Final Exam

Directions:
You will do a close read of one of the following eight spiritually-themed poems. You have two options for this exam: A) Do an explication from one of the sets of lines I have provided below (Note —“Atheist” by Yip Harburg is offered in its entirety), B) You choose any four lines from one of the eight poems. Again, your focus will only be on only four lines of a poem.

Find a sample explication here. Find more information on poetry explications here.

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“God Says Yes To Me” by Kaylin Haught
Sweetcakes God said
who knows where she picked that up
what I'm telling you is
Yes Yes Yes

“Mother's Evening Prayer” by Mary Eddy Baker
O gentle presence, peace and joy and power;
O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour,
Thou Love that guards the nestling's faltering flight!
Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight.

“Atheist” by Yip Harburg
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only god can make a tree;

And only god who makes the tree
Also makes the fools like me.

But only fools like me, you see,
Can make a god who makes a tree.

“Aubade” by Philip Larkin
Most things may never happen: this one will,
And realisation of it rages out
In furnace-fear when we are caught without
People or drink. Courage is no good:

"Before the Birth of One of Her Children" by Anne Bradstreet
And when thou feel'st no grief, as I no harmes,
Yet love thy dead, who long lay in thine arms,
And when thy loss shall be repaid with gains
Look to my little babes, my dear remains.

“Written in Disgust of Vulgar Superstition” by John Keats
The church bells toll a melancholy round,
Calling the people to some other prayers,
Some other gloominess, more dreadful cares,
More harkening to the sermon's horrid sound.

“Within this Earthen Vessel” by Kabir
Within this vessel are the seven oceans and the unnumbered stars.
The touchstone and the jewel-appraiser are within;
and within this vessel the Eternal soundeth,
and the spring wells up.

“Prayer” by Henry David Thoreau
Great God, I ask for no meaner pelf
Than that I may not disappoint myself,
That in my action I may soar as high
As I can now discern with this clear eye.

Solar Eclipse Pits Superstition Against Science

By Phil Hazlewood
Sun Jul 19, 10:23 pm ET

MUMBAI (AFP) – Indian astrologers are predicting violence and turmoil across the world as a result of this week's total solar eclipse, which the superstitious and religious view as a sign of potential doom.

But astronomers, scientists and secularists are trying to play down claims of evil portent in connection with Wednesday's natural spectacle, when the moon will come between the Earth and the sun, completely obscuring the sun.

In Hindu mythology, the two demons Rahu and Ketu are said to "swallow" the sun during eclipses, snuffing out its life-giving light and causing food to become inedible and water undrinkable.

Pregnant women are advised to stay indoors to prevent their babies developing birth defects, while prayers, fasting and ritual bathing, particularly in holy rivers, are encouraged.

Shivani Sachdev Gour, a gynaecologist at the Fortis Hospital in New Delhi, said a number of expectant mothers scheduled for caesarian deliveries on July 22 had asked to change the date.

"This is a belief deeply rooted in Indian society. Couples are willing to do anything to ensure that the baby is not born on that day," Gour said.

Astrologers have predicted a rise in communal and regional violence in the days following the eclipse, particularly in India, China and other Southeast Asian nations where it can be seen on Wednesday morning.

Mumbai astrologer Raj Kumar Sharma predicted "some sort of attack by (Kashmiri separatists) Jaish-e-Mohammad or Al-Qaeda on Indian soil" and a devastating natural disaster in Southeast Asia.

An Indian political leader could be killed, he said, and tension between the West and Iran is likely to increase, escalating into possible US military action after September 9, when fiery Saturn moves from Leo into Virgo.

"The last 200 years, whenever Saturn has gone into Virgo there has been either a world war or a mini world war," he told AFP.

It is not just in India that some are uneasy about what will transpire because of the eclipse.

In ancient China they were often associated with disasters, the death of an emperor or other dark events, and similar superstitions persist.

"The probability for unrest or war to take place in years when a solar eclipse happens is 95 percent," announced an article that attracted a lot of hits on the popular Chinese web portal Baidu.com.

Sanal Edamaruku, president of the Indian Rationalist Association, dismissed such doomsday predictions.

"Primarily, what we see with all these soothsayers and astrologers is that they're looking for opportunities to enhance their business with predictions of danger and calamity," he told AFP.

"They have been very powerful in India but over the last decade they have been in systematic decline."

Astronomers and scientists are also working to educate the public about the eclipse.

Travel firm Cox and Kings has chartered a Boeing 737-700 aircraft to give people the chance to see the eclipse from 41,000 feet (12,500 metres).

Experts will be on board to explain it to passengers, some of whom have paid 79,000 rupees (1,600 dollars) for a "sun-side" seat on the three-hour flight from New Delhi.

The eclipse's shadow is expected to pass over the aircraft at 15 times the speed of sound (Mach 15), said Ajay Talwar, president of the SPACE Group of companies that promotes science and astronomy.

"It's coming in the middle of the monsoon season. On the ground, there's a 40 percent chance of seeing it in India. On the aircraft you have almost a 90 percent chance of seeing the eclipse," he added.

Siva Prasad Tata, who runs the Astro Jyoti website, straddles the two worlds.

"There's no need to get too alarmed about the eclipse, they are a natural phenomenon," the astrologer told AFP.

But he added: "During the period of the eclipse, the opposite attracting forces are very, very powerful. From a spiritual point of view, this is a wonderful time to do any type of worship.

