Fall 2016 | Issue 3

CLARITAS A Journal of Christian Thought

FEATURING Understanding God Through Modern Rap: Coloring Book Super Power or Higher Power? The Diabolically Ridiculous 02 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 writers andeditorsfromalldenominations The by students attending Cornell University. semester of 2015, it is written and produced commentary. Launched in the spring journal that reviews ideas and cultural The involve faith,reason,andvocation. and itstrives to begin conversations that Christ toeverypersonandstudy, is to articulate and connect the truth of around acommoncreedalvision.Itsvision Cornell Claritas that canonlybefoundthroughGod. us, “clarity,” “vividness,” or “renown.” For CLARITAS Cornell Claritas Claritas WHO AREWE? represents a life-giving truth isecumenical, drawing isaChristianthought is the Latin word for 23 13 14 32 10 28 05 06 THE DIABOLICALLY RIDICULOUS Eunice Ju A conversation:eightquestionsfromnon-Christians WE HAVEN’T BEENTALKING Damilare Aboaba,GairedJordan,andEmaniPollard A theologyofjoypermeatesChancetheRapper’slatestmixtapeColoringBook UNDERSTANDING COLORING GODTHROUGH MODERNRAP: BOOK Sharon-Rose Alonzo A Poem MOVING FORWARD? Michael McGinnis Considering theexistentialandBiblicalideasofabsurd EVERYTHING UNDERTHESUNINABSURD Zachary Lee When earthlyheroesfail,towhomwecanturn? SUPER POWER ORHIGHERPOWER? Emani Pollard OPENING REMARKS Abigail Bezrutczyk The collegetransitionandseekingtheplacewhere we knowwhoare HOME John Nystrom ing enslavedtotheself Highlighting aspectsofthedevil’scharacter,our andthetragedyofbecom - 03 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 04 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 Karl E.Johnson Nicole Riley Advisory Board: Jake Mandich‘18 Marketing: Sidney Hahm David Navadeh‘19 Photography: CLARITAS STAFF Elizabeth Schmucker‘19 The Chesterton Production Manager Thanks to Special House Janelle Chung‘18 Production Staff Production Gaired Jordan ‘16 Damilare Aboaba‘16 Sharon-Rose Eunice Ju‘19 Michael McGinnis‘20 Zachary Lee‘20 Abigail Bezrutczyk‘20 Contibutors: Board Hannah Chow‘19 Business Manager Zhijiang Li‘16 Alonzo ‘19 John Nystrom ‘18 Managing Editor Andrew Shi‘17 Emani Pollard ‘17 Editor-in-Chief Editorial Staff Editorial Board Mwangi Thuita‘17 Joshua Jeon‘19 Blog Editor endeavor. IinviteyoutojoinusinourquestfortruthandmeaningthislifelightoftheGospel. pleasure. Toponderquestionsoflifeandphilosophyinformedbyunchangingtruthisourunending and ideasthroughthelensofGospel.Topicketernaltruthoutpopcultureisourgreatest Nina Simonechargedartiststomakemusicforthetimes.AtClaritas,weanalyzeculture,identity, that allowsusthefreedomtocelebrateourdifferences. material possessions,thereisoneidentitythatoutlastsandsupersedesthemall.Jesusthetruth people yearntodefinethemselvesbythegroupswhichtheybelong,theircareers,friends,or horrors oreverlastingsplendors.”IdentityinChristasachildofGodistheunifier.Intimewhen life ofagnat.Butitisimmortalswhomwejokewith,workmarry,snub,andexploit-immortal a meremortal.Nations,cultures,arts,civilizations-thesearemortal,andtheirlifeistooursasthe you interactwithothers.AsC.S.Lewissaid,“Therearenoordinarypeople.Youhavenevertalkedto this identity.SeeingyourselfandothersasGod’schildrenchangesyourperspectivethewaythat or not,youareachildofGod.ThedifferencebetweenChristiansandnon-Christiansisclaimto At ClaritaswebelievethatallhumanbeingsareGod’schildren.Whetheryouwalkinidentity must awaytoconstructivelydealwithdivisionwhileremainingunited. can easilybetakentotheextreme.Theremustawayaffirmdifferencesandstillone. America ratherthanthethingsthatdivideus.Iagreewithmuchofwhatauthorsays,butthis divisiveness ofidentitypoliticsandurgespeopletofocusonthethingsthatuniteusasain in fortheNewYorkTimesentitled,“TheEndofIdentityLiberalism.”Thearticlediscusses on Cornell’scampusandbeyond.MarkLilla,aprofessoratColumbia,recentlywroteanarticle People havealwaysfoundmeaningandcomfortinsecureidentities.Today,identityisahottopic Dear Reader, OPENING REMARKS Editor-in-Chief Emani Pollard Sincerely, 05 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 06 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 let their bleak anddark backgrounds shape the and savethe world.” These contemporary heroes guy the bad than thetropeof“stop complexity characterized with much more nuance and an reveal films these interesting phenomenon: modern heroes are of inundation the But in cryostasisforafewyearsbeforeresurfacing. America’s screenplayandhibernate Captain it istimeforthisgenretotakeapageoutof released thisyearalone,onewouldthinkthat to watch?Withatotalofsixsuperheromovies audiences reallyneedyet campaign couldpullitoff.Butthenagain,do perfect), aheftybudget,andsolidmarketing with therightactor(JoaquinPhoenixwouldbe movie. Itsoundsabitfar-fetched,butstudio Imagine thelifeofJesusChristasasuperhero Super Power or Higher Power? When earthlyheroes fail,towhomshallweturn? another superhero film become alittlemore heroic, today’s audience become alittle more villainous and villains have rather thanovercomethem.Asheroes have suggest thatitismucheasiertolivewithvices As a result, the narrative arcs of these heroes areinstead hidden, to audiences. augmented andmadepalpable being than rather flaws, than try to rise above them. Furthermore, their foundational tenetsoftheir character rather with beingstuckthewayweare.Wearemuch in God’simage),wearecontent creatures made and becomethebestversionsofourselves(as norm: rather than accept thatwe can transform and villain is indicative ofadisturbing cultural trend ofblurringthedistinctionsbetweenhero two (thinktheDCEU’s the between distinguishing time difficult a has By ZacharyLee Suicide Squad ). This no unction to change himself. Odysseus acts as acts Odysseus himself. change to unction no gods, was nonetheless still flawed and expressed though he was gifted with the blessings of the sufferings. The Greekscraftedakindofherowho, his by humbled nor unchanged Odysseus finds hardships which costs the lives ofhis crew and event triggers a cascading series of trials and crew make theirjourney back toIthaca.The his and Odysseus while turbulent and violent the seas sea god,andinangerPoseidonmade Cyclops Polyphemus,thesonofPoseidon pivotal a the mocks In contemptuously Odysseus Olympus. sequence, of nemesis a into shapes him eventually which gods the of, defiance is Homer makes it clear that Odysseus’ tragic flaw Odysseus is a primeexample.Throughout and flaw,” “tragic a had hero Greek as blemished,crooked, and hauntedsouls. Every characterize heroesnotasparagonsofvirtue,but as As earlyasthe8thcentury B.C., with epics such This idea of the “flawed hero” is not revolutionary. instead ofself-fulfillment. self-sacrifice embrace to us challenges he them; inner demons instead of trying to coexist with doing so, he challenges us to livealifefreefrom humanity tolookathis image andperfectlife.In image, Jesusinverses this relationship.Hecalls screen are the ones that we make in our own all who believe. the transforming power of God for salvation to strength notas“mightmakesright”but fights point ofsheddinghis own blood. but vice for sin, ego,doubt,ambition,anddespairtothe excuses no makes Jesus embracing hishumanityintheincarnation. inhuman orsuperhumanpowersbutby Jesus conquersevilnotbygaining hero type. contemporary the defies he because compelling Superman. The story andcharacter of Jesus is more likeDostoyevsky’sidiotthanJerrySiegel’s would find a radicallysurprisingmessage.Helooksfar we Christ, Jesus of film superhero Yet if we were to look at the hypothetical overcome vices andfallennatures,ratherthantryingto more concerned abouthowtolive hubris Jesus conquersevilnotbygaining but byembracinghishumanityin The Odyssey inhuman or superhuman powers inhuman orsuperhuman : thatis,anexcessivepridetoward,or them. the incarnation. 3 , the Greeks were the first to first the were Greeks the , Thus while the heroes on the 2 e redefines He The Odyssey with our 1 , wrestle withtheirdemonsbutneverovercome heroes in our own image andifthese heroes only we make no effort toovercomethem.Wemake of liberationwhenweadmitourfaults,sadly, sense superficial a is there Though are. we who society to accept our flaws as an intrinsic part of we wouldchangebutratherbecauseexpect because much so not brokenness weadmit and flaws Yet our broken. and flawed are we that to ourownlives,thenwearereadyadmit wicked propensities. If superheroes are amirror Gone is theideaofhavingtoovercomeour hero. Flawed heroes are muchmoreappealing. history of resistance against apurely virtuous also slightlydepressing: humanity hasalong is heroes Odyssean of tradition the narrative, the timelessness and perspicacityoftheGreek and remainsrelevanttoday.Whileindicativeof has had enduring influence through the centuries This ancient depiction of tragically-flawed heroes ancient andcontemporarypost-modernreaders. both villain and hero which is relatable to both turned inonitself.It’sself-fulfillingratherthan Much like beauty, heroismin our culture has Writer TimothyWillard this build contentment intothedailyroutineofourlives. and flaws our with contentment of our vices.Thus, we beginacentripetalcycle them, then to livewith we too feelvalidated 4 putsitbest: 07 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 08 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 But while it appears that Jesus isunrelatable, that But whileit appears He mustbedivine. him off in traffic while he was riding his donkey? didn’t silently curse out the crude thug who cut weeven do empathize with someone who never lied once or How relate. to difficult is it whom represented as a perfect human being with both on screen or in the Bible, he is sometimes Jesus never sinned or committed any crime that he meets yet still seem unrelatable. Since profoundly change and transform the characters like flawed tragically (anti-)heroes? It is as interesting that in recent characters films questionable when pastnarrativeshavespotlighted stage Now howdoesthestoryofJesuslookon other means. of a perfect hero, and embrace self-fulfillment by must learn to settle for less, give up on this idea high of anaspiration to reach. Instead, society too are self-sacrifice and perfection that preach heroes such as Daredevil and Walter White Thus, from the literary epic to the visual screen, becoming. Unfortunately, thatforwhich we root,risk ideas ofloveandobedience.Werootforit. of egoism muck the when it shouldbetouching thetranscendent in stuck self-sacrificing; Risen or Ben Hur , Jesusissomeonewho can is ostracized and brandedasonewith whom I find it personally interesting that Jesus Christ action ever done in the history of humankind. So lie, steal, cheat,anddoeveryremainingvicious to in everyway:hefelttempted was tempted free from temptation. To the contrary, Jesus did notsin, his sinlessness does notinfer a life states thatjustbecauseourhighpriest(Jesus) yet hedidnotsin.” Here, the author ofHebrews in everyway,justasweare, one whoistempted with ourweaknesses, empathize