"Watcha Lookn For"

Kierkegaard and Kirk Franklin (gospel singer)  have something in common, and that is the belief of the life "Love of God" (pg 12)." Kirk Franklin, a man of God, is the perfect example of  someone who is trying to the life of loving God which reflects in his music. In the life of Loving God, people would expect the impossible and struggle with God (pg. 12). When we live our life in loving God, we must be able to trust him with our life and everything he has in store with us, and that is where the struggle with God begins. This is like the story of the Prophet Jonah when he ran away from God's word thinking that he (Jonah) knew what was best, but in the end he had to learn to trust in God. Jonah was not expecting the possible, but the impossible happened to him when God saved him from the inside of a giant fish. In other words, we all begin to stray from God's words and love in search for something else, hence the struggle with God, when in all actuality what we are looking for and need is right with him. This relates to Kirk Franklin's song "Watcha Lookn For." This song is basically about someone who is looking for comfort and love and can't seem to find it. This person is struggling with the Lord trying to find peace within himself because he once believed but is not sure. Further, the Lord does something that person being illustrated in this song does not expect ("the impossible") which is coming to him and guiding his heart into the comfort of the Lord. The Lord asks him "What are you looking for? You don't have to search anymore."  The lyrics state that God now will fill his heart with peace and joy and a life of happiness.

Struggle to Live Right

 Kierkegaard believes that it takes more to being a christian than just beng born into christianity. I definitely agree with him. In order to be a christian, one must put in the work and stand by faith to truly understand how to be a christian. Martin Luther believed in salvation via faith, and he was wrong to believe so. Faith alone will not get you into heaven, and neither will just work. We have to merge faith and work to become a true christian. Furthermore, I was taught that we should not question our faith in God...or question God's will and judgement. There are many moments in biblical history where many theologians cannot explain (rationalize) the reasoning behind God's judgement and will of his people which then further shows that rationalization does not answer all things related to God and religion. This is something that I believe kierkegaard would completely agree with. 

On page 12, Kierkegaard goes on to explain three types of people. Those who love self, those who love others, and those who love God. Those who love God expect the impossible, but they also struggle with God. Believing in God tests every strength that we have...emotionally and physically. Those who believe in God expect the impossible because they know that God has a bigger plan for them in store, and everything in God is possible.

Lose Control to be Good Enough

Nietzsche is viewed as some who lives his life as free as possible; decadent. Decadence meaning two things that can apply to this situation which is moral degeneration or decay and unrestrained or excessive self-indulgence(thanx to dictionary.com). Nietzsche lived his life freely because he believed that life should be cherished. While cherishing life, one must free themselves from the old way of thinking; these ideas being that we are not truly happy until we get to heaven and rest in the Lord...accomplishing the chief good.

In today's culture people should try to live their life to the fullest, but in moderation. People would be much more happier in their lives if they would just loosen up a little bit. There is a time in one's life when a breaking point becomes inevitable, and in order to be able to prevent that is to lose control...but in moderation like Nietzsche says. The song "Lose Control" by Evanescence is a perfect example of someone wanting to lose control to bring back their control into their life. Video Anyone...well just the song??

Another topic that Nietzsche is against is reasoning. Why? Because it "devitalizes [the] opponent," and people who already have power do not neet to manipulate others, yet they do (pg. 42). The manipulator knows who he can manipulate, and these people would be those who don't know how to live for themselves but for what others expect them to live. The people who become manipulated by the manipulator becomes a slave not to their own passion, but the passion of the manipulator. Another example coming from a song by Evanescence illustrates how a person or people become so infused into another's marrionette show that they yearn to become noticed and "good enough" for the "master (manipulator) of the work." Once a person or people become so entrapped, they lose a sense of themselves and therefore becomes a slave to the passion of another. The song that I am referring to is conveniently titled "Good Enough."

Of course another video! =) 

My writings vs. Nietzsche

This blog is only based on the quotes that Nietzsche has written in his book Twilight of the Idols and The Anti-Christ.

"Are you one who looks on? or who sets to work?- or who looks away, turns aside... Third question of conscience" -Nietzsche

This quote from Nietzsche had me thinking about my personal collections of writings. I answered these questions through a spoken word piece I wrote three years ago titled "Revelations." Funny, who knew I mirrored the views of Friedrich Nietzsche in my second semester of tenth grade. Through this poem, I answered each question as well as questioning society's judgement. The poem goes a little like this:
     I sit back and observe this life we're living
     And how much we're dealing
     Dealing these drugs
     Dealing our time
     Making deals with the devil just to save our behinds
     But who are we to blame, when everything goes up in flames?
     And who are we to turn to when things fall apart and everything becomes untrue?...
     When will we learn?
     Learn to Inspire, and lift up these children of today so much hire
     Can we come together just as one
     And see how our society has become?
     Because we could be so much greater, and we could be such great leaders
     But how can we overcome when we keep dealing these drugs
     Dealing our time and making deals with devil just to "save" our behinds.

Next, Another one of my writing relate to another one of Nietzsche's quotes at the beginning of the book.
"For me they were steps, I have climbed up upon them - therefore I had to pass over them. But they thought I wanted to settle down on them..." -Nietzsche
This next poem I wrote is my way of saying that I have not settled...perceive it how you want.
   
