1. Key Idea
This section of faith focused on the challenges to faith, examples of such issues are atheism or indifference. An atheist means to believe that there is no god or transcendent being in the universe, while indifference is not caring one way or another whether there is a God or not. Atheists, Frederich Nietzche & Thomas Hobbes, introduced us to both sides of the argument. Friedrich Nietzsche thought that the belief in God was starting to die out. He considered all who clung to their faith in the church to be "weak". Since he believed most people were clouded by religion he tried to express the only true way to live was for yourself, only to further your own prowess, he called this "will to power." He believed every once in a while there is a person born with such a strong "will to power" that this person is considered a "Superman," this "Superman" or "Ubermensch" , would rise up to lead those with weaker wills and eventually through these men the entire human race would become and uber-race. Overall, Nietzsche's view of religion and survival was primitive, focusing on self and promoting the "survival of the fittest" mentality. Thomas Hobbes was also an atheist. Unlike Nietzsche, Hobbes believed that logic could answer any question, this also explained why he believe humans did not have free will, or that their choices did not change the future because natural law controlled the universe and our destines. This belief that whatever is going to happen will happen is called fate.
2. Most Important Ideas
1. The first idea I want to remember from this section is that of the "Merchants of Cool." This entire program is downright scary. It is amazing and frightening how much the media and major corporations effect you subliminally. This program demonstrated to me what types of lengths these major corporations will go to for teenagers like me to buy their product. Through their products and such the teenagers in America slowly lose their identities as they become just "another face," a strong potrait of dehumanization in America today.
2. The second idea I want to remember from this section is that which I gained from the Speaking of Faith program, "Gods of Business." The main reason I found this so interesting is different than what I expected. The subject content is deep, as it deals with how people sometimes lose their faith/morals when business is involved. This is not what captures my attention though. I personally was fascinated with what one man, Prabhu Guptara, had to say about America itself. As an American I sometimes believe that the rest of the world would love to be us but Guptara says this is not the case always and that the world has some very harsh opinions of us as Americans.
3. Image
4. My Challenges to Faith
In my personal opinion there are more challenges to faith in todays society than when Hobbes and Nietzsche taught atheism. I believe that with easy access to all the worlds vast knowledges in collections like the internet and libraries it is harder to believe in religion and easy to rely of technology. Many of life's great mysteries have been solved in the past two hundred years and more are sure to come. It is hard to not trust the facts when a lot of religion is blind faith. What religion does give anyone but especially teenagers like me is something to trust in, someone who you know can listen. I sometimes pray to God when you I get that feeling that "everyone is against me." God is personable, something your computer could never be and I think that is the most helpful aspect of all.