The Age of Reason

In my humble opinion, The Age of Reason is a magnificient literary work that has shaped the idealogy of modern society as we know it. Paine does an outstanding job of higlighting the concepts of God, Christianity, Nature, and Deism. As Common Sense is an argument against the British's rule over the early colonists, The Age of Reason is an argument against the validity of organized religion. While reading the text, although being puzzled at times due to the old style of writing, I could not help but concur with Paine on many issues. With that said, The Age of Reason is certainly not devoid of shortcomings as there were examples of bias, lack of knowledge, and inconsistencies. All in all I feel that Paine wrote a superlative piece of revolutionary work that challenged an established creed during his time while simultaneously introducing a radical intellectual theory which is Deism.

Throughout Paine's text, I agreed the most with perhaps his views of revalation  as well as nature/science. A revalation in a religious sense is when an idividual is informed of something directly from God. Therefore one should not have an inclination to subscribe to a certain creed simply because he is told of God's word from another individual or church. This person would not have the same luxury of receiving a revelation from God as an individual such as Moses did. Based on this rationale the Bible therefore cannot be a medium for conveying God's because it  too is not a revalation. Because parts of it had been elected from church members, it is not a message directly from God to man. This line of thought from Paine only seemed logical to me; I should not have to believe in something solely because another told me that it was true. However as I previoulsy mentioned, it was apparant that throughout the text that Paine harbored a bias towards the Bible and Christianity as a whole. Throughout the text, Paine refers to the Bible as "stupid". He even goes as far to say that the Bible must be "the word of a demon, rather than the word of God" on pg. 56. He also states that he does not own a copy of the Bible which causes the reader to question the credibility of his accusations. The occurence of these shortcomings throughout the text are unfortunate as they blemish an otherwise exemplary critical analysis on Christianity.

Thomas Paine was a very intelligent man. He was also talented at getting his intellectual point across to others. Paine spoke of a theology in his text and how an understanding of God's true word helps man better understand his surrounding environment. Paine reasons that Earth cannot be the focal point of the universe as there must be other planets occupied by sentient life. Paine reasons that if every niche on the Earth, is occupied by life then because of the sheer vastness of the universe, life of  some form must be present throughout it. Paine says that the church does not want the public to be educated on such views because they challenge the creed which they preach which he believes are fabricated by the church and bear no accuracy. He goes on to say that because of this, education is centered around the learning of dead languages rather then science. Although I believe in Paine's ideas of science I could not help but notice a glaring contradiction he made. Paine states on pg. 75 that "scientific learning that now exists, came to us from the Greeks, or the people who spoke the Greek language." However on the next page, he states that he thinks that the study of the dead languages should be abolished. If the basis of our scientific knowledge was translated from the Greeks, wouldn't it seem prudent to foster an eductaion of the dead languages to perhaps uncover important pieces of information? Although this slightly confused me, this does not take away on what he says of true theology or the Church's motive of concealing the study of science.

I feel that Paine made some very radical claims for his time period. Although they are not flawless, I feel that they are logically sound and stimulated a new age of rational belief.

Genesis and Daodejing

I have not previously read The Bible or the Daodejing. I have been taught Hindu values when I was younger. Henceforth I did my best to read these texts with an open mind. I found that although different from my previous religious teachings they shared many similarites.

The Daodejing of Laozi is divided into two sections, dao and de. These refer to way and virtue respectively, the two major ideas discussed. The text is a series of verses that are quite straightforward. Dao, the Way, describes the virtually unnamable way of the universe. It is what makes life significant. It advocates that things happen when they're are meant to rather then when one wishes them to. De, virtue, highlights internal integrity. It underlines the way one should carry himself.  Because the text was believed to be written during the Warring States Period, its content are partially influenced from war and conflict. It cautions the reader against excessive desires as they are not indicative of happiness. Instead it highlights the neccesity of of simplicity and altruism as those values are ideal to substantiate the Way.

Genesis is the first book of the Hebrew Bible. It follows a story format. It begins by describing how God created the world in six days. On the seventh he created man (his intended missionary into the world) in the form of Adam and Eve. He encouraged them to reproduce and be obdedient, warning them not to indulge in eating from the Tree of Knowledge. God realized that man was corrupt. Upon this epiphany, he proceeded to wipe out man in the form of a flood. Before this he urged Noah, one of the few pure humans, to construct a boat of some sort to shield those that were free from corruption. Despite his efforts, man still possesed the same shortcoming. In another attempt to remedy this, God asked Abraham to move to Canaan. He promised him a place in the heavens for Abraham and his descendents. Subsequently, Abraham continued his lineage through is son Isaac and his grandson Jacob.

