Am I a Christian?

Hm. Define "Christian." I like the Bible, and I strive to live like Jesus. Is that enough? I get a lot of questions from Christians in my life about my beliefs. Some think I'm corrupting God's truth, others think I am merely not yet a higher level Christian (but they have faith I will get there), and a few think I am experiencing God in my own way. I don't put too much value on doctrine, I just don't see the point. Doctrine does not comfort me, it does not make me feel close to God. I don't really ponder the existence of Heaven or Hell too much. Why would I dwell on these things? I can't really understand them now anyways.

I identify as a Christian because I like Jesus, but that's not enough for many. For many, being a Christian means believing in the trinity, believing the Bible to be the inspired word of God, and believing that God is constantly interacting with my life, whether that be through blessings or the Holy Spirit. For a long time I avoided the Christian label for fear of the ignorant associations that came with it. Then I decided I would identify as a Christian, to pursue a religion the way I thought it ought to be pursued. But now I just don't care. I am not going to change who I am by what people think. I don't fit nicely into a religious label, and I like to think most others don't either. But for any readers who care, this is a list of things I believe so you can decide for yourself:

I don’t believe God interacts with us much directly.

I don’t believe the Bible is divinely inspired.

I believe in God: a creator, a divine being with a general plan or intention for mankind.  

I believe that showing selfless love for others is doing the will of God.

I believe God’s will on earth is a choice we as people can make.

I do believe that Jesus did something to mankind that is irreversible, he changed the way we view God, religion, and sin.

I don’t believe in a trinity working together as three separate persons to be one God.

I don’t believe in demons or Satan, mankind is evil by choosing to follow self interest.

I believe the world is corrupt and needs fixing.

I believe that doctrine and tradition can be important for others to justify living their loving lifestyle, but it usually doesn’t contain much value apart from that.

I believe that investigating our religious roots is important, such as studying the Bible.

I believe that following Jesus means being willing to let go of our previous lives and tradition if it is necessary to help us live with genuine love.

I believe in the real possibility that this list isn't completely correct.

Am I a Christian?

Body Modification

I just watched a documentary on Netflix called Modify. It's all about body modifications and the issues surrounding it. As a movie, it was good. It got me thinking and I learned some crazy things people do to their bodies. For those considering watching it, it's not for the squeamish. They show graphic operations on different body parts, including genitalia.

The documentary covered all kinds of issues surrounding body modification. It discussed the legality of it, the ethics of it, how it is perceived in religions, and the judgement and discrimination that comes with major modifications. As far as my opinion, I think it should be legal. Why not? If someone has the money and lack of social inhibition to make them look like a cat or a lizard then go for it. It's not imposing on my rights. Is it ethical? Well, seeing as it is not being pushed, sure. It can lead to addiction, but so can gambling and caffeine. I don't think doctors should push a penis split or a boob job, but beyond that I don't think it's wrong to allow. But what I don't understand is how people can be mad about the job discrimination. If you are putting that much work into looking different from the world, don't be angry when the world rejects you. I mean as a person, yes, you shouldn't treat someone like dirt for making themselves look different. I don't think I should be required to wear clothes when I go out in public, I think human bodies should not be seen as taboo, but I'm not going to go outside completely naked and expect people to be okay with it. If that's a stance I want to take someday, good for me. But if you are going to do that kind of stuff have common sense. I mean I wouldn't hire the cat man as a customer service worker. I might think he looks stunning, but I know he will make people uncomfortable. Whether that should be the way it is or not is irrelevant, it is what it is right now.

But I do sympathize with people who do feel judged. We all need a little rebellion from society, I think it's healthy. For some it's smoking the occasional cigarette, for some it's having eight-inch gauges. It's really not that big of a deal. We all modify our bodies to some extent. People pierce their ears, get their bodies waxed, get tattoos, etc. Even working out is a body modification. While I find radical body modifications unattractive, it doesn't really matter. It might look weird to most, but it's their body, not mine.

While I would never do this to myself, I still geeked out when  I saw it.

Social aspect aside, I would never go as far as most these people have gone. While I am not all about being completely natural (yes, I manscape some body hair), there is a big part of me that wants to look human. Putting implants on my arms or having my penis split just looks unattractive to me, it looks alien. I am more comfortable slightly modifying the body I have, like trimming some body hair, and who knows? Maybe one day I'll even get a discrete tattoo.