but wehave “We donothaveahighpriestwhoisunableto and blamelesslife.Hebrews4:15remindsus: overcame those temptations, and lived a pure in his humanity he was still tempted to sin, retained hisdivinityeveninhumanform.Yet was fully human, he was alsofully God. He and raisedbyherJoseph. years ago,Jesusleftheaven,wasborntoMary, closer look at Jesus’ origin story. Two-thousand a take us let But grasp. to his difficult find incarnation still life, whole my for church to gone fully humanisamystery,andevenI,whohave fully God. Christ’s dual nature as fully God and he suffered. He struggledbutlearnedobediencefromwhat to sininthesamewayallofusare. tempted the contrary, Jesus was fully human and was On wrong. any commit not did effortlessly who the most. Jesus was not some super human he is in fact someonewith whom we can relate 5 Butatthesametimehe was also 6 Though Jesus wants formylifeisthetruestformofwhoIam, be to difficult; transformed istoacknowledgethatwhatGod be to have doesn’t act this Yet to self and one’s ambitions in order to truly live. instead teachessurrender. A personhastodie Earthly heroes stay center stage. ButJesus we achieveourdreams,goals,andaspirations. gods. Wethink our vices make us who eventhe we areas and fate, world, the against defiance Jesus. EarthlyheroesteachusaPromethean the messageofEarth’smightiestheroesand Herein lies the fundamental difference between own story.WeneedaSavior. to save ourselves. We cannot be the hero of our humanity revealshowfarwehavefallen,too he sets for humanity, we become haunted. Jesus’ try tolookJesusandperceivethestandard villains andnottheirownegos. But ifweinstead of Supermanteachusthatsuperheroes conquer Woman, andevenourcurrent recharacterization will notseetheneedforit.Batman,Wonder will never beabletotrulychangebecausewe advice andcounsel that weseek, then humanity cinematic messiahs,ifitisonlyHollywood’s Unfortunately, with the current roster of self-sacrifice. into and self-fulfillment past move to have we of GodencapsulatedinJesus’lifeasoneus, image the reflect To Christ. to up measure not demand for repentance because we realize we do paragon of virtue, then now there is a corollary Christ as thestandardforgoodnessand try to be more and more like him. If we set Jesus Becoming betterpeopleisnotenough: we must to ourownlives,heforcesusconsiderchange. sin. When we see Jesus, one who acts asamirror and brokenness, flaws, our despite live should excuse. Jesus has modeledin himself how we also acknowledgethatashumans, we arewithout But toacknowledge the perfectionofJesus is to darkness erasehisfaith. God-forsakenness, to relatethemost.Heknows the despairof Jesus is a “hero” with whom we should be able sufferings. and flaws our with sympathize can others cannotrelatedespitethefactthathe 7 andyethedidnotletthe 8

but ultimatelymorehumanroad. look toJesuswhowillpushuswalkaharder, to comfortably live with our flaws, instead let us avenger orAsgardiandemi-godtoteachushow as itistowantlookanarmored tempting therefore becomesajoyfulprocess. Thus, as anything Icouldhavedreamed.Surrender what Godhasplannedformylifeisbetterthan so Icanletgoofmyprideandambitionbecause 8 7 6 5 lewis/ http://acculturated.com/jason-bourne-cs- 2016, 7, October modified last Matters, Culture Learn from C.S. Lewis”, Acculturated Pop 4 3 2 1 Gal 2:20 Mk 15:34 Matt 1:18 Heb 5:8 Timothy Willard, “What JasonBourne Could Rom 1:16 Heb 12:4 Phil 2:8-9NIV think ourvicesmakeuswhoweare world, fate,andeventhegods.We and aspirations.Earthlyheroes stay Promethean defianceagainstthe as weachieveourdreams, goals, center stage.ButJesusinstead Earthly heroes teachusa tunes inChristianhip-hop. and likeslisteningtothenewest plays the saxophone, reviews movies, almost allgenres of storytelling, performs it, reads avidly novels and Literature. He writes poetry, studying English and Comparative the CollegeofArtsandSciences, Author: Zachary is a freshman in teaches surrender. 09 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 10 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 this idea ofabsurdity is also present in the Bible. is centralto hisexistentialwritings: however, and responsestoit.Camus’s ideaoftheabsurd the entire book seems to beaboutthe absurd which recurs over andistheabsurd.Truly, through the lens of Christianity,andonetopic my homechurch. We discuss parts ofthebook Albert Camus, alongside an older member of Since July, I havebeen reading Absurd theSunis Everything Under Considering theexistentialandBiblicalideas oftheabsurd The Plague , by need andthe unreasonablesilence of theworld.” “born outof this confrontationbetween human none. Camus himself defines the absurd as being to search for meaningin an existencethathas Existentialists define the absurd as the tendency they present. shown in bothworks and contrastthe responses In this article, I will discuss the absurdasitis By MichaelMcGinnis 1

to be wealthy, as it is insubstantial like a mist. way fulfilling no is there So so. do to effort and are impossible to holdonto, in spite ofour desire claims characteristics such as wisdomandhonor the existentialabsurdity becausethePreacher parts oftheBible.This vanity is analogous to though there are expressions of its value in other wealth, and honor. He even includes wisdom, the vanityofthingssuch as self-indulgence, toil, try. Throughoutthebook,Preacher asserts not onlyisitimpossible,butpointlessto to holdontowind; all thingsarelike attempting grasp amistorwind.SothePreacherclaimsthat Hebrew word“hebel,”which referstotrying to know that “vanity”was translated from the vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” of vanities,saysthePreacher, reads “Vanity express asenseofabsurdity.Thesecondverse repeatedly usestheword“vanity”in order to of Ecclesiastes, referred to as “the Preacher”, articulated his ideas of the absurd. The author though itwaswrittenmuch before Camus The Biblesurprisingly confronts the absurd, rational expectations,theuniverse does notcare. is theabsurd:thatdespiteallhopes,oreven died. That to lessen, more people was expected throughout the book. For each time the plague dies thenextmorning. the plaguecontinues to worsen, and M. Michel condition evenseemstobeimproving.However, atmosphere ofhopewithin the town. M. Michel’s day, theweatherisbeautifulwhich creates an M. Michel, is sick with the plague. Yetone the absurdespeciallywell.Thischaracter, the book, the experiences of one character shows opposing man’shopesforcomfortandlife.In Plague The idea of the absurd is fundamental to it rollbackdown,astheepitomeofabsurd. repeatedly rolling a boulder up a hill only to let the example of Sisyphus, a mortalsentenced to afternoon. Camusgives asleep inalecturethat fall asleepatnight, even though I could fall both. Ioftenexperiencetheabsurdwhen I cannot and takelivesregardlessofour efforts toavoid this lack of care. For they often destroy property that the many natural disasters demonstrate desires that inspiteofallourhopesand is theidea It It istheideathatinspiteofallour hopes anddesires . A plague itself isanactionofnature . Aplague the universe does not care. does notcare. 2 Such dashedhopesoccur the universe One could say 3 It is helpful The under thesun, andbehold,allisvanitya notes that he “has seen everything that is done he toilsunderthesun?” “What doesmangainbyallthetoilatwhich the Preacher questions the meaning of work: the sun”isvain.Forinstance, this occurs when “under is that all that notes preacher the Often, Preacher makesconcerning allthatisvain. to notice a distinguishing remark which the called tohonor Godinourwork? It isimportant resources, including money?Arewenotalso For are we not calledtobegoodstewardsofour parts oftheBiblepraisethemashavingworth. that wisespendingandworkisabsurd,other passages oftheBible.WhilePreacher claims spending and work seem to contradict other The claimsinEcclesiasteswhich concern wise working alldaytopaythebillsisabsurd. spending is vain. Similarly, he would say that this manner, the Preacher would claim that wise security or wealth is like chasing after wind. In Toil becomes pointless because working for world. Because ofthis,childbirthbecame the Knowledge of Good and Evil, sin entered the God byeatingfromtheTree of Eve disobeyed called it“verygood.” created. WhenGodcreated theuniverse, he mean thatthe universe does not exist asitwas When I say thatweexistinafallenworld,I the existenceofabsurdcanresultingood. absurd resultsfromthefallenworld,andthat our experience of the absurd: that some of the there aretwoideaswhich help to understand God were truly all-powerful and loving? I believe can weexperiencetheabsurdinthismannerif to argueagainsttheChristian God. Forhow is oftendiscouragingtoChristiansandused people? This things happentogood why dobad of theabsurdismostoftennotedinquestion: though we desire for them tostayintact.The idea uprooting treesanddestroyingourhouses even This happens when a tornadocomesthrough, not vain,westillareconfrontedbytheabsurd. Though wecanliveinsuch a waythatlifeis glory ofGod. Wisdom isnotabsurdeither,ifitusedtothe as longthespendingcenters around God. isdone without God.Thus, wise spendingisnotabsurd, that all towards specifically refers he in 14whenthePreacherclaims“allisvanity,” God. without situation a signified sun” the that intheoriginalHebrew,phrase“under Zacharias, Ravi apologist, Christian One sun.” Preacher claimsismeaninglessexists“underthe striving afterwind.” 7 However, when Adam and However,whenAdam 5 So,everythingthatthe 4 Further, thePreacher 6 So, 11 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 12 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 that we are attached to Adam and Eve’s sin: to Adam that weareattached deaf toourhopes.Itfurther mayseemabsurd remain absurdasweliveinauniverse which is of the absurd which may be used for our good result fromsinintheworld.Likewise, instances these experiences remain absurd even if they we may betemptedtofallinto pessimism. For Even understanding these ideas of the absurd, part ofsin’seffectsintheuniverse. we canstillmourntheabsurdasitrepresents and desires to remainhealthy.Inlightofthis, that peoplebecome sick in spite of their efforts simply accepttheillness. For itremainsabsurd purpose. Similarly,Idonotmeantosaythatwe uses a badoccurrence for good, giving it adual in itselfbecauseitresults in good.Instead,God to note that the absurd occurrence is not good good fromaspiritualperspective.Itisimportant illness, while being bad in itself, may result in yourself, and focusmoreclearlyonGod.Sothis Yet thisillness might causeyoutorelylesson be amanifestationoftheabsurd. and may certainly contrarytoone’sdesireforgoodhealth, bring usclosertohim.Forinstance,anillnessis use theseeventsforourgood,such as to God may our good. We often experience the absurd, but use instancesoftheabsurdfor world, Godmay Though someabsurdresults fromsininthe fallen-ness oftheuniverse. health, we can understand the source to bethe and or plaguesdespiteourdesiresforsafety as weconfrontthehorribleeffectsofhurricanes desires is amanifestationoftheeffectssin. So, silence of the world” and tornadoes.Inthisway,the“unreasonable natural evilssuch as devastatinghurricanes the universefelltoo.Thisfallenstatecauses was created tobe good, butwith the fall of man less fruitful and meaningful. painful, the ground was cursed, and work grew hope aswelookforward tothe new creation where wewillnot It isevidentthatwewillalways wrestle withtheabsurd andits existence. However, ifwelook “above thesun,”wecanfind experience theabsurd. 