Because the Daodejing and Genesis are religous texts stemming from inherently different origins, they are ideal to compare and contrast. Both urge the reader to live a simple, peaceful life devoid of greed and corruption. However, while the Daodejing conveys these messages in straightforward verses, Genesis does so in a story like text. This causes the reader to have to carefully analyze the book in order to derive its intended message. As I mentioned, I have never read either of these texts. I learned of Hinduism mainly from the Bhagavad Gita. I was able to relate several themes I read to my previous experiences. I found a connection between the way (the concept of the occurences of the universe happening for a reason) to Karma (the idea that the fortunes/misfortunes and individual experiences are influenced by his/her previous actions).  Although I consider myself agnostic and do not neccesarily recognize with a specific higher power or deity I value the main ideas of these sacred texts.  

The Souls of Black Folk

In The Souls of Black Folk, W.E.B Du Bois dealt with the needs of African Americans in order to thrive in their communities. He begins by emphasizing that the primary basic neccesities for African's should be the right to vote, education, and equality and justice from others. I was intrigued by his overview of the term he coined the "double consicousness", the idea that an individual views oneself based on the point of view of his/her peers. He goes on to convey the his message of the veil, his metaphor of black people's "second sight". The veil alludes to the view of the African American's of the opportunites they had in society and how it was vastly different from that of whites.

In the book, Du Bois reiterates the importance that black's obtain a classic education. He states that it is crucial for there to be an emergence of black leaders and instructors in order to factilitate the education for young African Americans and ensure that they can be treated equally among their white counterparts by receiving equally opportunites for success and growth. He believed in blacks forming an identity among their community and being able to develop essectial human culutures. Throughout his discussion of eductation he often criticizes the ideas of Booker Washington and his Atlanta Compromise. Washington conveys his idea of the importance for industrial training for blacks in order for them to obtain jobs and a lack of certain rights. Du Bois conversly stresses the importance of total equality for blacks. He goes on to argue for the existence of  black colleges in order to continue to foster the development of the standard for education as well as the new generation of African Americans. He states that "The worker must work for the glory of his handiwork, not simply for pay" (88).

Du Bois realizes however that such immediate success is impractical because many blacks will fail in their journies to attain social equivalence and high education. He recalls his experiences of his previous  job which involved  teaching in a community of individuals who thoroughly beleived in the veil. He noted that many of these people will struggle with their own personal hurdles as they try to adapt to society's norm. He points out many social problems that are prevalent amongst blacks. These involve segragation amonst themselves as well as the Black Belt which is a densely populated area of blacks. He also covers the segration that African Americans received from whites as well. He also states that the main reason for many black youth being involved in gangs and crime is the result of poor education that they received.

After reading The Souls of Black Folk I must say that I do believe with Du Bois opinions. I think that although drastic, they are necessary in order for African's to have the equality that they have today.

Borderlands

Gloria Anzaldua is a Chicana lesbian and activist who lived near the the border of Texas and Mexico. She starts by describing the border as unnatural and dangerous, especially for those who live in the surrounding lands. She says that when those of color cross the border, they are shot or tortured while those who are white are left unharmed. Anzaldua constantly interchanges between English and Spanish which despite confusing the reader, shows that she has and affinity to both sides of the border.

Anzaldua describes how by the late 1800's American corporations were using Mexican land for commercial purposes. As a result the peso lost value compared to the dollar and the Mexicans not employed by these corporations were out of work and starving. Therefore Mexicans began immigrating to the US. She goes on further to describe the linguistic barriers that separated her and other Chicanos. While she spoke mainly Chicano and Spanish she had to learn English as a result of the pressure society placed on Chicanos. However there is clear bias when Anzaldua makes that claim. One of example of this is how she believes that the university she attended forced her to speak in English in order to prevent her from speaking in Spanish.

