It's not Always Black and White

Why are so many people uncomfortable with the idea that many problems don't have a single solution? Give an example of a current controversy in which there are different factions arguing that theirs is the one RIGHT answer and explain why there is in reality no one right answer to the issue.

There are, speculatively, over 40 different organized religions and faith groups in the world today. Views within the “churches” are wide in spectrum, and some carry no commonalities at all. For example, most followers of Christianity, (The worlds most largely practiced religion) believe that there is one God, and that Jesus Christ was his Son incarnate, come to earth to pay the blood price for mankind’s sin. Most denominations within the Christian religions believe that Jesus Christ is the only way into heaven. Yet as singular as Christianity seems, according to religioustolerance.org, “One source estimates that there are 34,000 separate Christian groups in the world.” Given just that example, how can we determine yes, or no; black or white? The whole area is “grey” to begin with. Once we factor in all of the other religions that believe theirs to be the gateway to salvation, we have a whole other mathematical improbability to contend with. This is exhibit A in my attempt to address the question “Why are so many people uncomfortable with the idea that many problems don't have a single solution?” Religious beliefs and practices are so far wide, that though mostly every religion declares their belief to be “The One”, there are too many nuances within each denomination that make this determination impossible.

Jehovah Witnesses' fall into the category of Christianity. They do not believe in the trinity and they believe Jesus Christ was once the archangel, Michael. Catholics also fall into the category of Christianity, they do believe in the trinity, and do not believe that Jesus Christ was Michael the archangel. There are many other differences of opinion to point out within the various denominations, but the key point here is that each of those denominations believes that their given group is the chosen one. Many folks want to say its black and white, but they do not realize that they are smack dab in the middle of the grey area themselves. Harvey Cox, a professor at Harvard Divinity says, “The thing that is forgotten in these discussions is that any single religious tradition is itself already a composite," His book, "The Secular City," ( 1965). “Is considered a theology classic. He considers the idea of isolated religious traditions to be "a big myth." Cox continues with, "What we have are streams that have been fed by other streams and have fed other streams all along," he says. "Even what is advertised by clerical leaders as the kind of ‘pure package' is already the result of the collage."

Some people within the Christian faith even stray from the box and pick up wisps and whatnot’s from other religions, pulling them into their own practices. Take for example the Jew who practices yoga, or the Christian who meditates. Each person, or faith seems to pick out bits and pieces that are conducive to their own lifestyle. Some Christians celebrate Christmas traditionally as the birth of Christ, shunning the neopagan Santa Claus, others delve into the merriment, and combine the two, others celebrate only the pop culture driven holiday.

I understand that some people want to attest that a certain religion is the only one that God has deemed worthy, but with all of the branches, stems, leaves, and derivations, there is no clear answer as to what religion, if any is the end all, be all. It is all grey area. Likely the religion that one has encumbered is just a branch off another branch, etc, etc. All religions are in someones black area, or someone else's white area, or are we all just a part of the same painting in different hues? I think that seem's likely, I'm hopefull that it's in fact true.

Does Technology Make us Smarter or Dumber?

Life today is about as dependent on technology as it is oxygen. The idea of technology, and someone who is technologically capable immediately carries a connotation of being intelligent; but on further consideration of the topic, I am led to play devil’s advocate, and to point out why I think technology may be both destructive and essentially “dumbing us down” individually while making society as a whole, “smarter.”

Merriam Webster online dictionary defines technology as such: “The practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area.” Now, there is no shortage of smarts for those who develop technological advancements, but for the large variety of those who are consuming the technology, often less independent brain power is required. Someone else, or something else, is always there to come up with the answers for you. Let’s look at three different branches of technology:

1. Internet Dating
2. Automotive electrical systems
3. Communications

Internet dating sites have become a major pop culture icon. Many sites brag that they will “do the work for you” and they set one up to create a virtual you that you advertise. In advertising, we buy what we like. You create your best self advertisement and see who will “buy”. This can be effective in some cases, many a true love has wound up happily ever after, sure, but it’s also a landmine filled with false advertising. Becoming reliant on using the internet to secure mates runs the risk of losing real time socialization skills where a person can find a mate relying on factual, first impression encounters. I read an interesting article in Reuters titled “Technology Overload Can Ruin Relationships”.