9 towards our hopes and 8 So the universe confrontations withtheabsurd. we mayliveinanewuniverse without sinor may alsoeagerlyawaitthenewcreation,where can look “above thesun” for hope. Further, we universe andwillcontinuetowrestlewithit,we we still experience the absurd due to sin in the God is not absurd buthas meaning. Though without God.Incontrast,lifecenteredaround life to it relates specifically he vain, are things as well. Though the Preacher claims thatall the BibleconfrontsthisideainEcclesiastes As Camusarticulatedtheabsurdinhisnovels, experience theabsurd. welook as forward tothenewcreationwherewewillnot hope find can we sun,” the “above absurd and its existence. However, if we look is evidentthatwewillalwayswrestlewiththe sin which we didnotcommit.Through this, it Vintage Books1991. Essays. TranslatedbyJustin O’Brien. New York: 9 8 7 part-1-of-2/ broadcasts/what-is-worthwhile-under-the-sun- http://rzim.org/let-my-people-think- 2012. 10, the Sun (part 1of2).”Podcastaudio,March 6 5 4 3 Gilbert. NewYork:VintageBooks,1991. 2 Vintage Books1991. Essays. TranslatedbyJustin O’Brien. New York: 1 Albert Camus.The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Genesis 3:1-7,16-18ESV Genesis 1:31ESV Zacharias, “WhatisWorthwhile Ravi Under Ecclesiastes 1:14WSV Ecclesiastes 1:3ESV Ecclesiastes 1:2ESV Albert Camus,ThePlague.TranslatedbyStuart Albert Camus.The Myth of Sisyphus and Other reached [email protected]. He canbe Birmingham, Alabama. Hungary, buthecurrently lives in Sciences. He wasborninBudapest, major intheCollegeofArtsand freshman PhysicsandPhilosophy Author: Michael McGinnis is a How sadisittoseeyourworldbecomeencasedinglass, To runawayfromonedeathistoembraceanother, Is changetheoppositeofdeathoritsharbinger? that theedgesdon’tquitebreakskin, reflected inthegriefofyourvoice, marking our“boundaries”, From grazingthelines hoping tohearitsecho To talktoastillheart slowly crumbleaway, the word“memory” moving forward? To beembalmedor there isnostaying In goldlettering glitters emptily, To kisscoldlips Blurring reality of jaggedglass ever soslowly, How sadisit, Either way the same capable of. perspective onwhatChristians are people. Shehopestobroaden theworld’s equal passionfordancing, service,and B.O.S.S. andJusticeRising,shehasan & Society.AmemberofSaborLatino, Sciences andismajoringinBiology sophomore intheCollegeofArtsand Author: Sharon-RoseAlonzoisa What didtheypossiblyhopetoaccomplish? Dragons toslayandnaturessuppress Yet weareshoulderedwithdreams Not quitesurehowtheygotthere, the ghostswhoselivesplayedout, Like asingleflameinthesnow… we aretoldtoneverleavebehind Searching forthefeebleflicker They tellmeit’ssupposedto In thenameofreverence From generationspast... In thenameofprogress too tiredtostayopen, I don’treallyknow... we aretoldtoletgo, Tunes inmyhead I dancewitheyes And stillIdance, light myway. And quests, faded out, gave out, 13 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 Understanding God Through Modern Rap: Coloring Book

By Damilare Aboaba, Gaired Jordan, and Emani Pollard

A theology of joy permeates Chance the Rapper’s latest mixtape Coloring Book. 15 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 16 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 about rapwewillreviewtheworkof4artistsin 5 albums(ColoringBookbyChancetheRapper, each artist’spersonalfaith,ratheracritiqueof use thesharedexperienceofAfricanAmerican good kid,mA.A.dcitybyKendrickLamar,and necessary to“tryon”thebelievingperspective Hill, CollegeDropoutbyayoungKanyeWest, faith anditsplaceinrapmusic.Inthisseries a solelyreductionistlistening.Insenseitis we wanttoshowthattheincreasedtendency the theologicalideasexpressedthroughtheir Christian understandingsofGodandhuman contemporary life.Further,wewanttoshow of theserappersinordertofullyunderstand The LifeofPablobyKanyeWest)andspeak discussion. Tothatextent,wearealsogoing this series,theuseofcursingwillnotaddto Drawing onourcollectiveideasandfeelings A notebeforecontinuing:Forthepurposeof about theideasthatformcornerstoneof The MiseducationofLaurynHillby to comparethetheologyapparentineachof that modernrapcannotbeunderstoodwith Christian perspectiveandconvictiontothis themes intheirlyricsrepresentsadesireto or takeawayfromtheanalysisofChristian This isthefirstinstallmentofamulti-part series ofarticlesconsideringtheChristian life. Thisisnotintendedtobeacritiqueof themes. Also,noteverysinglesongwillbe these albumstohistoricalandtraditional of modernrapperstoreferenceChristian are concernedwithbringingagrounded Christianity asavehicletospeakabout More thananythingelse,however,we and appreciatetheirwork. their personaltheologies. discussed atlength. music. Many African Americans go to church as children, as thecornerstone of AfricanAmericanculture. Americans. Theblackchurch has functioned as a meeting point and safe place for African wholeheartedly, the black church has served and culturethathasoften notwelcomedthem Americans. Inthehistorical contextofacountry true and apparentin the life of African heritage asitswhitecousin. This is particularly the developmentofAmerica’sunique spiritual Yet, theblackchurch has beenascrucial to we primarilythink of whiteAmericanchurches. Unfortunately, whenChristianityisdiscussed themselves. culture, and consequently African Americans how ChristianityhasshapedAfricanAmerican thread canbepickedoutbyunderstanding in itscomplexity.However,oneprominent other topics.Ultimately,theissue is gordian use Christianity as a vehicle for discussions about public, the more leeway artists feel they have to two these Christianity becomes sacred to the broader see could reasoning phenomena as tightly linked. The less of line One declined insecularculture. become morenoticeableinrapevenasithas jarring considering that Christianimageryhas and rapbecamesoexplicit.This is particularly to tracewhen thelinksbetweenChristianity difficult is it said, That it. popularized certainly pioneer the use of Christian imagery in rap, he his spirituality. Similarly, while West didnot of foramainstreamrappertobesoopenabout song was revolutionary because it was unheard to speakaboutChristianity,atthetimethis rapper first the means no by is West Although who speak explicitly aboutChristianity. He says, nature ofthemusicindustrytowardsrappers West raps about the almost condescending Kanye Walks,” “Jesus song named aptly the On played, huh?” But ifItalkaboutGodmyrecordwon’tget That meansguns,sex,lies,videotape for Jesus “They sayyoucanrapaboutanythingexcept more leewayartistsfeeltheyhave sacred tothebroader public,the to useChristianityasavehiclefor discussions aboutothertopics. The lessChristianitybecomes modern rap’stheologianofjoy. wewill discuss the theology of Chance the Rapper: series, of this installment first this In a meansofsharingtheirprofoundexperiences. and lose awareness of, they have externalized as on contemporary life. What manyinternalize Christian experience to critique and comment effort tousethewealthofAfricanAmerican them specialis their careful and premeditated the black church has shapedthem.Whatmakes rappers arenodifferentinhowChristianityand We thinkthatourfavouriteAfricanAmerican and biblicalthemesrespectively. level knowledgeandunderstandingoftheBible base- a with leaves clear--everyone is thing One is theoftentheatricalnatureofpreaching. the stirringnatureofgospelhymns,forothersit marked bysomeaspectofchurch. For some itis largely secular, many,ifnotall,aredramatically Even thoughtheymaydriftawayandbecome perhaps draggedalong by more religious elders. community. This ideaisimportant always betheretoexpress theheartofblack always be there to express your heart; music will to translateChance’s heart and soul--music will is good,bad,orugly,music will always bethere music isallwegot.”Thismeans thatwhetherlife should view thealbum:“At theendofday, song gives us an initiallens through which we The first song on the album is “All We Got.” This subject beingdiscussed,itisjoy,notGod. a theologyatall.Totheextentthatthereis that sense,itisperhapsnotcorrecttocall Chance’s theologyisprimarilyaboutjoy.In overt references to ChristianityandGod, quickly becomes obvious that, despite several in of Chance’s theology thathe makes apparent a startingpointforunderstandingtheparts joy seeking. This isimportantbecauseitgives to be fundamentally concerned with joy and seems his listeners.Thematically,themixtape to fight determined his ensure his produced music remain afree gift to to raps he as effects evident fromChance’sdistinctiveuseofsound very muchinlinewithChance’sstyle.Thisis An uplifting,feel-goodcollectionofsongs,itis is alsofullofChristianimageryandsymbolism. presence in modern rap.Byintention, the album Chance’s lifeashebecomesamoreestablished inner-city Chicagoand about is acommentary is a greatalbum.Amongother things, the album mixtape entitled Earlier this year Chance released his third Coloring Book Coloring Book . Listening tothemixtapeit . Coloring Book 17 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 18 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 true to himself. This is an important theme that true tohimself. Thisisanimportant and satisfaction thatChancederives in staying of staying true to yourself. There is a certain joy theme the see we time first the is This me.” try do thisrapthingmyway and ifyoudon’tlikeit, declares to alllabelcompaniesthat,“I’mgonna personal favorite). In“NoProblems”Chance We move from there to “NoProblems,” (Gaired’s about praisingGodandgivingSatanaswirly. finding joy. Inacarefree state ofexpression he talks and seeking for vehicle a is it because to Chance, and byextension we his audience, experiences through music. Music is important music demonstrate the freedom andjoy that he the sounds and subject matter in Chance’s an aspectofChance’s soul and life. Furthermore, because each song on the albumcommunicates the statement isnotcomprehensive. than what it brings to the mixtape. Put simply, is perhapsmorestartling forwhatitleavesout nothing inherently wrong with this clause, but it theological statementon thisalbum.There’s real first the is This success. you give will God you safe,2)Godwill help youin your journey, 3) clause. This clause is defined as 1) God will keep safely.” Let’scallthis the “God’sgot your back” successful, grant you favor/Andbringyouback the Lord give your journey mercy/ May you be In theinterludefemalespeakersays,“May first looks at the Christian message in his album. an importantbrief interlude gives us one of the As Chance