    An outlet of expression
    I write these words to fight off this supression
    Though I can't break through the reingns of the opressor,
    I'd like to say I fought for the better...
    Travel with me and see the glory of free will
    Never punished and never have to face the consequences of an unpaid bill
    I'd rather die than have to succumb to an unworthy try.
    Because I know this life is not worth living,
    I sacrifice my soul's intent on breathing,..
    On breathing into this unreal world of materialism.
    I fight, I fight to truly escape these chains of not just communism, materialism, and republicanism.
    Broken, I stand, But I stand with power.
    Facing the judgement of society, I still stand.
    Verbally abused and emotionally scarred, I still stand.
    For I'd rather die than have to succumb to an unworthy try.
    But in this I do not fear fate.
    Though harsh words have been thrown at me through hate.
    But here I stand, still with power.
    I wait for judgement day, for you have nothing left to say
    Nothing to give nor show for
    But I'm not bothered, because I still sand with power.
    I stand with the Righteous, the Righteous on my side.
    I watch this world crumble and fall..
    Its a dawn of a new era, The fall of deception
    God has made his new interception.
    Join me in this fight
    Conquer the dark,
    And revel in this light and all that is right.

This poem also can be related to Nietzsche's quote, "What does not kill me makes me stronger."     

"Prove Me Wrong"

Earlier, I did not completely understand Berkeley...well just a little bit, but in class my mind began to sway between Descartes and Berkeley. Now, I would have to say that Berkeley is not as extremeley different from Descartes in some ways, but I still agree with mostly Berkeley has to say...not everything. I still think he makes a little bit more sense than Descartes.

Moving on, in order for Berkeley to prove his point, he challenges Hylas (Descartes) to prove his ideas wrong, and if he was able to do that, then he would stop pushing his ideas and thoughts on the existence and perception of reality and all that it entails. "If I were made to see anything absurd on sceptical in this, I should then have the same reason to renounce this, that I imagine I have now to reject the contrary opinion (pg 121)." When Philonous (Berkeley) tells this to Hylas (Descartes), it reminded of a song by Linkin Park. The song that I am referring to is "New Divide." In this chorus, this singer already has a set thought on what he knows and believes...what he thought he knew and believed. "So give me reason to prove me wrong to wash this memory clean."  Further into this song illustrates many thoughts and ideas of past and present philosophers, especially Berkeley and Descartes.

Here are the lyrics to the song as well as a video and a little something extra:

I remembered black skies
The lightning all around me
I remembered each flash
As time began to blur
Like a startling sign
That fate had finally found me
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

So give me reason
To prove me wrong
To wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross
The distance in your eyes
Give me reason
To fill this hole
Connect this space between
Let it be enough to reach the truth that lies
Across this new divide

There was nothing inside
The memories left abandoned
There was nowhere to hide
The ashes fell like snow
And the ground caved in
Between where we were standing
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

So give me reason
To prove me wrong
To wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross
The distance in your eyes
Across this new divide

In every loss in every lie
In every truth that you deny
And each regret and each goodbye
Was a mistake too great to hide
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

So give me reason
To prove me wrong
To wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross
The distance in your eyes
Give me reason
To fill this hole
Connect this space between
Let it be enough to reach the truth that lies
Across this new divide
Across this new divide
Across this new divide

Something said in class inspired me to write this little poem, so I thought I should share it.

Beautify your lies

The truth speaks through your eyes

Fallen words on the floor unspoken

Only to be picked up by disguise

Only one speaks the truth if which all things are made

But you speak the lies to "him" you want to fade

The words of the false- to be praised and sanctified

Tainted Hearts, tainted minds, things that shouldn't be sanctified

Deceiver of all hearts, beautify your lies

The truth floats through these windows, the truth in your eyes

Deeper than Shallow Water?

Finally, someone to stand against Descartes' philosophical ideas...well when it contains to the truth of reality. Berkeley, who is everything opposite of Descartes, finds himself questioning the thoughts and and ideas of the "main" philosopher of his time that many people looked to for answers. Berkeley portrays Descartes' theories in question vs. what he (Berkeley) theorizes in the form of philosophy through dialogue. The first dialogue is a battle of wits between Philonous and Hylas. Philonous, meaning love of mind, can be considered as Berkeley's character in this conversation, and Hylas, meaning "matter," can be considered as Descartes' character in this conversation as well. Philonous tries to prove that everything Hylas thinks about reality is wrong. In the course of this dialogue, Philonous basically shows that Hylas is as deep as shallow waters.

Songs of a Vampire

The famous Twilight Saga book series turned movie has an amazing soundtrack. Paramore's song, "Decode" is one of the many songs on the ending credits of the first Twilight move. This song depicts an image that Descartes is trying to explain to his readers that it is easier to believe that our minds and souls exist rather than believing that the physical world exists. On page 17 in Descartes: Meditations on First Philosophy, he says that, "... there is a deceiver of supreme power and cunning who is deliberately and constantly deceiving me." (The "supreme power" can be depicted as the "vampire") This quote goes hand in hand with the first verse in the song "Decode," "How can I decide what's right? When you're clouding up my mind." Also, Descartes goes on to say, "I too undoubtedly exist, if he is deceiving me; and let him deceive me as much as he can, he will never bring it about that I am nothing so long as I think that I am something (pg. 17)." Descartes is trying to explain that though this "supreme power" may try to deceive him anyway possible, it cannot because he believes that he is something, and believing that what he is definitely exists in his mind. In the song "Decode," the first verse goes goes on to say, "I can't win your losing fight all the time. How can I ever own what's mine when you're always taking sides. But you wont take away my pride. No, not this time." This part of the verse further goes on to explain what Descartes meant in his quote stated above as well as "I am, I exist (pg 17). Moreover, when Descartes says, "I am, I exist" and "let him deceive me as much as he can," it is kind of like saying that something may change physically but what you think will always be real. This can be better said through the "Decode" lyrics, "My thoughts you can't decode."