What truly confused me was how Anzaldua criticized both the US and Spanish societies. She expressed contempt at how the whites stole her people's land and starved them which in turn forced them to immigrate at great peril. She expresses as sense that she doesn't belong in her society because of how men are dominant. What is truly ironic is that Anzaldua tries to be accepted into a culture but she distinguishes herself by describing herself as a Mesitza, a mix of two cultures. She is also a female, homosexual, activist which sets her apart even more.

I feel the poem "Don't Give In, Chicanita", pg. 224, gives insight towards Anzaldua's feelings towards the gringos and the chicanos. It appears as if she is talking to someone younger. She tells this person to have pride in his/her ancestry claiming that it is ancient. She descended before the time of the whites when Texas was still Mexico.  She says her previous lineage of female ancestors (herself, her mother, grandmother and so on) is strong. She then goes on to condemn the whites for taking their land saying how they will eventually kill one another. She compares herself and her people to a snake and horned toad, perhaps referencing the story of the snake that impregnated a woman. She however says how they may still be starving, referencing the time when the Mexicans starved because they were out of the work because of the American corporations. Towards the end, she mentions a revolution approaching at some point whether it be in a few years or a few centuries. She could be speaking of the New Mestiza, the idea that there will be a new age of Mestiza that will be more accepting of unique individuals so that others would not have to be isolated in the manner that Anzaldua was.

Freud Psycho-Analaysis

As I read an "Introductory Lectures on Psycho-Analysis", I thought to myself that Sigmund Freud's findings were intruiging and controversial to say the least. Freud documents his findings as he studies the minds of patients and their relationships to doctors.  Based on what he says, I view Freud as a radical whose ideas are unorthadox. However I must say that for the most part I agree with Freud and his discoveries. In his book he goes over parapraxes, dreams, and neuroses. One underlying aspect that Freud tries to convey is that every psychological action has some deeper meaning or intention.

Freud describes dreams as a phenomenon in which knowledge displayed as a distorted image to the individual. He says that dreams are an expression of the dreamer's unconcsious desires. However, these desires are often so disturbing to the dreamer that the mind of the individual will censor or distort these unconcious desires into harmless symbols or images that cannot be as easily comprehended. This is why dreams are so unfamiliar to so many. Sometimes when the mind cannot properly censor these desires the individual will continue to view them as a nightmare. Dreams typically express ones wishes being fufilled and/or fears. Dreams, according to Freud, are completely sexual in nature. He states that any rod or stick like shape resembles a penis while a opening of some sort resembles a vagina. I agreee with Freuds views on dreams for the most part. I believe that dreams more often then not have some sort of deeper meaning to them and that they are an attempt to display to the dreamer what he fears and desires. However I am hesitant to say that all dreams are based from sexual impulses.

Freud was convinced that sexual desires are the major influence upon humans and their actions. He says sexual desires begins from childhood. Apparently the first sense of sexual pleasure that the child receives is when he is breast fed from his mother. The child then tries to replicate this sense of arousal by sucking his thumb. A major time in a child's sexual life is when he makes the transition from sucking to rubbing (masturbation). I believe that one begins to experience sexual impulses from puberty when his sexual organs are fully developed and capable of intercourse with another. I believe that the purpose of breast feeding is for the child's well being and health rather then the fufill sexual impulses.

I was very interested in what Freud describes as the Oedeipus Complex. the Oedipus Complex is based from the story of the Greek king Oedipus who killed his father in order to be with his mother. However when he came to a realization of what he did he went crazy and blinded himself. The complex refers to a childs desire to be with his mother and resentment towards the father because of his relationship towards his mother. I find it rather appalling that one would have a supposed natural tendency towards incest. However, it seems to great of a coincidience that there is Greek legend based on the very phenomenon.

Overall Freud's findings affected me the most because of the way I look at my dreams. Whenever I dream, I ask myself when I wake up if that dream represented something or if there was a sexual connection of some sort.

The Destruction of the Indies

Bartolome De las Casas is a Friar who witnessed the Spanish conquest of the Indies. He initially took part in the atrocities committed but later he conveys the henious acts in an account that he presents to King Charles in an effort to stop the cruel treatment of the Indians. Although saddening to say the least, the account is not hard to read as it follows a simple outline. Las Casas writes an introduction to the king expressing his greatness. He then goes on to discuss in great detail the wrongdoings commited by the Christian tyrants in the New World. He labels each location that is mentioned and goes on to describe what happens. The accounts are nearly identical in each location save for a few. The Indians would greet the Christians and bestow gifts and provisions upon them. They also had agreements/treaties that were to be honored. The Christians however would blatently ignore these agreements and proceed to massacre, torture, and enslave the indigineous people. Las Casas describes these horrible acts in such a excruciatingly detailed manner that I had trouble continuing to read.