reflects on and laments his childhood, Chance willcomebacktolaterinthealbum. with one of the topmurder rates in America, sense when you think about growing up in a city permeates thealbum.This focusonjoymakes the cornerstone ofChance’stheologyjoythat joy, he blesses you. These three points makeup sounds. Third, when you praise Godthrough is displayedthroughtriumphant andwhimsical to have joy, which, in the context of this album, entire life. Second, the best way to praise God is God (“him”)deservespraisethroughoutone’s out threepartstoChance’s theology ofjoy. First, blessings come down.”Fromthis wecanpick gone/ Whenthepraisesgoup, him ‘tilI’m vocalist sings, “I’m gonna praise him, praise most clearlyin“Blessings.”Inthechorus the Chance’s theology ofjoyis perhaps explained because theyaremadeintheimageofGod. being human timely every of worth the of affirmation and necessary message thatdovetailswell with Christianity’s significance--a thatthey have them and tells listeners the affirms interlude is positive andencouraging. It simply vocalist sings,“Youareveryspecial.”This In the interlude “D.R.A.M. Sings Special” the his ultimategoal:joy. just as he used music generally, as a vehicle for prizes joy,heappearstobeusing praising God, From thelittleweknow of how highly Chance to bepraisingGodforwhathegives. appears by theinterlude,Chance most supported for whoheis.Atworst, and thisistheviewpoint why he does this. At best, Chance is praising God God. However,aquestionhangsintheairasto a On out. things surface level, Chance is talking about praising these leaves Chance when signals it what consider to however, significant, he alludestoin this brief interlude. It ismore necessary for understandingthenuancedideas foundational understandingofwhoGodis things to believein them himself, but agreater on God.Tobefair,heneednotmentionthese God, where one isfullyyieldedtoanddependent relationship with condition ofatrulysubmitted child relationship. Chance failstomentionthe this careoccurs in thecontextofaFather- Father who loves totakecare of his children, While theChristianGodisindeedagood At best,ChanceispraisingGodfor interlude, Chanceappearstobe who heis.Atworst,andthisisthe viewpoint mostsupportedbythe praising Godforwhathegives. those areaccomplished,Godwill bless you. This, people, thelogic following that when each of you, going to church, tithing, and loving other to look like thanking God for what he’s given the Bible. Praising God is generally thought may bearbitraryfor lack of being informed by Additionally, individual conceptions of “praise” for usratherthanthepraiseswegivehim. blessings are dependentonhis undeserved love God asmerelytransactional. For instance, God’s balanced theologydoesnotseerelationshipwith will bless you--but it is important to know that a has awholesomemessage--ifyoupraiseGod,he joy and contentment in life. “Blessings” no doubt Praises turnedtojoyisaverysimpleformulafor perspective centeredaroundjoy. produces an understandable theological knowledge with grandma’s of Godandblessings, you. The reality of pain and suffering coupled or justbecomingnumbtoallthepainaround would be paramount tothrowing your life away referenced in “Angels.” Submittingtodespair speak about or confrontthese old man from Chicago’s Chatam neighborhood to implying thatit is the responsibility of a 23-year to confront and dealwithracism. We are not Middle EastandAmerica’s continuedstruggles problems like the refugeecrisis with deep in the this talk of joyseemsstrangelyidyllicin a world he should be praisedfor those blessings. Yet, all gives joythrough his blessings, and asaresult struggles, and itshould be pursued with zeal. God makes life worthwhile, particularly amidst life’s in a relativelyclearimage ofthetheology mixtape, At thispoint,abouthalfwaythroughthe unique andspecial. themselves andtakeprideinwhatmakesthem this album to encourage all of his listeners to be the true purpose for makes themamasterpiece.Thisseemstobe is encouraging thelisteners to notlose what prevailing theme, stay true to yourself. Chance a reaffirms and title album the to nod a is This bleed onout, oh/ Stay in the line, stay in the line.” Chance sings“Don’tyoucolorout/Don’t thealbum. of theme umbrella another find we apart frompast loved ones. Toward the end of it, “Same Drugs” is a relatable song about growing joy giventohimbyGod. of praisingGodratherthanforthe sometimes seemstobepursuingjoyforthesake must accompany praise and worship. Chance that attitude right the and obedience, sacrifice, however, overlooks the dimensionsofpersonal Coloring Book hastakenshape.Joyiswhat Coloring Book . Chance uses 19 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 20 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 life’s tragedies. both possibleandnecessaryfordealingwith understand whyamorenuancedviewofjoyis joy ascorrectlyunbalancedbutimpossibleto openness toGoditiseasyseethisuseof joy in this way. More importantly, without an to understandwhyChanceconsistentlyuses Without anopennesstoGoditisnearimpossible have beentouchedbyChicago’sviolence. and feel the pain, of all those who, like Chance, listeners frombeingabletofullyengagewith, listeners. However, it alsokeeps those same very darkimagefromtotallyoverwhelminghis His theologyofjoykeepswhatisin truth a children aresafe...” like a fashion trend, to the point where not even many tothepointthatithasalmostbecome people aredyinginChicagofromviolence, so [it] mayalsobeareference to justhowmany … sleeve, your on faith your wear to ashamed “Along with being an encouragement tonot be But asonecommentatoronGeniusputsit, angels allaroundmetheykeepsurrounded.” halo like a hat,that’slike the latestfashion/ I got so many people.Chance tells us to “Wearyour of moments whereheistalkingaboutthedeath their inherentselfworthanddistancesthose moments where he is telling his listeners of minutes. Joy liftsupandencapsulatesthose to “D.R.A.M.SingsSpecial”“Blessings”inten is why Chance cangofrom“SummerFriends” up itsnoseandalmostrefuses to lookatit.That to remainunmarredbyugliness because itlifts not explicitlystated.More crucially, it manages that happensin because joyisatthecoreofalmosteverything It managestoremainunmarredbyugliness fully into orconfront the darkness around us. somehow thealbumneverseemstodescend of thehighratemurdersinChicago(“Angels”), dark subjectmatter,such as frequent mentions Although sometimes ringsratherhollow. , one grounded primarilyin a theologyof joy, the typeofChristianityfoundin he is entitled todothat.Butthis is perhaps why issues. Chance makesmusic for fun and joy Coloring Book Coloring Book 1 covers both light and even when it is Coloring Book The song starts with a sermon where the mixtape. one ofthemostvulnerablesongs on theentire will singhowgreathisGodis.Thisiseasily Chance’s heart worthy ofallpraise,andthat name istheaboveallnames,thathe he recorded the song. The choir sings that God’s and who passed awayjust a few weeks before caused him to begin to takehis faith seriously, greatness andaneulogytothegrandmotherwho simultaneously a song about God’sincredible hymn inspired“HowGreat.”Thesongis more clear than the Christian contemporary him on influence grandmother’s his is Nowhere a metaphoricalandliteral messenger from God. treats hisgrandmotherasboth Chance almost about hisgrandmother, he’s saidandrapped about religion. If you’velistenedtowhat grandmother looms large when Chance talks his relationship with his grandmother. Chance’s up with his faithandjoyareinextricablytied know that Die-hard fansofChancetherapper etos h fnl ok f h OldTestament the of book final the mentions knowledge abouttheBible.Forinstance, he Bible. Chance clearly draws on a deepwell of skillfully backtothe tying hissubjectmatter role as arepresentativeof Chicago, but always touching on themes from his mother’s love to his Chance raps aboutavarietyof different subjects than the best thing that anyone has to offer. preacher essentiallyarguesthatGodisbetter The reality ofpainandsuffering coupled withgrandma’s knowledge ofGodand blessings, produces an understandable perspective theological centered around joy. Christian themes and symbols. Chance is able to Coloring Book blessings, whichproducesjoy,etc. style, joyproducespraises,which produces God isgoingtoblessyou.AndfollowingChance’s part ofthestorythatalotpeopleremember: Are you ready for your miracle?” Chance tells the choir sings, “Are you ready for your blessings?/ takes over.Towardsthesong’smidpoint, choir’s quiet singing and eventuallythechoir Chance’s lyricism dovetails perfectlywiththe gorgeous. is it go, songs final as far As album. A secondsongtitled“Blessings”concludes the a mustardseedisenoughtomovemountains.” Jesus tells his disciples that faithas small as Matthew 17:20oftheNewTestament,where seed, Spotify notes that “This line refers to For instance, when Chance mentions a mustard not atleasttrytoputthemselvesinhisshoes. of Chance’s message is lost when his listeners do slightly surprising and indicativeofhow much sure most of the references are understood is fact, thelengthsthatSpotifygoestomake is downright esoteric to asecular culture. In written bytheprophetMalachi.Thisreference is a greatalbumwith many this enough for us his listeners? Consequently, youth (bothphysically and metaphorically)is maintain joy in the face of the death of Chicago’s unaddressed. For instance, even if Chance can Christianity isjoymuch is leftunsaidand Given thatthecornerstone of Chance’s Amidst allthisjoyonefeelsaslighthollowness. primarily onjoy,ratherthanthejoy-giver. illuminate thelimitationsofatheologyfocused regard aswell,abelievingperspectivealsohelps evils ofdaytolife. In this all-too-apparent theology ofjoythatis unable tofully confront the hollowed-out Gospel solely based on a personal Book whether by choice or forotherreasons, understanding of God and joy. That said, and appreciatethetruepowerbehindChance’s believing perspectiveisnecessarytounderstand grounded in the Gospel. To thatextent,a of hisandamorenuanced theology mixtape theology of theoverlapsbetweenapparent present an attractive and compelling joy because cannot helpbutwonderwhether challenges and difficulties life throws at him, we presented with Chance’s joyous response to the when all issaidanddonethelistener ’s theologyislimitedbecauseitpresentsa Coloring Book Coloring ’s 21 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 22 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 Spin Essentials,SpinMedia,http://www. Turns Atheists Into Believers on ‘Coloring Book’,” 3 premature-evaluation/. chance-the-rapper-coloring-book/franchises/ com/1877062/premature-evaluation- SpinMedia, http://www.stereogum. the Rapper ColoringBook,”Stereogum, 2 of-2016-w451265/young-thug-jeffery-w451312. rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums- 2016,” Rolling of Stone, Albums Rolling Stone, Best http://www. “50 Sheffield, Rob and Greene, Maura Johnston, PatrickDoyle,JoeLevy,Andy Reeves, Kory Grow, Keith Harris,RichardGehr, Freeman, BrittanySpanos,JosephHudak,Mosi 1 he joyfullypraisesGod? Chance be were he to lose everything for which ability torap.Saiddifferently, how joyful would the giftthathasbroughthimsuch acclaim--his Chance if sufficient were tolosehisdaughter,girlfriend,and be would joy of theology Britt Juliuos, “Review: Chance the Rapper Tom Breihan, “Premature Evaluation: Chance Christopher R. Weingarten, Jon Dolan, Jon Media Group,Inc.,http://genius.com/8052220. 