"Question: What is intelligence?
Answer: Intelligence is omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. It is the primal and eternal quality of infinite Mind, of the triune Principle, --Life, Truth, and Love, --named God. "
(from Science and Health 469:7)
Happy mid-terming and happy Spring break!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Academics of the Right Sort
Apologies for the blog delay, it's been a busy few weeks with a TAing assignment switch a few weeks into the semester and working on a paper revision. But enough excuses (though it will be short, it's close to my bedtime).
As I've worked on a paper and led a discussion section earlier today, I was thinking about that citation from Science and Health where Mary Baker Eddy writes: "Academics of the right sort are requisite. Observation, invention, study, and original thought are expansive and should promote growth of mortal mind out of itself, out of all that is mortal." If that isn't a higher mission statement for what we're doing here, then I don't know what is. It reminds me that my job isn't to impart wisdom, to write prolifically, or to earn praise. Its to observe, study, invent, and think that which is progressive, and turns away from old thought models. Thats a standard I can continue to hold myself to, and that I can look for and encourage in my students and colleagues.
As I've worked on a paper and led a discussion section earlier today, I was thinking about that citation from Science and Health where Mary Baker Eddy writes: "Academics of the right sort are requisite. Observation, invention, study, and original thought are expansive and should promote growth of mortal mind out of itself, out of all that is mortal." If that isn't a higher mission statement for what we're doing here, then I don't know what is. It reminds me that my job isn't to impart wisdom, to write prolifically, or to earn praise. Its to observe, study, invent, and think that which is progressive, and turns away from old thought models. Thats a standard I can continue to hold myself to, and that I can look for and encourage in my students and colleagues.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Coexisting in Glorified Quality
At the end of January, the Yale Daily News ran a story with the headline: "Misogyny claim leveled at Frat. Since then, YDN has run a series of articles and opinion pieces reporting similar incidents of harassment and misogyny on the Yale campus (for example) For many, the important question is how to move forward from these events. The Women's Center has pursued the possibility of a harassment suit. The Fraternity has issued an apology. The Graduate School sent out an email inviting members of the Graduate School community to participate in a series of panel discussions on the subject of hate.
As I read the articles and heard friends discuss what has gone on, it is so clear that right human footsteps will ameliorate the situation, but more is needed for genuine healing. Rather than human opinions and self-justification, there is a need for pure divine Love. Rather than ignoring the problem or willing it to go away, we need to pro-actively acknowledge the law of harmony, holding every single divine idea in right relationship to one another, in one accord. As Christian Scientists, we can respond not with a sense of equality based on anatomy and gender construction, but equality based on the divine rights of man-- the male and female of expressed in every idea, in complete balance.
As usual, Mary Baker Eddy's writings shed a divine light on this issue: "Man and woman as coexistent and eternal with God forever reflect, in glorified quality, the infinite Father-Mother God." (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures 516:18) This is the standard for tolerance, respect, and healing.
As I read the articles and heard friends discuss what has gone on, it is so clear that right human footsteps will ameliorate the situation, but more is needed for genuine healing. Rather than human opinions and self-justification, there is a need for pure divine Love. Rather than ignoring the problem or willing it to go away, we need to pro-actively acknowledge the law of harmony, holding every single divine idea in right relationship to one another, in one accord. As Christian Scientists, we can respond not with a sense of equality based on anatomy and gender construction, but equality based on the divine rights of man-- the male and female of expressed in every idea, in complete balance.
As usual, Mary Baker Eddy's writings shed a divine light on this issue: "Man and woman as coexistent and eternal with God forever reflect, in glorified quality, the infinite Father-Mother God." (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures 516:18) This is the standard for tolerance, respect, and healing.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
What's up with the CSO
Just a reminder of some of the CSO activities and otherwise going on:
* Meetings-- Our regular meetings are informal, fun, and usually involve baked goods (what's not to love?) We've read parts of Misc. Writings together, we've shared ideas on how to pray about various topics relevant to our lives and the world, the possibilities are endless. Leave a comment if you're interested and we'll work on scheduling.
* I'm hoping the blog will be updated every other week, if not weekly. The comment feature is live (though they are moderated to avoid spam), so feel free to jump in. You can comment anonymously without having a google/blogger account. I also welcome others (alums included!) who want to join me in blogging.
* Other events are in the works, stay tuned for more information.
Also, just a reminder: First Church of Christ, Scientist, New Haven is located at 950 Chapel Street, between the Blockbuster and the Chinese take out place. Sunday services (and Sunday School) are at 10, Wednesday Testimony meetings are at 7:30. The Reading Room is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 11-2. Stop on by!
* Meetings-- Our regular meetings are informal, fun, and usually involve baked goods (what's not to love?) We've read parts of Misc. Writings together, we've shared ideas on how to pray about various topics relevant to our lives and the world, the possibilities are endless. Leave a comment if you're interested and we'll work on scheduling.
* I'm hoping the blog will be updated every other week, if not weekly. The comment feature is live (though they are moderated to avoid spam), so feel free to jump in. You can comment anonymously without having a google/blogger account. I also welcome others (alums included!) who want to join me in blogging.
* Other events are in the works, stay tuned for more information.
Also, just a reminder: First Church of Christ, Scientist, New Haven is located at 950 Chapel Street, between the Blockbuster and the Chinese take out place. Sunday services (and Sunday School) are at 10, Wednesday Testimony meetings are at 7:30. The Reading Room is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 11-2. Stop on by!
What's it all about?