One thing that was noticeable was Las Casa's clear use of exaggeration. He describes the indians as peaceful people who do not engage in any combat. However he never mentioned how the Aztecs were warlike people that practiced cannibilism and human sacrifice. He tries to pass off the idea that the Christians conquered them without any resistance whatsoever. He quickly points out that fifteen million Indians were killed as a result of the Spanish Conquest. However I feel that his exaggerations are warranted as it would be the only way of getting his point accros the King Charles. It would be hard for one to dismiss that fifteen million people were killed as a result of his missionaries actions. I have no doubt that the Spainards commited the most terrible acts possible to the Indians and deserve and equally terrible punishment, however I do realize that Las Casas heavily exaggerated his account although it was probably neccessary to.

The sheer repetition of these events is disturbing; it seemed as if Las Casas never ran out of things to say when it came to describing the crimes comitted. . He painted grotesque images, a few of which were people being burned slowly by the feet as if being cooked alive, women hanging themselves with their children to avoid being eaten by rabid dogs that helped the spanairds with their sins,and finally babies being thrown into rivers. Some of the things the Spanairds did did not make sense but were cruel for the sole purpose of being cruel. An example is how they would enslave people and fail to feed them so they would die of malnutrition therefore defeating the point of them being enslaved in the first place.

Upon reading Las Casas account, I felt remorse and pity for the Indians who suffered the fate they did because of the Christians. I felt the same for the Indians in the other parts of the Americas who probably suffered a similar fate at the hands of other European/American conquerers but were never documented the way the Indies were. I learned to appreciate the value of life and security. After trying to put myself in the shoes of the poor Indians who were invaded, forced to believe in a strange religion, and then deceived and slaughtered ruthlessly, I feel immensly grateful and that I do not have to suffer a similar fate.

The Power of the Gods

A recurring element in "The Epic of Gilgamesh" which I consider a theme is the power of the gods. The gods have seemingly infinite power and can use it for their own bidding. As a result of this power the gods play a crucial role in the events of the story.

Because the Gods have such power over what happens, the characters try to please the gods so they will act favorably to the humans. Typically, humans would try to please the gods while avoiding angering them at all costs. This was apparent when the gods created Enkidu in response the pleas of the old men of Uruk.  The gods have so much power that Gilgamesh, a proud demi god,  begs them to spare his friend Enkidu from certain death. Gilgamesh however prayed to the god Shamash in the days leading up to his violent encounter with the demon Humbaba. Because of his prayers, Shamash released storms on Humbaba, helping Gilgamesh and Enkidu in their quest to kill the demon. Unlike in modern day religions in which God(s) are seen as divine characters that resemble purity and perfection, the Gods of Uruk displayed human like deficiencies. For example, the goddess Ishtar showed excessive infatuation towards Gilgamesh when he returned to Uruk from his conflct with Humbaba. So excessive in fact that when Gilgamesh rejected her advances she grew bitter and begged her mother and father to unleash the Bull from Heaven on Uruk and Gilgamesh. Ishtar displayed through her jealousy and resentment that although th Gods are powerful, they are by no means symbols of goodness and perfection.

Because the gods  hold extreme power and abilities as well as the fact that they are somewhat human- like in that they are not perfect, they can do almost anything. Furthermore many of their actions lead to actions of other gods which causes a ripple effect and is what keeps the story going. For example Aruru creates Enkidu to counteract the creation of Gilgamesh. As Gilgamesh and Enkidu face Humbaba, Shamash helps the pair defeat the demon which infuriates Enlil. Because of the success Ishtar feels drawn to Gilgamesh who declines her. Because of this Ishtar releases the Bull from Heaven which Enkidu kills and taunts Ishstar with. Finally the gods counsel and bring about Enkidu's death from sickness which causes Gilgamesh (the demi god) to mourn and beg for Enkidu's well being. This chain of events is started, carried out, and ended by a god or gods.

There is no doubt that the gods hold immense power. It is also obvious that it is because of that power that the gods shape the events in "The Epic of Gilgamesh".