4 coloring-book/. spin.com/2016/05/review-chance-the-rapper- “Angels Chance the Rapper,” Genius, “Angels ChancetheRapper,” Genius in the ILR School. She leads a Author: Emani Pollard is a senior an engineeringtradesmen. currently resides in NC,workingas Cornell Engineering graduate. He Author: GairedE.Jordanisa an MScinappliedanalytics. currently studying at Columbiafor economics and government. He is in BA a with 2016 in Cornell from graduated Author: DamilareAboaba round. study andenjoysdrinkingteayear Christian Union at Cornell Bible questions that myfriends raised during the last The followingisasummary ofandresponseto the Cornellstudentbody. and non-Christian community, atleastwithin little effectivedialoguebetween the Christian with experiences significant Christianity, leadingme to think that thereis their of spite in and fundamentalquestionsthatmyfriendshad conversation, I gatheredthatthere weremajor them tohavethisconversation with me.Fromthe not Chinese) andIasked Student Association(I’m We areallfriendswhometthroughtheChinese family andamChristianmyself. agnostic. I (Eunice) was born into a Christian – aftermiddleschool and isnow also atheist/ which he viewedmostlyasaplaceforfellowship going tochurch a Christianfamilybutstopped – well asgeneraldisbelief.Andrewwasborninto the Bible,sense of evangelisticpressure as what seemed tobearbitraryinterpretationof interest butstoppedduetofrustration with fellowship) afewtimeslastyearoutofpersonal (the AsianAmericanIntervarsity AAIV Kathleen is an atheist/agnostic who attended WE HAVEN’TBEENTALKING A conversation:eightquestionsfrom non-Christians ` By EuniceJuwithAndrew DengandKathleenLi Okay, Kathleenwhatdoyou thinkIbelieve? EUNICE [think backtochurch],Ican't remember. to believe in ordocertain things. []I'm trying to have you details specific the about know don't I sufficient. that's me one…to whichever God, the []I would assume it’sthepresence of agodor ANDREW think Ibelievein? you thinkChristianfaithis?Likewhatdo So whatdoyouthinkChristianityis? [] Whatdo EUNICE 1. WhatistheChristianfaith? time ofconversation. written almost asItoldthemin person at the half ofourconversation;myresponses here are HAI HONGCHINESE,COLLEGETOWN- September 15,2016 23 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 24 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 I guess I never had Christianity defined to me when I went to church. It wasallthese little to defined Christianity had never I guess I ANDREW does exist,formeeverything elsejustfollows. of my faith is whether or not God exists. If God he hasprovided.That'swhat Ibelieve.Thecrux all you need to do is believe in the atonement get backintorelationandfellowshipwithGod, Christ’s death andresurrection. So if you want to the option to believe in his Son's sacrifice – Jesus invested inus), he hasgivenustheatonement: wrong. But becausehehasn’tabandonedus(he’s having donewrong,weneedtoatoneforthat mankind chose ‘Not Him’. This is our sin and us achoice between ‘Him’and‘NotHim’, god. I then believe that since he loves us, he gave is invested in his creation and is a relational made his creation and steppedawaybutrather, his creation: us. He isn’taclockmaker god who must beacreator. I believethatthecreatorloves there. I believethatasthere is a creation, there there is a creator to this universe. Let’s start As aself-professing Christian, I believethat love forGodandGod'sthem.[…] this unending belief and oh! It’s love, (laughs) they're believing. I feel like, it's an ideaoffaith, Because it'shardforthemtoexplaintoowhat KATHLEEN you to?(laughs) letting you know what they were trying to convert How didsomeonetryandconvert you without EUNICE I didn'tgoalotyouknow… Uuuuuhhh…yeeeno because I can't answer. But KATHLEEN is? Did AAIV ever make it clear what Christian faith EUNICE Christian. don't necessarily understand what itmeanstobe Maybe that'sagoodpoint.Manynon-Christians ANDREW Being…… KATHLEEN I guessneverhadChristianity defined tomewhenIwent church. who believe the same thing I doandbelievethat more, brothers and sisters. If there are people but thatbelievinginGodgivesmesomething hang outwith. It's notjustthatIbelieveinGod I'm in CSA but that CSA gives me people to but that's clearly not the point. It's not just that and Ihavemymembershipcardthat’sall’, through CSA.Icanjustsay,‘I'mpartofCSA with them. For instance, I havealotoffriends us. If Ihavefriends, I wanttogohangout all of us and he has a relationship with all of Faith isn’t something you do alone. God created belief inJesus'ssacrifice? following Christianbeliefsifthebaselineislike So what'sthepointofgoingtochurch and KATHLEEN having fellowship? 2. Whatisthepointofgoingtochurchand small partiallessons[]. minds. Sohe's activetoo–asmuch Godis have thesamechoiceashim fromchangingtheir Naturally then,hewants tokeephumanswho would ratherreign on his own than serveGod. that he Not God.Hewasanangel whodecided Choosing ‘NotGod’isto sinandSatanchose made him,his[disobedience]…led…himfrom… or bow to humans when God told him to, so that so much that he refused to like either apologize to some version of theBible,it'sthat he loved God of hellandSatan.[]Iheard that in the reading of I thought that was a Catholic creation []the idea KATHLEEN Want totalkaboutSatannow?(laughs) EUNICE much. you believe in it, your faith shouldn’t shake that eventually youshould stumble uponitor[]once it[], Ifeltlikeifit'ssomethingthat'ssotrue then I guess because people are always questioning KATHLEEN on theirown? come acrossit truth, whydoesn’teveryone 3. IftheChristianfaithissuchanabsolute that faith. people ofthesamebeliefhelps you maintain are socialcreatures.Furthermore, being with wouldn't I want to hang out with them? Humans God lovesthemthewaymethenwhy

Jesus.) Attendancetodifferentdenominationsis wants to bring his creation back to him through his creation,thecreationstrayedawayandhe earlier. (There'sacreator,thecreatorloves included, shouldbelieveinthefaithIstated is the church churches. Inherently allChristians, Catholics how by governed. Therearealsonondenominational defined actually are preaching and sharing the Gospel. Presbyterians emphasize baptism.Evangelicals focus on value things differently. For instance, Baptists The differentdenominationsemphasizeor Catholic Church to stampoutthemovement. the for difficult it made helpfully also which – establishment of several different denominations speaking, Historically interpretations of the Bible led to the not. the ProtestantReformationanddifferent definitely No, there canonlybeonecorrectone? beliefs arelikeslightlydifferent, right? Isitlike, different churches under Christianity. []Their []How would you explain why there's so many ANDREW there onetruechurch? 4. Whyaretheresomany churches andis in faith.Sinisaveryactivething. God. That’s why there’s contention and struggles to chooseGodbecausehehimselfdidn’t all. There's also someone who doesn't want us of humans deciding theychoose God andthat’s active, soisSatan.Faithnotjustapassiveact God is anxiety andself-burdening. I think that is happiness, peace, andrestnotknowing hell arealsohereonEarth,i.e.knowing God of the experiences knowing or not knowing God. So heaven and foremost and first are hell descriptive common language are useful images, but heaven and other and fire”, of “lakes So heavenandhellarelocations.“Paradise”, either beingwithGodorwithouthim. AAIV saysthatthe concept of heaven and hell is KATHLEEN 5. Whatisheavenandhell? regardless ofwhatdenominationit'sunder. town, Iwouldjustpickachurch Ilike, generally if Iweretogogrowupandliveinsomeother go onvacationIjusttoanyotherchurch and a Presbyterianchurch in Ithaca, butwhenever I my case,IwasraisedPresbyterianandattend based on personal preferences or convictions. In Can youngchildrentrulyhavefaith? ANDREW 6. Dobabiesgotohell?IsGodfair? is theeternalexperienceofnotknowinghim. the eternal experience of knowing God andhell think that's reallyintensely stressful. Heaven is god, makes sensebecauseifyoudon’tbelieveina you arein control ofyour own life and I 25 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 26 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 have aright to sayGodisfairornotfair. having faith, then that’s on us. I don'tthink we small job – small compared to God’s sacrifice – of if wehumans,regardless ofage,failtodoour ‘what theheck’. ButGodgaveusthatoptionand I don'twanttotakebabies’ thenwe'dbelike, created thatoption and then God was like, ‘nah even existsisentirelythankstoGod.If that it’sunfair because the fact that the option And Ithink this applies toinfants. We can't say like, ‘pleasebelieveinme.’ since he's doingalltheheavyliftingandjust believe thatheexists.Sowecan'tsayit'sunfair God doesalltheworkandwehavetodois Christian covenant – contract – works is that what doesGodoweus? But instead,theway we aretheoneswhochose not tobelieve,so us anything. If youbelievewhatIbelieve,then than it will ever be for us, since he never owed his sonforus.It'salwaysmoreunfairGod of thousands babies went to hell. He had tokill him thanitwouldbeunfairforusifthousands of humanhistory, that wouldbemoreunfair for think that ifGodwere to saveonehumaninall God isunfair.ButI leads tothediscussionthat babies gotohellthat have one.Inthecasethat question andIdon’tknow if Inecessarily need to I personally don’t have a confident answer to this parents' faith. from my my faith separated confirmation that 11 in confirmed got and baby a as its confirm to own faith asan independent. So I was baptized up grows infant the until baby through the parents’ faiths baptism cover their are believing then the baby gets saved, because be without faith. Some say thatif the parents since theywould that they’recertainlydamned or otherwise, they wouldn’t go to hell. Others say were to dieveryearlyintheirlives, due toSIDS Christians as well. Some people say if a baby into babiesisverydebatable,amongnon- is independent thought. Whether that transfers that timeis very different.ButIdothink there or notIwasinformed,tactfulintelligentat and Irememberithadfullfaith.Whether evangelizing withme.AndIwasfullycognizant tocriticize tried and the principal, who was Christian, for not office principal's the first to in teacher Jewish my grade thatshewasgoingtohell and thenwent told I so. think I I don’tthinkwehavearighttosay God isfairornotfair. th gradeand we had ANDREW He camebackfromthedeadbecausehe'sGod. EUNICE But he'sstillalivebecause- ANDREW He diedforus.Yeahbecause- EUNICE So theideaisthathekilledhimself. KATHLEEN length, depth.DifferentdimensionsofGod. Jesus is God. It's likehow a tablehasheight, EUNICE Jesus wasGod. KATHLEEN precede faith? 