“John O'Neill, the director of addictions services at the Menninger
Clinic in Houston, Texas refers to it as "technology overload" when he sees addiction-like behavior in his patients using cell phones or emails.
"I think they share some of the same components as people who become addicted to alcohol and drugs in that we start to see that someone cannot really put it down and cannot stop the use of it even when there are some consequences," he said in a telephone interview”
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2221996620080123

We were born with innate abilities to draw in mates, just like in the wild. There are certain breeding characteristics that dominate our desires to procreate. Sometimes maybe we lessen our abilities to think logically and to draw on those instincts when we bypass the primal functions.

Automobiles used to be reliable old metal hunks of nuts, bolts, wires, and an engine. Today they are convoluted instrument panels ran by an internal system that requires a degree just to understand the owner’s manual. Any average guy used to be able to fix his own truck, now some guys are lucky to be able to get their door open if the keys get locked in. People rarely even bother trying to fix their own cars anymore because of the difficulty in facing the technological advancements. Though convenient, cool, touted as the next new must have, it seems like a de-evoloution of independent capability to me.

Communications is the most widely pop culture technological advancement I see today. Every category of person, every soicioeconomic society, and every age set of consumers is demanding that they deserve the next best thing. Self worth is widely determined here. To be a third grader without the latest texting, tweeting hand held electrical gadget is a sure sign of a technologically malnourished human. I’m sure they must live far away on a long cold dark road in a hut with no running water! What do you do when the neighbors 8 year old has a better phone than you do? Perhaps it’s the biggest most effective advertising campaign of the century! And the communication that is taking place with the advancements of these electrical devices? Sure, we have been connected to the world in a plethora of different ways, some good, some bad, but the current pop culture communication fads seem to be reverting to some sort of cave man speak! LOL. LMAO. IDK. BRB. WTF? So easy a caveman could do it indeed! WebMD.com has some interesting ideas in an article about technology addiction where 24/7 reliance on PDA’s, cell phones. Computers, email can cause destructive behaviors in ones life. http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/when-technology-addiction-takes-over-your-life

There are some amazing advances that have been brought forth with the rapid growth of technology. Medical technology has saved billions of lives, will only continue to save more. We have developed many more ecologically friendly products from paper to houses. Transit has become more stable than ever, with ever lessening effects on the environment. I don’t know about you, but I want to be able to appreciate the usage of technology when I need it, but I don’t want to rely on it or be subservient to it. I want to remain in control of what I do, buy, say, and need. Some areas of technology have progressed our world incomparably, but in other ways it has become an addiction, a crutch, an artificial sense of self. I want to be smarter, wiser, more conscious of what I do, what I take part in. I want to do my own thinking, reach my own conclusions, and have reasons as to why I make those decisions. I won’t be “dumbed down” by technology, but I want to grow with it.

week four pre-class activity

My list of the elements of popular culture I used in a three day period.
cell phone, computer, Sonic, Mc Donalds, fax machine, satellite T.V., satellite radio, texting, remote controls, brand name clothing, Internet, Google, entertainment media, facebook and of course blogging.

1. I decided what to put on my list by thinking of things I don't need to have to get threw my days, but are expected to use in today's society.

2. Fast Food = Sonic and Mc Donalds
Computers = Google, Internet, facebook and blogging
Communication = facebook, cell phone, fax machine and texting
Entertainment = satellite T.V./radio, with those remote control of course
Brand name clothing = DC, ED Hardy, Aeropostale, Quick Silver and Dickies

3. Convenience, social responsibility, and pleasure.

4. the impact made on my life due to popular culture are probably spending money on unneeded items, feeling better about myself because I got something "cool", and thinking I will get left behind in technology.

My First Blog

Hey everyone, it's Dave here. This is my first Blog, we should have a good time blogging with eachother. See ya on the flip side!