Faith Journal: Section 5

1.) Throughout this chapter, our class has paid close attention to the question "What is Faith?" and using outlets like the Andy Griffith show, a movie named "The Mission" (1986) and examples of real men of faith like Dick Hoyt, Jim Goodnight, Danny Meyer, and Aaron Fuerstein to discover faith/Faith. We also learned the theological and secular definitions of faith and Faith, and the similarities and differences between these two definitions are a great topic of discussion. After studying, discussing, and reflecting, my and several other classmates' conclusions on the meaning of faith has come to be complete and total trust and belief in someone or something. Faith does not just happen or come to us, it involves a huge risk because what we put our faith in becomes part of who we are as a person. We use our experience, reason, and logical thinking ability to decide what or who to put faith in, or not. For those people who sincerely examine themselves and place their faith in others wisely, I think there are numerous good sources for their faith to be trusted in by others. Our Christian faith can help us in many ways, most importantly giving us a basis and guidelines on how to live our lives and how to work every day on being better people, so that we can have a more rewarding life, and I'm not talking just about money. We can learn from the example of those before us who were in a somewhat similar position to ours and strive to be like the ones who stood out for the good, in most of our cases, we can try to be saint-like. I believe that faith involves reason and intellect; being a virtue and a grace, involving our own free response, providing a risk, somehow fully certain, seeking understanding, and ultimately encompassing our entire self: strength, body, mind, and soul.

2.) This section has provided many very important lessons to me, and I would have to say that Andy Griffith's definition of faith to Barney and Dick Hoyt's amazing faith and love in his son, and that of his son back to him are two ideas from this chapter I won't soon forget. Andy Griffith is having trouble with Opie because he believes Opie is lying to him about a man with "12 arms" and a "silver head" and "he jingles when he walks." When Barney asks how Andy believes Opie's crazy apparent fabrication of some "Mr. McBeevee," Andy replies, "Oh, I don't know, Barn. I guess it's a time like this when you're asked to believe something that just don't seem possible... that's the moment that decides whether you got faith in somebody or not." Then after being asked how he could explain the story at all, Andy replies: "I can't." This model of faith is great for me because I want to be able to have this kind of faith in my kids and I want my parents to have this kind of faith in me.
Dick Hoyt and the video we watched in class made me tear up. Ever since my dad's heart attack, I have wanted to spend more time with him and try to emulate the qualities that makes him such a great father. The clip we watched in class was especially moving for me because as a cross country runner, I know the pain, hardships and intense training it takes to run long distances, and the challenge of Dick Hoyt, to run with his disabled son, brought a sense of humility and wonder as I saw him work so hard for "that special smile" on his son's face. That video especially has challenged me to tr to become more loving and work harder for m friends, family, and those that care for me. Mr. Sciuto, if you keep only one thing from this year, that video would be my choice.

Taken from The Vatican's Official Website (Click Picture for Site)

The Swiss Guard: Protecting Church and State

4.) A good question to ponder:

What was the right choice for the Jesuits to stay with the indigenous peoples even when faced with excommunication and certain death?
I agree with the Jesuits for sticking with the native peoples, and I do not believe that God abandoned them nor that they will suffer any of the torments of excommunication. Instead I believe those Jesuits should be studied, and their actions repeated, not the action of being excommunicated, but that of sticking with ones friends and core beliefs even when to do so means dying. For what can be greater than to "die for ones friends"?