7. WhatisGod?Doesunderstanding inaccurate toadegree. dimensions of a greatspirit, and those are all be tosaythattheyare rolesorpersonas The closest we couldgettodescribingitwould I think that's reallyhardforustounderstand. a new,separately,andsingularly unique entity. then, what is God ifhe’s not concrete? He’s God, sense, because God isn't a concrete being. So you thinkaboutGodconcretelyitdoesn'tmake if So God. One God. all fully are – Trinity the – now in us all. The Father, Son (Jesus), and Spirit more God. Then, the Holy Spirit comes and is and whenJesusresurrects, he's lesshumanand dies heasksGod,‘whyhaveyouabandonedme?’ prays toGodaskingnotkillhim.Ashe about itconcretely, it getsmoreconfusing. Jesus back to life. If you read the Bible and think in three. God asJesus as humandiedandcame it cut can you that Jell-O of jar a like isn't God You can'tthink about Godconcretely because All ofGod?Or- ANDREW []God becamehumansohecoulddieforus. EUNICE Or adimensionofhimselfwasdead. ANDREW So… EUNICE Or wasGoddead. concept ofGodbeingarelationalgod,asinone as aJudgeorCreatorandnothing else. The that mostfaithsandreligionsviewtheirgod The Christian God is actually fairly unique in components? any other religions who share the same core another religionisvery,veryclose? []Are there []Other religions-aretheywrong?[]Whatif ANDREW 8. Whataboutotherreligions? in confusion. sense. me thatitdoesn'tmakeSo result get thatitdoesn't makesense but itdoesn't bother I don't think [I get] confused. []It's just God. []I EUNICE be offensive. like just you confusing yourself? I don't mean to I don'tknow.Towhatextentisalotoffaithjust Right because that defeats the entire point. []But ANDREW [disconcerting]. very that find would I God, understand to were just adds my admirationofGod. []I think if I normally what that results for me is that it For me, I can't wrap my mind around it []and EUNICE []That's thebiggest,hardestthingforme- ANDREW []We justcan'tunderstand KATHLEEN No heisn'tconcrete. EUNICE And hedoesn'thavetobeconcrete? ANDREW To whatextentisalotoffaithjust like justyouconfusingyourself? . failed to find answers to them despite their despite to them active interestandparticipationindifferent answers find to failed confusing, if notdisturbing, that mytwofriends it find I that faith Christian the to fundamental as afaithandreligion. These are questions so and justice,GodasanentityChristianity Satan, the church, heaven and hell, damnation These eight questions touch on faith,fellowship, some externalperspective. see why theywouldn'tbelumpedin in terms of practices butifthefaithissame,thenIdon't it comes with a culture, a tradition and certain Religion is more complicated than faith because they call themselves, we have the same faith. faith asChristianitythen,regardlesswhat there were a religion that sharedthesameexact Christianity isprettyuniquein that aspect.If I'm notawareof.Butofallthereligions I know, Maybe thereissomesmallreligionoutthat to ChristianityasfarI'maware. Who knows? who is investedinhis creation, is prettyunique Listening?" Fortune,September1950,77-174. 1 the illusionofit.” is find, we communication, of enemy great “The Whyte’s quotedoesn’tapplyhere: Christian community. I praythatWilliam H. whether they are communicating with the non- the Christian community totrulyconsider Christian communities.Ithereforeencourage Whyte, WillliamHollingsworth."IsAnybody iced tea. kinds), honey candies, and lemon neat pretty notes, museums (all Cornell. A few of her favorite things: the College of Human Ecology at Analysis andManagementunder second-year student studying Policy Author: Eunice Dahye Ju is a 1 27 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 28 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 ~ MartinLuther him, forhecannotbearscorn.” of Scripture,istojeerandflout devil, ifhewillnotyieldtotexts “The bestwaytodriveoutthe ~ St.ThomasMore cannot enduretobemocked.” “The devil...theprowdespirite... ~ C.S.Lewis stand tobemocked.” all else,theDevilcannot “Above the diabolicallyridiculous Highlighting aspectsofthedevil’scharacter, ourcharacter, and thetragedyofbecomingenslavedtoself by JohnNystrom that itseems incongruous with his hugeferocity. greatest comic element is his size and thefact unwarranted orunjust; that’s asmaybe. The about thiscreature? It isnotthathis rage is a veryiratechihuahua.Imagine Whatiscomical will takethisexplanation whereitneedstogo. recognition of the absurd. A couple illustrations is nowhere to befound,thereisaninstant in its face, and that which would be appropriate fly to seem instead but reality of rest the with aspects of a situation or concept do not match up apparent absurdityofincongruity. When certain to asciencefairfunny?¹Inshort,itisduethe or acomedysketchaboutbringingcupofdirt short, angry children (or men),raginglunatics, find people do Why ridiculous? anything makes question, anotherquestionmustbeasked:what What makesthedevilridiculous? To answerthis mock him. thing. To speak the truth about thedevilis to when it appliestohim, they amounttothe same because, despises truthandmockeryprobably will serve tomock the devil.Aboveall, the devil to understandourselves. Secondly, Ihopethatit us help hope, I first, will comprehension a Such of thedevilinordertobettercomprehendhim. highlight the ridiculous, tragic, and evil nature of whothedevilis.InthispaperIaimto one gainsamorecomprehensiveunderstanding when each is understood in light of the others, mentioned earlier contains a partial truth, and own right. Iassertthateachmisconception devil’s existence, they are interesting in their cloud theissue when arguing fororagainstthe understanding ofthedevil,andwhilethey reinterpret thebiblicalandtraditional All of these descriptions exaggerate and is tooneat,unrealistic,andimpossible. epitome andscapegoatforalltheevilthatexists the as serve being a such having that find they perhaps Or people disliketheconceptofdevilbecause fate. unstoppable and fight authority, their in heroes against ultimatecondescension, unbearable tragic all for standing than aperson,betteryetmythologicalsymbol prefer to believein the devil as a parablerather world andorchestratingallevil.Perhapssome ina about the Mephistopheles mustachepopping tobelieve ridiculous diabolical littlemaninredtightswitha too it find people to believeinthedevil.Perhapsitisbecause We livein an agewhere it is not fashionable fashionable tobelieveinthedevil. We liveinanagewhere itisnot incongruous. On the one hand, he is incongruous The devil is truly ridiculous because he is so ridiculous situation. end resultwouldbemanyshockedfacesandone funeral and thanks everyone for coming, the happens andadeadmanwakesupathisown should remain dead.Iftheultimateincongruity person funeral, onethingiscertain:thedead good example.Whateverelseisexpectedata when they invadeceremony. Funerals are a Absurdity andincongruity are alsoevident know thattheyarethefrighteningones.) who actually work routinely with smalldogs the shoulder, is hilarious. (Interestingly, those an angry chihuahua, three and ahalf inches at something appropriate, serious, and frightening; is shoulder, the at high feet five wolf, angry An devil’s motivations: greatest epicpoemofalltime,speaksthe perceived insult. uprising, but rather in a pettyresponse to a incongruous, the devilrebellednotinaglorious Furthermore, proving himself to beeven more owner. to growlathis and squeakedwhenheattempted hisfangs bore chihuahua The creator. infinite yet strove against him, a finite being against his the best.HestoodnexttoomnipotentGod creatures, all Satan should have understood the power of God Of angels. the of powerful most Satan was an angel, possibly the highest and darkness until thejudgmentof great day...”² [God] haskeptineternalchainsundergloomy of authority,butlefttheir proper dwelling, angels who did not stay within their own position God asfoundinthebookofJude:“And for theabsurdaudacityofhis rebellion against himself impaird. that sight, andthought Through pride beare MESSIAH Kinganointed, couldnot proclaimd Honourd byhisgreat Father,and day against theSonofGod,that With envie In favourandpraeeminence, If notthefirstArch-Angel,greatinPower, Is heardnomoreHeav’n;heofthefirst, SATAN, socallhimnow,hisformername To speakthetruthaboutdevil is tomockhim. Paradise Lost, ³ yet fraught perhaps the 29 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 30 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 rather thana tragichero: that Milton saw the devil as merely tragic, great medievalscholarand writer,shows clearly realities, particularlythe devil.C.S.Lewis, the the Christiantradition’sview onmanyspiritual accurate, poetic, andimportantdescription of Paradise Lost argument because even though John Milton’s not how John Milton did. This is an important describes how thedevilmayview himself but agrees withthatdepiction.Theabovequote of thedevilandassertionthatMilton grounds; two of these are the above depiction I disagreewiththeSatanicTempleonmany even broughtintocorroborate. and autonomy.Milton, whom Iquoted earlier, is defense ofthenoblecauses of inquiry, truth, confederate willing to facesure defeat in Thus, the devilisshown to betheheroic and the Anatole France. Milton by Romantic Satanists,fromBlaketoShelley, to exemplified best Satan literary the is Ours impositions. tyrannical all heretic who questions sacred lawsandrejects the inquirer… unsilenced the of will unbowed of insurmountableodds.Satanisaniconforthe defending personalsovereigntyevenin the face opposition toarbitraryauthority,forever Satan issymbolicoftheEternalRebelin The SatanicTemplehasthistosay: hero. In theirfrequentlyaskedquestionspage, it seems that manypeopleview Satan as a tragic ultimately finds himself in is very tragic. In fact, plight andhispettiness,thesituationdevil Due to his actions which are as ridiculous as his himself ofthisrightaswell. even smaller than himself and therebystrips little creature.Contrarily,Satanowns a cause above his stature, andonebeginstorespectthe picture, butifhismotivesarenoble,herises his motives.Agrowlingchihuahua is asilly ridiculous because ofthesizehispersonand was honoredmorethanhim.Satanisdoubly felt he had been insulted when the Son of God war that rips simply because heaven apart, he higher than Satan’s.Satanbeginsaschismatic his creator,behonoredandplacedinaposition deserving beingthanhim,awhowasalso having towatch a morepowerful, glorious, and injustice Satan felthehadenduredconsistedof considered himself unjustly treated. Thus, the eternal Son of God’s positionandhonor, he of [God]allhecould have,” andbyenvyingthe Milton assertsthatSatan,the“ingrate,hehad is not gospel, it is a powerfully 4 For what do petty people crave buttobetaken people For whatdopetty the devil’spettinessthatmakeshimdangerous. them diabolicalordangerous. But perhapsitis it seemsastretchoftheimaginationtocall while they maybeobnoxious or small-minded, We haveallknown people, and vain andpetty from