Bacon & Eggs

Continuing my experiments in cooking, this week I made breakfast. I scrambled a few eggs, sauteed up some potato chunks, and fried some turkey bacon. Matched with a cool glass of Nesquik, this was an amazing way to start my day.

But this was my second attempt. This was my first time scrambling eggs, and they were a little burnt earlier this week. Well, being honest everything was a little burnt. But it still tasted good. But I want my food to be art, hence the second try. I mean look at those eggs, it looks like puke. 

World Naked Gardening Day AND Cinco de Mayo

What a day. As all of you should know, it's Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican and American holiday celebrating the the Mexican victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Most Americans celebrate by eating Mexican food and drinking tequila. Seeing as I do not intend on getting drunk at my parent's house, I went out and got some authentic Mexican food: Taco Bell.

2 bean burritos and a cheese roll up. Yum.

But that is only the beginning. Because what just so happens to also be today? World Naked Gardening Day. BOOM! And no, for you skeptics out there I did not invent this. Don't believe me? Click here. This is actually the eighth one. I believe it falls on either the last Saturday in April or the first Saturday in May (how they choose this, I do not know). But the idea is simple: nude up and do some gardening. Do it by yourself, or with family or friends. If you don't have a garden, maybe just go out and buy a small tropical plant for your windowsill. The purpose of World Naked Gardening Day is to promote our bodies as natural, not as something taboo or only for "behind closed doors" activities. It's about living comfortably in your skin and getting closer to nature.

http://wngd.org/

But if you are like me and live in a small house with a small backyard with absolutely no privacy, what do you do? Now naturally I want to just screw the judgement and go outside au naturel and plant some shit. But I cannot do this for 2 reasons. Reason 1: it could get me into trouble with the law, and I don't want to chance it getting in the way of my future job if someone reported me. Reason 2: I am living with my parents this summer and we do not have a garden. So, what am I to do? Do I want to go out and get a little Pansy for my window for me to care for without clothes on? Yes and no. I have never been a big gardener (although I did work for a garden center for two summers) so I am not the type to just get excited to care for some simple flower. I know people like that, and good for you, do what you are passionate about, but a dainty flower ain't gonna cut it for me. So yes, I will buy a plant from the store and care for it whilst naked. But no, it's not a Pansy. I BOUGHT A VENUS FLY TRAP. That's right. I am taking World Naked Gardening Day to the next level. Why have a pretty flower when you can have a carnivorous monster plant to guard your room from pesky flies? And given the nature of Cinco de Mayo, I will name him "Ignakedio Zaragoza", after Ignacio Zaragoza, the general who led the Mexican forces to victory in the Battle of Puebla.

Taco Bell. Nudity. Venus fly trap. This may just be my best Cinco de Mayo yet.

Ignakedio Zaragoza

Reading Review: Yoruba Religion

In order to keep up my reading abilities and knowledge of random facts that could be relevant while taking the GRE, I am going to be reading books or articles and reviewing the content and reflecting on life. This week I am looking into William A. Young's book The World's Religions: Worldviews and Contemporary Issues. I just read chapter 2 titled "Indigenous Religions." The particular indigenous practice I am looking at now is the Yoruba religion, native to west Africa.

The Yoruba religion is seen as primitive due to its unpopularity and continued reliance on a pantheon of gods that are said to be forces of nature. Yoruba mythology does, however, have a high god, Olorun Olodumare, who is the source of life, residing high in the heavens. While this Olorun Olodumare is seen as the high god, he is not much of a practical god, lacking shrines and rituals done in his honor.

As in many sects of Hinduism, the other deities are seen as manifestations of the power of Olorun Olodumare. These deities are called "orisa." The orisa were said to once have been humans who lived extraordinary lives. One of the more prominent orisa is Orisa-nla, the deity of new life in the womb. Newborns are respected in his honor, even the deformed. The color associated with him is white, which is often honored by his followers who wear white garments for rituals in his honor.

Yoruba in their white dress

Another Yoruba orisa is Oduduwa, the god that is said to be the original in a line of Yoruba kings. His sister is named Oshun, who is the goddess of fertility, feminine beauty, and wealth.