Since it's the beginning of a new semester, I've been thinking about the CSO-- its purpose, its freshness, and its vitality. One of the questions that has been echoing around in my head has been "What is it makes a CSO a CSO?" Is it regular meetings? Is it the number of Science and Healths distributed? Is it the number of lectures you have? Certainly not, I would say. To me, the CSO is evidence of Christ, present and active on campus. It's the manifestation of that constant communication between God and man, that search for Truth, and that constant divine Love speaking to every single individual, regardless of age, race, "religion", major, college, etc. The CSO doesn't bring God, or Christ to campus-- it's already here, always has been and always will be. CSO activities (be they lectures, meetings, or simple conversations with friends) have one mission: to help us all to see, to understand, and celebrate that divine presence.
It's easy to feel like there's no room for CSO and Christian Science on campus. There's no interest, there's no place, no one will come, etc. But it seems to me that every evidence of Christliness-- of love, compassion, intelligence, goodness, etc.-- is evidence that the Christ is here and active. Celebrating pure spiritual goodness on campus is CSO activity-- and it opens the doors for so much more.
It's easy to feel like there's no room for CSO and Christian Science on campus. There's no interest, there's no place, no one will come, etc. But it seems to me that every evidence of Christliness-- of love, compassion, intelligence, goodness, etc.-- is evidence that the Christ is here and active. Celebrating pure spiritual goodness on campus is CSO activity-- and it opens the doors for so much more.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Marking the Perfect Man
Midterms have come and gone, the evenings are getting cooler, and the once colorful trees are gradually morphing into winter skeletons--it's impossible to deny that November has come and the end of the semester is just around the corner. But in addition to all the glories of fall, it seems that the academic life casts a shadow on the season. In addition to thoughts of time spent with loved ones, yummy food, and fun winter weather, there is always the lurking thought-- "AHHH! The semester is going to be over and I have so much work to do!"
I'm TAing an undergraduate course this semester, and one of my tasks is grading their homework assignments and exams. Just this morning, I was working on grading their midterms, and was having such a hard time with it. They are all such good kids and put a solid effort into the class, so it was difficult to give them less than perfect grades, even when warranted. I can remember the various anxieties grades caused-- the worries, the self-criticism, the useless worry, and I wanted to keep my students from that as much as possible. Not to mention, in the back of my mind I was thinking about some projects that I have been working on, and feeling like I needed to get going on them-- grading myself harshly if you will.
As I was driving later in the afternoon, praying about the various situations trying to find a sense of peace and two of the gentlest angel messages came from me. The first was a familiar analogy of healing to a math problem. . .When we go to school, in each course we learn particular skills and then are given the opportunity to demonstrate what we've learned. The math problems aren't personal-- they have nothing to do with how good of an individual we are, they are opportunities to demonstrate intelligence. But certainly, we expect to be corrected along the way-- if we've gotten 2+2=5, we want someone to point that mistake up to us so we can correct it. I realized that these school assignments are no less of an impersonal opportunity to demonstrate all the spiritual truths we have learned. Final exams might be an opportunity to demonstrate that God is infinite, unlimited by time or limited intelligence. A special presentation might be an opportunity to not only demonstrate that Mind is our intelligence and creativity. A qualifying exam/paper might be an opportunity might be an opportunity to demonstrate that God's ideas are already complete, orderly, and original. A grade simply holds us to the standard of perfection-- and we certainly wouldn't want to (and couldn't!) dilute perfection.
The second was the Golden Text from the Bible Lesson this week:
I'm TAing an undergraduate course this semester, and one of my tasks is grading their homework assignments and exams. Just this morning, I was working on grading their midterms, and was having such a hard time with it. They are all such good kids and put a solid effort into the class, so it was difficult to give them less than perfect grades, even when warranted. I can remember the various anxieties grades caused-- the worries, the self-criticism, the useless worry, and I wanted to keep my students from that as much as possible. Not to mention, in the back of my mind I was thinking about some projects that I have been working on, and feeling like I needed to get going on them-- grading myself harshly if you will.
As I was driving later in the afternoon, praying about the various situations trying to find a sense of peace and two of the gentlest angel messages came from me. The first was a familiar analogy of healing to a math problem. . .When we go to school, in each course we learn particular skills and then are given the opportunity to demonstrate what we've learned. The math problems aren't personal-- they have nothing to do with how good of an individual we are, they are opportunities to demonstrate intelligence. But certainly, we expect to be corrected along the way-- if we've gotten 2+2=5, we want someone to point that mistake up to us so we can correct it. I realized that these school assignments are no less of an impersonal opportunity to demonstrate all the spiritual truths we have learned. Final exams might be an opportunity to demonstrate that God is infinite, unlimited by time or limited intelligence. A special presentation might be an opportunity to not only demonstrate that Mind is our intelligence and creativity. A qualifying exam/paper might be an opportunity might be an opportunity to demonstrate that God's ideas are already complete, orderly, and original. A grade simply holds us to the standard of perfection-- and we certainly wouldn't want to (and couldn't!) dilute perfection.
The second was the Golden Text from the Bible Lesson this week:
"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace."
-Psalms 37:37
-Psalms 37:37
God only gives one grade, one mark, and it only brings about peace--Perfection!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Neat article in the Monitor
Thought you all might be interested in this one. .This article ran in the commentary in the October 17th issue of the Monitor. It's both a really compelling summary of Kant, but also an interesting approach to thinking through atheism. I read it thinking about Yale and intellectualism the whole time!
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1017/p09s06-coop.html
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1017/p09s06-coop.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)