mydescription,hedoesnotsoundveryevil. case forwhythedevilisridiculous and tragic,but I assert that up to this point I have made astrong infamy. watching himself descend intomiseryand character beginsingloryandendsbyconsciously in theclassicform:a Satan’s storyisatragedy take himlightly. therefore, orthodoxChristian traditiondoesnot only byhispower; is matched Satan’s vanity a roaringlion,seeking someone todevour.” for “your adversary the devil prowls around like watchful…” [and] sober-minded “be to listeners yours.” will. Ifyou,then,willworshipme,itallbe been deliveredtome,andIgiveitwhom give allthisauthorityandtheirglory,forithas kingdoms of the earth and says, “To you I will In the Gospel of Luke, Satan shows Jesus all the Satan isthemostdangerouscreatureonearth. Despite his motivation, according totheBible, as manyhecanjustlikehim. to it with a fatalistic response and hopes to make Perhaps Satan,knowingend,reacts his ultimate Satan is“vividlyaware”ofhis degradation. Furthermore, as Lewis stated earlier, Milton’s if nothingelse, at leastappear, dangerous. and will do everythinginhis or her power to woman is full of hard,melodramaticultimatums Hell than serve in Heaven.” Satan’s perspectivethatitis“bettertoreignin feared thanloved.” and evil?Machiavelli asserts, “it isbettertobe seriously thantodosomethingdrastic,serious, seriously? And whatbetterwaytobetaken is theprogressofSatan. thence to atoad,andfinally toasnake—such in atbedroomorbathroomwindows, and service agent, andthence to athing that peers general topolitician,frompoliticiansecret in the poem...From hero to general, from himself isvividlyaware,carefullymarked of which This progressivedegradation,he For thetragedyofdevilisthis: the self,onebecomesenslaved that inbecomingobsessedwith 8 Additionally, the Apostle Petertellshis Additionally, by theself. 6 Likewise, Miltonwritesfrom 5 7 The petty manor 9 that whichisgreaterthanourselves,theocean. from replenished being and to flowing rivers be sustaining ourselves.Rather,weweremeantto meant tobeclosedsystemsorstagnantpools everything, even love andvirtue. We were not and heartscompletelyis able tocorrupt strong andpervasivethatitcapturesourminds to see enslaved bytheself. The intense desire andneed in becomingobsessedwiththeself, one becomes of thedevilisthis:that freedom. Forthetragedy ourselves up for misery and slavery rather than of injured merit and haughtyrebellion, we set in his tragedy. If our towardGod is attitude one absurdity is that we will inevitably also share Ultimately, thedangerofsharingin the devil’s absurd whenwebecomelikehim. was absurd in his claim of injury and why we are devil the why clarifies beautiful and glorious is maker andsustainerofhimselfallthat the situationinwhichcreatureenvies such great orhonored.Extrapolating feelings to feelings towardssomeonejustbecausetheyare from it?Itis irrational andabsurdtoharborill benefitted have I when especially skill, or fame, Why shouldIbegrudgesomeoneelse’sglory, wish is ridiculous, just as thedevilis ridiculous. forgotten almostassoonitarrivesbecausethe performance to itself - asplitsecond, gone and ire, and wishes itcouldattributethegloryof heart burns with jealousy, and maybealittle However, therecanbeasplitsecondwhen the concert, one isdrawninandreallyenjoysit. particularly charismatic TED talk or a beautiful one watchesatrulygreatperformance,suchas when Often emotion. the understands Everyone evil.” and that when you eatofityour eyes will be opened, Genesis 3, thedeviltellsherthat“Godknows Eden. WhenofferingEvetheforbiddenfruitin and EveintheGardenof Adam used totempt devil the what was glorification, self for desire Satan’s rebellionturned.EnvyofGod,andthe towards envy which is the motive upon which bent naturally are hearts Our Satan. like be to his character. We are chronically predisposed us? He doessoprimarily byinfecting us with So howdoesthedevilactuallyaffectorendanger you willbelikeGod 10 ourselves lrfe ado pwru isso powerful and/or glorified , knowing good and , knowinggood the onlywaytofindlifeisloseit. the onlywaytogaingloryisgiveitup,and to us; glory. Jesuspresentsawonderfulparadox glory andfreedomfromthecravingofourown Satan couldnotstand,andpromiseus both and evilselves,bindustoaman,themessiah He will save us from our own ridiculous, tragic, God willnotleaveustoourselves or tothedevil. in ChristJesusourLord.”¹¹Ifwewill have him, will be abletoseparateus from the love ofGod ...nor powers, ...nor anything elseinallcreation, neither deathnorlife,angelsrulers, from the sustainer of life. “For I amsure that passions anddemonsremoved by ourpetty are lefttoourselves, to beruledanddominated same asbeingenslavedanddestroyed,forinitwe separation fromGod.SeparationGodisthe a guarantee,notagainsttemptation,but toward slaveryanddestruction,Christianshave head down the tragic path, awayfrom God and are so often tempted to follow his ways and slowly Although thedevilispowerful, and althoughwe 11 10 9 8 7 2011. (Penguin Classics). London: Penguin Books, 6 Oxford UniversityPress,1961. 5 com/faq/ Accessed 11/25/2016. https://thesatanictemple. 4 662. 3 2 1 1 Peter5:8;ESV. Luke 4:6-7;ESV. John Milton,ParadiseLost.1667.Book1:263 Nicolo Machiavelli,TimParks.The Prince C. S. Lewis. A Preface to Paradise Lost. London: “The Satanic Temple FAQ,” The Satanic Temple. 5:655- Book 1667. Lost. Paradise Milton. John Jude 1:6;ESV. Brian Regan,CupofDirt,2011. Romans 8:31-39;ESV. Genesis 3:5;ESV. Dostoyevsky, andG.K.Chesterton. Lewis, GeorgeMacDonald,Fyodor His favoriteauthorsincludeC.S. of individualsaroundtheworld. empower andenhancethelives and howthispartnershipcanboth partnership oflivestockandpeople, vet track.Heisinterestedinthe animal sciencemajoronthepre- Author: JohnNystromisajunior 31 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 32 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 As we have grown up, we’ve defined ourselves defined we’ve up, grown have we As change ofphysicallocation, butourplaceinit. reframes somuchofour lives;notsimplythe Here we are, in a new place. This change wherever wego. it is to know a homewith God, that travels home again. How comforting and life changing seeking thatsolidground,senseofself, in which this identity is uncertain. It leaves me am. Ihavesince swung into thelife of college, its familiarity, but because there, I know who I there, I am comfortable - not simply because of my slateroofedhouse, my Home. When I am that aplace to drawn exists outside of my reach: my quiet street, myself find I yet, But wonderful. landscape, ofhills, gorges, lakes-itisall learn new things everyday.Ilovethebeautiful Cornell. I lovetheprivilegetostudy here and to Don’t get mewrong- I love being a student at I havebeenmissinghome. The collegetransitionandseekingtheplacewhere weknow whoweare used toplay, the culturethatsurrounded us,the out ofsight.Whoarewe, without thesportswe about yourself. Our homes are far, our old friends is forced upon you, that reframes how you think that redefinition another be may there But beliberating, can exciting, andfullofnewpossibilities. way, this in Redefinition, who youpreviouslywere;areacleanslate. newfound freedom. Younolongerhavetiesto be intentional,comingfrom afeelingof This may oneself. redefine to college in pressure of beginning with a wavegoodbye.There is a type environment. We areseparatefromour parents, from where far are we usedtolive,suddenlyaloneinanew many time, first the For toss thosethingsawayorlosethem. another, especially fromhometocollege, we may music lover.Butintheswing fromoneplaceto are: the student-athlete, the great friend, the we live. We have createda mosaic of who we love, thepeopleweassociatewith, and where in many ways: by whatwedo,thethings we Home By AbigailBezrutczyk . something Ialways cherished,hadnot changed. to thebuzzingbugs,and I feltatpeace.Nature, the water,breezeon the cat-tails,listening mine.” I looked out, at the reflection of the sun in places -it’sthatthebreath thendoesn’tfeellike I wrote,“It’snotlike I can’tbreatheinother down to face my thoughts. “I can breathe here,” I walked to Beebelake one morning, and sat was hoursaway:Home. solid ground, the placewhere I knew myself, that solidgroundtostandonagain-but I was,towhomwasbecoming.Allwanted canyon, with only a vine connecting me with who An imagein my mindformed,ofswinging over a this newpersoncouldnotlast. the faultsandphoniness in mynewpersona: had leftmewith.ButIrealizedmyweaknesses, into those little empty holes that the transition the new me. Iforcedthisnew imagined person open, readytotakeonanychallenge: that was I foundmyselfputtingon a facade.Extroverted, even anewfamilytolove.ButasImadefriends, your mind with new people, new events, maybe fills it - most for transition the eases life Social them, even if they only admit itin their hearts. faces Everyone to college. adjusting difficulties I would expect it hard to find a person that had no ourselves. see we how and us, see others how redefine to we looked in the mirror. We are forced again, no longerkeep.Welovedthesequalitieswhen intelligence in comparison toothers, we can intelligence we prided ourselves on, especially we do not always meetour expectations. The that paperin time. And then we must face it: that morning class, we stay up all night to finish see theintendedresult. We sleepin and miss overwhelming. We work hard and don’talways learn inthisworldfamousinstitution- but also filled are minds can bewonderfulto with newinformation.It our and begin classes Then, of ourselves. person we usedtobewith the completedpicture miss whatwehaveleftbehind: that assured like wedon’tfullybelonghere.Itmaymakeus feel may We fit. not do they put, simply pattern; try toplacemayhavejaggededges,thewrong we used to imagine ourselves. The new pieces we things we loved?Welosethepuzzlepiecesofhow All Iwantedwasthatsolidground to standonagain. a physical place. Because all the circumstance But there is something here that is deeper than Home iswhereyoucanbewhotrulyare. own. Home is safe, constant, unchanging, love. like something soft andwarmentirely my not home.Homefeelslike a hugtome.Itfeels wall begged metogoback in time. No, that was desk told metowork harder, the pictures on my where you grewup.Mydormwasnothome;my peace andsimplejoy.Homemaynotbetheplace I couldtakemyshoes off, beatease,experience I hadbeensearching for ahome-placewhere thread. must stillbethesame.Thereissomeunchanging life hadchanged,butIknew inside, something surroundings had changed,andsomuchofmy smart - all these things seemed far from me. My running, gardening, and I’lladmitit,being and couldsimplybemyself.ThethingsIloved; things just seemed to fit, where I knew my place I wasseekingthisground.This place, where e ae huh w nee t redefine to needed of homework, schedules, lack of sleep - we face we thought lives- our in stresses the all of top On ourselves. have We Knows YourSoul creator, God. along. Thishome,allcanshare:Ahomewithits ground thatIseek,hasbeenwithmeall loved -andhasahome.Thishomeisthatsolid my soul was made, mysoul is owned, my soul is it didnotjustformoutofrandomchance.No, our own creation, or your parents creation, and are twodistinctbeings.Butthesoulisnotof with myself”, implying that‘you’ and ‘yourself’ We say itourselves, when we say “Ican’tlive I know it existsassomethingbeyondmybones. cannot touch it, seeorpointtoiton a map,but my soul does not belong to the physical world. I But thisstorygoesdeeperthanthis, because security. - someanswertoitsdeepestquestions, some of change.Anditis always seeking something me. It cries out in difficult times, like these times core part of me, reacting to the situation around present, thevineonwhich I swing. It remainsa unchanging thread connecting the pastto was not truly ‘me’. My soul, you could say, is this myself defined I way the that fake; being was I me told that soul my was it myself, redefine to soul- - the core one around which everything rotates. AndasItried is there myself, define I Beneath all the things I love, beneath the way of mylife, can, and will inevitably, change. 