Neil Salsich's Journal: Section 2
1.One paragraph summary of the key idea summarizing the topic of the week. The human conditon is the central key idea that we have built our study on the last few weeks. According to the Book of Readings, the human condition is "the situation, or condition, in which every human finds himself or herslef by virtue of being human" (RB, pg. 10). In short, the human condition is the shared feelings or characteristics that, no matter what race, sex, or background, all humans share. I have found the idea of the human condition comforting because it helps me realize that the feelings and desires I kept secret because I was embarrassed or ashamed are experienced by everyone around me. The human condition has been studied by many scientists an philosophers, most notably Blaise Pascal, Marcus Aurelius, and Erich Fromm. Pascal, a philosopher and mathmetician of the Enlightenment, wrote vigourously on the human condition. His simple definition of the human condtion is "inconstancy, boredom, and anxiety" (RB, pg. 10). He cites man's perpetual desire for happiness as another aspect of the human condition. Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor, recorded his observations and ideas about the human condition that were totally uninfluenced by Jewish or Christian thought. His view on the human condition is that each individual person is so insignificant in the history of the universe that his own struggle for fame, fortune, and glory really does not matter in the long run, best illustrated by his quote, "You will soon forget everything. Everything will soon forget you" (RB, pg. 12). Finally, Erich Fromm explains his view of the human condition that man all anxiety springs from separateness, and thus man eternally struggles to overcome that separateness.
2. List and explain three of the most important ideas you want to remember from this week. Eschatology - Escatology, a term in Christian philosophy, means the study of the four last things: death judjement, heaven, and hell. To Christians, no belief is more important, because it is directly related to each persons personal salvation. Everything about our religion-every sacarmanet, liturgy, etc.-serves as a reminder of these four things. Moral eveil vs. physical evil - Moral evil is directly brought about by human decisons/choices, and is possible because humans have free will. Physical evil, on the other hand, is something not caused by man, such as earhquakes (and other natural disasters), birth defects, and mental retardation. However, there is a theory that physical evil was brought about indirectly as a result of man's sin. Maps - Maps, an idea from M. Scott Peck's The Road Less Traveled, refers to the views on reality that humans have. We make our maps based on our experiences, and can choose to revise them when we experience a new life-changing experience. Our maps control the way we take in and view reality around us. In a way, we use the to "navigate" through life.
3. One image of that reminds you of the topic. Attribute, link, your source.
Source:www.catholicapologetics.org
4. One good question you should keep with you to ponder. Am I approaching the problem of evil with not enough facts, and unfairly?
5. What should you try to do to make you a better person, a more faithful person, from this study?
From this study, I have learned a great deal about the importance of eschatology, and why it matters so much to Catholics/Christians. I had learned the definition of eschatology in sophmore year, but I had no idea how much it had to do with our eternal salvation. Taking this information in, I have realized that my idea of "judjement" was very childish. For the most part, in the past, I have acted as a Catholic because I was afraid of going to hell. After reading the Book of Readings, specifically pg. 27, my reason to practice my faith has altered slighty. By no means has it completely changed-that will take quite some time. I will still have to a long way before I can rid myself of the worry of "punishment". However, this study has helped me get on the right path, and hopefully I will continue until I reach a better, more fuller and truer understanding of what it means to be a Catholic/Christian and why I should practice my faith.
