodejing are very different texts and ways of knowing, however contain some similaraties in their purpose. The Bible uses stories to encourage the reader to follow the way of action in the text. The Dao also promotes a style of a way of knowing, yet it uses non-action to discover the Dao, or the happy medium of life. Both Genesis and Daodejing hope to help one achieve a positive way of knowing. They use action/non-action or non-pursuit of a happy middle ground in life. Through stories and/or suggestions, these to works are monumental in faiths and ways of knowing, and are why they should be included in the Mosaics curriculum.
The Bible is the most popular book in the world. It is the standard for Catholic/Christian faith and Genesis, also part of the Judaic faith. Genesis contains stories that are meant to exemplify what one is to do/not to do. This is a little different from Daodejing, because it uses stories, rather than direct text. The stories in Genesis can contain multiple meaning, and the reader can have their own opinions/thoughts on what it is trying to promote. One can see this in the first story of creation. There is an alternate story included right after the first story of creation. However, the stories are all there to support some kind of action/non action. This is a key opposite of Daodejing; the Daodejing promotes not doing anything to achieve a happy medium.
The Daodejing of Laozi, translated by Ivanhoe, is an interesting look into a totally different way of thinking and culture of another society. This was a new way of thought for me, and I believe is good to study/compare to cultures of today. It gives one a perspective of how ways of thinking has transformed throughout history. The key in Daodejing is doing nothing means everything. Without searching for happiness, one will achieve this by having a balanced life. The Dao is very adament on not striving for excess of anything. One will not achieve this balance if going on overboard on greed. This reminds me of the popular saying, "You can't always get what you want, but you get what you need." The Dao promotes having happiness with only what you need.
The Bible and Daodejing are very different texts and ways of knowing, however contain some similaraties in their purpose. The Bible uses stories to encourage the reader to follow the way of action in the text. The Dao also promotes a style of a way of knowing, yet it uses non-action to discover the Dao, or the happy medium of life. Both Genesis and Daodejing hope to help one achieve a positive way of knowing. They use action/non-action or non-pursuit of a happy middle ground in life. Through stories and/or suggestions, these to works are monumental in faiths and ways of knowing, and are why they should be included in the Mosaics curriculum.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
The Souls of Black Folk
W.E.B. DuBois provided arguably the first written history of African Americans in his book, The Souls of Black Folk. He creates the idea of a double consciousness stating, "It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity." DuBois holds his own biased views about African Americans and how they should be treated and how they should act. He even challenges the likes of other African American advocates such as Malcolm X and Booker T. Washington.
I found DuBois' opinion on education and what African Americans should be learning was interesting. He argues against Booker T. Washington, and says that blacks should have classical education in addition to practical application education. Booker T. Washington thinks African Americans should focus on industrial education, while DuBois disagrees. W.E.B. DuBois also believes that there needs to be more black educators and leaders in society. He blames poor funding to African American education for increased gangs and crime rates.
Another intriguing idea from DuBois is the metaphor of the veil. The veil represents the view of the world for African Americans, as their view is different from white people. He believes these two views are vastly different, and the veil has both advantages and disadvantages. The veil is the color/race line and shows how blacks can see things differently within their own race, compared to how white people see them.
In addition, DuBois looks at the social interaction between African Americans and whites. He focuses on segregation and discrimination in society. W.E.B. DuBois compares much of the negative stereotypes of blacks such as being lazy, violent, and hard headed. For African Americans in the south to become economically prosperous, these stereotypes and the racial prejudice needs to be recognized. Then, blacks need to educate themselves, as mentioned earlier. One of the key points DuBois has is that African Americans need to acknowledge the problem of prejudice from the white people, and the white South acknowledge they are being prejudice. If both of these things happen, the two groups can work to resolve the issue, and the blacks can live more comfortably.
The last point that I was interested in with DuBois book is the chapter about the rise of the church in African American history. I found this reading fitting, because I visited the Church of the Advocate on 18th and Diamond Streets this past Friday. At this church, which is predominantly black, there are murals around the walls. These murals interpret African American history and the relationship between white and black people. I saw similarities between the ideas of DuBois and the paintings in the church. These ideas include rising up against segregation and standing up for the African American race.
W.E.B. DuBois focuses on many different things in his book, The Souls of Black Folk. Education for African Americans is an important part of his views. Also, the veil and the view of blacks through blacks' and whites' eyes is included. DuBois finally focuses on religion in African American history. DuBois' views were very influential for African Americans and still holds true today.
I found DuBois' opinion on education and what African Americans should be learning was interesting. He argues against Booker T. Washington, and says that blacks should have classical education in addition to practical application education. Booker T. Washington thinks African Americans should focus on industrial education, while DuBois disagrees. W.E.B. DuBois also believes that there needs to be more black educators and leaders in society. He blames poor funding to African American education for increased gangs and crime rates.
Another intriguing idea from DuBois is the metaphor of the veil. The veil represents the view of the world for African Americans, as their view is different from white people. He believes these two views are vastly different, and the veil has both advantages and disadvantages. The veil is the color/race line and shows how blacks can see things differently within their own race, compared to how white people see them.
In addition, DuBois looks at the social interaction between African Americans and whites. He focuses on segregation and discrimination in society. W.E.B. DuBois compares much of the negative stereotypes of blacks such as being lazy, violent, and hard headed. For African Americans in the south to become economically prosperous, these stereotypes and the racial prejudice needs to be recognized. Then, blacks need to educate themselves, as mentioned earlier. One of the key points DuBois has is that African Americans need to acknowledge the problem of prejudice from the white people, and the white South acknowledge they are being prejudice. If both of these things happen, the two groups can work to resolve the issue, and the blacks can live more comfortably.
The last point that I was interested in with DuBois book is the chapter about the rise of the church in African American history. I found this reading fitting, because I visited the Church of the Advocate on 18th and Diamond Streets this past Friday. At this church, which is predominantly black, there are murals around the walls. These murals interpret African American history and the relationship between white and black people. I saw similarities between the ideas of DuBois and the paintings in the church. These ideas include rising up against segregation and standing up for the African American race.
W.E.B. DuBois focuses on many different things in his book, The Souls of Black Folk. Education for African Americans is an important part of his views. Also, the veil and the view of blacks through blacks' and whites' eyes is included. DuBois finally focuses on religion in African American history. DuBois' views were very influential for African Americans and still holds true today.
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