33 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 34 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 God’s mightyhand, that he may liftyouupin 5:6-7 says,“Humbleyourselves, therefore, under and powerful - aGodthathas control. 1 Peter steady God-notonlythecreator,butactive The troublesofoursoulsagainaremetwitha anunclear has that future, soeachnextstepisfullofuncertainty. path a we on perhaps, ourselves Or find same. the stay would things on, trytocontrol,stopthisforce,wishing Change doesnotcomeeasily.Wemaytrytohold In Control I amlovedjustasam. Before him,Iamsmall,andimperfect, the personIaminside,sonevertrulylost. sees throughtheperceptionsofmyself.Heholds not. He knows me,because I amhis creation. He can change, the waywere are seen by Goddoes reminded thatwhilethewayweseeourselves inyou.” rest its finds it until restless made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are agitation, this in the words of St. Augustine resonate: “You have but troubled, are souls Our defining our place basedon our changing circumstances. view, external an up. We from ourselves given see and fit, to forced pieces placed, a crisis of identity. Puzzle pieces lost, pieces way weseeourselvescanchange, We are reminded thatwhilethe the waywere are seenbyGod does not. 1 Weare college transition.Theseproblemsexistedbefore bigger thantheneedtocontrol,deepera But thereareotherburdensthatpersistwithus, Hope inHome is myhome. moment ofeverylife,throughalldespair.That us - through all of human history, through every love is a constant as everything changes around the changesinourlives-totrusthim.His relief toletgooftryingcontrol an immediate so much, by theonewhoislove.Tosome,it admitting we are notin control. We areloved with God’s love. We can give upour burdens, of theseweightsthatwecarryaroundaremet hardships: failure, change, doubt, loss. But all The transitiontocollegeraisescertain for good. in thatlove,trustinghewill work our lives he caresforyou.” due time.Castallyouranxietyonhimbecause that hissondiedtosaveit.Hepromisesusan was created,andyoursoulisloved-somuch turns awayfromus.Youhaveasoul, your soul struggles anddoubtsoverwhelm,Godnever Even ifweturn away fromGodwhen our despair. tragedies occur, that leaves us in confusion and will intervene. We may question a Godthatlets burdens, wemaydoubtthatagreaterpower realize thathisloveisthereforus.Forthose college, andtheyhaven’tgoneaway,evenifwe 2 Godlovesus,andsowetrust words maysimplybeunless one has the centuries in theBible.Butreadingthose It iswelldocumentedandtoldthroughout The evidence of his love does exist in our world. anchor toGod. are not what Ibasemyfaithin; they arenotmy at givenmomentscan change. These emotions me tolovehiminreturn. However, ouremotions what itfeelsliketobelovedbyGod,andleads does forall.There is anexperientialrealityof When I openmyselftohim, he meets me,ashe nature; it isclarityin the faceofatragicdeath. of a majorsurgery.Itisevidentinthebeauty his word. It is a feeling of unknown peace before this warmthinmychestthatariseswhen I read explain itthrough the times Ihave felt it. It is I knowGodthroughhisloveforme.canonly reality. for others and for God, God abides in us. That is to loveoneanother.Andasweabideinthat as itremindsusofthegreatestcommandment: concrete problem, itisstillsomethingveryreal in love”mayseemlikeanabstractsolutiontoa lives inGod,andGodthem.” John 4:16,“Godislove.Whoeverlivesinlove an eternal hope. But we can be reminded by1 discontented with our lives, even as we know situation still has not changed, and we may still be Our troubled. be still may souls our but home, final that of hope a onto hold can We will live. quiet moments.Butsomeday,Homeiswhere we end of our struggles. For now, we visit home in is aknowinghope,thatrealhomeexistsatthe anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19 tells us, “We havethis hope as an thatpromise, on set we can see beyondeventheworst of our days. eyes With Home. place, resting final final a a of hope, the is That life. 4 Though “living 3 This hope And Iwill keep swinging through life in his love. change tothenext,knowing that Iamsecure. him forever.AndIcankeepswinging, from one me, who gave his son so that Ican live with hands of the one who created me, who loves and Iwillswing.know that Iamheldinthe give us life. Because another changewill come, deeper things we are connected to: the roots that troubles inourlives,butletusnotforgetthe and growing from new experiences. We still face transition, adding new pieces into our identities life goes.Wemayhavechangedthrough this That iswhatwecancarrywithuswherever Home: anunchanging love, aneternalhope. In thesewords,wecanhaveourhome. only choice is whether or notwewanttotakeit. corners of ourlives. Itisgiventousfreely;our and thenhis love canbeseen in somanydark Christ.” the messageisheardthroughwordabout faith comesfromhearingthemessage,and faith. Romans10:17tellsus, “Consequently, 5 4 3 2 2009). Chadwick (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1 I willkeepswinging,untilswinghome. Romans 10:17(NIV) 1 John4:16(NIV) Hebrews 6:19(NIV) 1 Peter5:6-7(NIV) Saint Augustine,Confessions, trans.Henry 5 We can read theBible, we can know it, novs rtn, e, r goldfish or crackers. tea, writing, involves being outdoors, especially when it Environmental Science. She loves Long Island, and is studying Author: Abby is a freshman from 35 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 36 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016 meaning oftheword“catholic.” may differ on baptism andthe the understanding thatviews We affirm the Nicene Creed, with principles of the New Testament. called us to livebythe moral salvation, andthatGod has in Jesus Christisnecessary for is inspired by God, that faith Bible the that affirm Claritas, statements ofbelief. only thatwhich alignswithour reserve the rightstopublish search for truth.Wedo,however, us in our conversation as we spiritual backgrounds to join philosophical, religious, and people fromallintellectual, We, the membersofCornell The Cornell Claritas invites Christian Union atCornell Ministry Director Jim Thomforde knowing youandglorifying you.Amen. of sake the think—for we way the Cultivate Claritas. the of pages our effortstounderstandyoubetteraswedothis togetherinthe you areandwhatyou’vedoneforusinChrist.We ask youtobless and there is nothing greater or higher than the knowledge of who understanding.’ (Col.1:9)Yourgospelcompelsusto seekafteryou, and wisdom spiritual all in will, your of knowledge the with ‘filled powerful grace sothatwemightbe,astheApostle Paulprayed, would be found. To that end, Lord, bless these writings byyour mind isnot,intheend,asearchforbut forGod.” Christian a for search the because significance, ultimate on takes written: “…the search for a mind that truly thinks like a Christian of thatwhich your servant,NotreDamescholarMarkNoll,has spirit the in you to come We glorified. you seeing and you seeking things are not for the sake of exaltingourselves, but for the sake of world. These efforts to express and applyour knowledge of divine order to make your beauty known here at Cornell and around the make you known. Thus, we offer this journal of Christian ideas in with thoughtsafteryou.Inseekingtoknowyou,wealsodesire Dear Lord, of thedead,andlifeworldtocome.Amen. one baptismfortheforgivenessofsins.Welookresurrection believe in one holy catholic and apostolicChurch. We acknowledge worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We from theFatherandSon. With theFatherandSonheis We believein the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giveroflife, who proceeds and thedead,hiskingdomwillhavenoend. hand oftheFather.Hewill come againin glory tojudgetheliving the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated atthe right with accordance in again rose he day third the On buried. was and death suffered he Pilate; Pontius under crucified was he sake our became incarnate fromtheVirgin Mary and was made man. For the powerofHolySpirit,he he camedownfromheaven:by Through him allthings were made. For us and for our salvation from true God, begotten,notmade,ofone Being withtheFather. begotten of the Father, God from God, Light fromLight, true God We believein one Lord, Jesus Christ, the onlySon of God,eternally and earth,ofallthingsvisibleinvisible. We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven We pray that in these pages and by these reflections that you that reflections these by and pages these in that pray We We want to think the way you, our Creator, designed us to think— NICENE CREED A PRAYER thy Son,andthroughthe ministryofthypreacher. thou hast inspired in me through the humanity of faith whichthou hastgivenme,which Lord, inmy thee, O Lord, and call upon thee. I call upon thee, O him,” and, finding him, shall praise him. I will seek find shall seek who “those for him,” seek who Lord without apreacher?” believe they shall how Or believed? not have they thee. But “how shall they call on him in whom invoke thee inorderthatwemaycometoknow another than thou art. It maybethat we should For he who knows thee not may invoke thee as thee. Butwho can invoke thee, knowing thee not? praise thee; whether first to know thee or call upon to or thee invoke to first whether understand and know to Lord, O me, Grant thee. in rest to comes us for thyself and restless is our heart until it should delight topraise thee, for thou hast made him, thathe of thycreation.Thouhastprompted to praisethee,thismanwhoisonlyasmallpart that thou dost resist the proud.Still he desires and carries the evidence of his sin and the proof creation; he bears his mortality aboutwith him man desires to praisethee, for he is a partofthy great is thy power, and infinite is thy wisdom.” “Great art thou, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; Book 1,Chapter1 AUGUSTINE: CONFESSIONS

Now, “theyshallpraisethe

And 37 Cornell Claritas Fall 2016

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