Comments | karendela_cruz: Rhetoric Assignment.

karendela_cruz

Rhetoric Assignment.

Jan 24, 2005 14:19

Hey y'all. I wrote this for my rhetoric assignment. We were supposed to write about something that was making an argument. That something can be anything, and that argument can be whatever you want it to be. Pretty open-ended, I think. Ay, que post-modern! Ay, que sexy ( Read more... )

Comments 10

that reminds me anonymous January 25 2005, 06:16:44 UTC

This reminded me about a poem that I wrote last year... It's called "the pendant" and it's somewhat religous, I suppose. Thematically, it doesn't have much to do with your necklace, but hey, what are the chances we'd both have written about similar objects ( ... )

themock January 31 2005, 01:50:06 UTC

Amen. I think I know where you're coming from.
-Steven

slestialrazbery January 31 2005, 01:54:30 UTC

I object to the fact that you label all Catholic crucifixes garish. Some might be, but certainly not all. (Though I myself wear a silver Mary around my neck) :)

As always, you are insightful and eloquent. Perhaps I shall add you to my friends list (I'm assuming that you don't mind) and benefit from the fruits of your wisdom.

-Kasia

Garish crosses karendela_cruz January 31 2005, 20:23:12 UTC

Thanks for reading my post, Katherine! Friend me, I'll read yours too. Sorry about the offense of the garish crosses. That line was supposed to be a little bit funny and ironic because it was meant to suggest that I prefer the perfect, clean elegance of a simple cross pendant to the harsh, bloody and true reality of what it comes from: a Roman Empire-style execution, a human body stretched across planks of wood, dirty and bleeding and broken...

Re: Garish crosses slestialrazbery February 1 2005, 05:44:29 UTC

I wasn't actually offended. I was trying to indicate that with a smiley, but then I had the parentheses side note and it didn't quite work.
I don't think most people like the reality of it. I personally have always had difficulty relating to the Jesus aspect of God in the Catholic Trinity because I'd rather not think about the bloodiness. It's much nicer to think about God as the Father or as the Holy Spirit than of God bleeding and dying on the cross.

Crucifix anonymous January 31 2005, 04:00:41 UTC

It is true that the wearing of crucifixes and crosses should not be an identity marker that you are Christian and a follower of God. Last year, I did wear a San Damiano Crucifix all semester wrong, not because to identify myself as a Catholic Christian, but as a daily reminder that I am carrying my own cross and that it is not easy living in this world while at the same time being a follower of Christ, often thinking of the trials that our Lord had to go through in order for our sinful eyes to be open to God's grace. We are constantly being subjected to the unethical, immoral, and sinful things that this world has to offer, and we must resist them. Even though we fall into darkness, God is always there to help us get back into the light. God knows our human frailties and provides the grace needed to live out this transition into His company. Whether it is through the Holy Eucharist, liturgy and worship, or prayer that we obtain the necessary graces and absolutions for purification, we must make the world for the better, to make ( ... )

Re: Crucifix karendela_cruz January 31 2005, 20:31:50 UTC

Hi Joel! We haven't seen each other in AGES. Maybe I'll see you at that Fil-Chris conference? Anyways. Thanks for your insight about the symbol of the cross. You were always a walking Catholic dictionary in the halls. And it's true, it seems ridiculous that a necklace could be a signifier for an individual's spirituality. I got that comment from some other people too. They were like, "DUH!" Yet even though I wrote this story about the necklace, it wasn't really about jewellery. Maybe it had nothing to do with the bling-bling. It was kinda more this protest against this modernistic evangelical culture that tells people to pray "The Sinner's Prayer" as a matter of rote, kind of in a way spiritually objectifying the mystery that is communion between Christ and (wo)man. What I mean is, a lot of fundamentalism is thinking that agreement with a certain set of ideas is what saves you, and you wear it in your head kinda like a necklace. But Christian Spirituality is, I think, I hope, something more...

Re: Crucifix slestialrazbery February 1 2005, 05:55:25 UTC

"The doubt of an earnest, thoughtful, patient and laborious mind is worthy of respect. In such doubt may be found indeed more faith than in half the creeds."
-John Lancaster Spalding, Means and Ends of Education

I've never liked blind acceptance of religious beliefs. There's absolutely nothing wrong with belief or faith, but that faith becomes more meaningful after thoughtful personal consideration. Sorry if that was a bit of a tangent.

sofckthsystmad February 1 2005, 07:44:55 UTC

anna lets smoke up