Oshun

The deity of divination is Orunmila, who knows the fate of every human. The Yoruba believe that everyone has a destiny given to them by Orunmila, but we all forget them in early life.

Orunmila

As in most indigenous religions (and mainstream religions), there is a trickster orisa, a joker. A Greek Prometheus, or a Norse Loki. This key role in mythologies is often a split role. In Greek mythology it is Prometheus, the very man-like god who brings fire down to the humans. Or in Norse mythology, Loki, a sort of half-god and half-frost giant who likes to play both sides of the fence. For the Yoruba, it is Esu. Esu is a messenger of the gods, he travels the earth tricking humans into doing wrong things and reports back to the gods who might have been offended. This is not unlike the early view of Satan, but is drastically different than the modern view. Esu is not seen as evil, but rather as an agent of chaos, not unlike the Joker in "The Dark Knight." Even to the gods in which he is reporting he will change his reports to entertain his appetite for disorder and trickery. He is said to promote impulsiveness in people to make them easy targets to fool.

Esu

According to oral tradition, Olorun Olodumare resided in the heavens with the other gods. The earth was all a lonely marsh. Olurun Olodumare decided he wanted to make the earth firm, so he sent Orisa-nla to do his bidding. Orisa-nla cast soil upon the marsh, and five-toed hen to spread the soil, pushing the water which separated land from ocean. He then planted trees to make the forests. After this was completed, Olorun Olodumare created 16 humans to populate the earth. Oduduwa then descended to rule the human population.

Modern practitioners have been greatly influenced by Western Christianity. Many Africans carried their Yoruba roots when forcibly shipped to America for slave trade. Missionaries have also had their impact in Africa, starting the "Aladura" movement (meaning "People of Prayer"). Groups of this movement are characterized by inspiring leaders, unique biblical interpretations, prayer, and healing. One such group is called Santeria, or "Saint Way." This is the combination of Yoruba religion and Spanish Catholicism as a result of slave trade in the Caribbean. Yoruba orisa are hidden under a Catholic saint guise. This movement group grew in popularity and is currently dwelling in the United States. Many of you have probably heard about the 1993 Supreme Court case in which the right for animal sacrifices in religious setting was upheld. This was the result of lawsuits concerning the growing popularity of the Santeria groups performing their animal sacrifices. While this is not the same thing as Voodoo, Yoruba religion has influence in that as well.   

Overall the Yoruba religion contains interesting mythologies and beautiful art, there are way more pictures I found that looked amazing. While this may be looked down upon as a "primitive" religion, I think it is important to be respectful. After all, what really makes a religion primitive? I may not think that Esu is causing me to stumble, but as a Christian I'm not the type to contribute those things to Satan or demons either. Religion is a complex and fascinating subject that I love looking into, but I do believe in reality and truth. Not all religions can be right. But the purpose of studying it is not to nitpick or criticize, but to investigate, to see how others are tackling the idea of faith and God in their own life and in their own culture.

Grad School and the Future of this Blog

As a student in Comparative Religion, I am a little concerned about finding a job after college. So I have decided to go for grad school to get my masters. With a masters degree I could teach college courses, so at least I would be trained for a specific job. Of course, I need to get my application in by February so I need to start training. Also, I need to afford it so I need to start working. Today I have a job interview at my dad's work, so I'm hoping that will take care of the job thing. As for my grad school application, I need to do more than that.

My first step will be to take the GRE, a 4 hour test to ensure I am competent enough to study at a graduate level. And $160 later I am signed up to take it on July 13th. Of course this means I cannot fall into my usual summer state of inactivity. I need to keep my reading and writing skills up this summer, which means I will be reading more books and writing more blog entrees (hopefully). I hope that soon my blog will contain better content than me updating you about my life. We'll see where it goes. Once I get more organized I have some ideas. BIG ideas. Not really, but good ideas. You'll see.

The BBQ Burger

I have decided to expand my culinary skills this summer. My first project was the BBQ burger, so I bought some patties and grilled it myself, and surprisingly I did not burn them. I added medium cheddar cheese and applewood bacon as well as some Jack Daniels BBQ sauce. I topped it off with a fresh tomato and put it all on a wheat bun to keep it classy. It was soooo good. And I coupled it with a Bud Light with lime because it was on sale. But hey, I'm a college student, I enjoy cheap beer.