"It will bring about good results, much more than on an ordinary day."

Week 6

Note: Three day week—No class Thursday

M 7.20
Class: Final exam prep (poetry explication); (Remaining ) Presentations
Due: Persuasive outline

T 7.21
Lab: Final exam (Poetry explication), (Remaining ) Presentations

W 7.22
Class: Course review; Evaluations

Episcopal Bishops Can Bless Gay Unions

Approved Compromise Measure Stops Short of Creating Liturgical Rites

By William Wan, Washington Post
Saturday, July 18, 2009

Episcopal Church officials voted yesterday to allow bishops the latitude to bless same-sex unions -- the second vote this week in favor of gay rights and one that may further divide the worldwide Anglican community.

On the last day of the church's triennial national convention in Anaheim, Calif., officials stopped short of creating liturgical rites to bless same-sex unions, but approved a compromise measure that allows bishops, especially in states where same-sex unions are legal, to bless the relationships. The key portion of the legislation says bishops "may provide generous pastoral response" for such unions.

The vote came three days after the church passed a resolution allowing for the ordination of gay bishops. Both moves have prompted strong reactions among the larger worldwide Anglican Church, of which the Episcopal Church is a part.

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the preeminent Anglican clergyman, had asked the Episcopalians before the convention not to take up issues that would further divide the church. This week, the influential bishop of Durham, England, wrote an essay describing the ongoing crisis as "a slow-moving train crash" and the most recent actions of the Episcopal Church as marking "a clear break with the rest of the Anglican Communion."

Meanwhile, gay rights advocates said this week's victories lay the groundwork for future moves. The resolution included a call for bishops to "collect and develop theological and liturgical resources" on same-sex unions to report to the next convention. Three years from now, they may consider creating a standard liturgy for same-sex unions with the eventual goal of including a rite for gay marriage in the church's prayer book.

Mike Angell, who is studying to become an Episcopal priest at the Virginia Theological Seminary, said yesterday's decision comes as a relief. "I have a number of friends -- straight and gay -- who requested me to perform their weddings once I'm ordained," said Angell, who believes in equality for gay parishioners. "I would have felt limited and compromised blessing hetero couples but not gay couples. It's an issue of justice."

The church's recent moves could also have a wider influence on denominations that are watching how the issue of homosexual clergy and marriage plays out among Episcopalians.

"These actions could show other denominations that progress can be made without destroying the church," said Harry Knox, religion and faith director at the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights group.

But some believe the recent moves have come at a cost. A number of parishes and dioceses have left the 2.3 million-member Episcopal Church and affiliated with overseas branches of the Anglican Communion. Last month, some conservatives who left the Episcopal Church over issues of Scripture and sexuality formed the Anglican Church in North America.

The Rev. John Sheehan, who leads the Church of Our Redeemer in Loudoun County, said his congregation decided three years ago not to leave the Episcopal Church even as several other similarly conservative churches in Northern Virginia decided to split.

"Now that the convention is over, we need to see what impact all this will have on us as a parish," he said yesterday. "This is something we'll talk over."

Assignment: Persuasive Essay Outline

For this assignment, you will not write an essay, but construct a detailed outline. Though it is not an essay, your goal is still to persuade your reader of your position.

Prompt:
In Chapter 12 of Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller takes traditional Christian churches to task for being too negligent of certain segments of society (e.g. "liberals and homosexuals"). He argues that these churches have neglected these people to their own detriment. Miller also points out that his own church has been successful in attracting people from various walks of life.

Indeed, many critics believe that churches have been too narrow in their search for members, and that as a result, some populations feel left out of the religious experience. What can churches do to expand their bases in traditionally unreligious communities? In a persuasive outline, layout a concise argument for how you believe churches could better reach out to "untraditional" segments of society. Use specific examples from the book to support your thesis.

Though your outline can take any form (e.g. Roman numeral), however it must still contain a thesis and be detailed, specifying evidence (e.g. quotes from the book).

You can find examples of essay outlines here, and here.

Due: Monday, July 20th

Explore Japanese Culture at Buddhist Festival in Mountain View

By Diana Samuels, Daily News
Posted: 07/16/2009 12:24:25 AM

The Mountain View Buddhist Temple will host its annual Obon Festival & Bazaar this weekend, an event that typically attracts thousands of people to sample food, watch dance and drum performances, and learn about other elements of Japanese culture.

Its organizers describe the event — held annually for more than 50 years to celebrate the Buddhist midsummer holiday of Obon — as an "all-in-one festival" that includes activities "to satisfy all your senses." The temple will organize crafts and games for children and adults, and host flower and book shops.

"It's just a fun place to be," said festival co-chairman Mel Inouye, who is organizing the event along with co-chairman Bryan Nishimoto.

The festival will be held Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 8:30 p.m. Admission is free and parking is available on the temple's grounds at 575 N. Shoreline Blvd.

Obon originated as a holiday for Buddhists to honor and remember their ancestors, and the temple held an Obon and Hatsubon Service on July 5 to honor loved ones who died in the preceding year.

At this weekend's festival, Japanese Taiko drummers will perform at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Sunday. On Sunday at 7 p.m., roughly 400 dancers will perform Japanese folk dances, called "bon odori."

Also on Sunday, children can participate in hands-on activities including flower arranging and origami.

For more information: www.mvbuddhisttemple.org.

Pope Gives Harry Potter Film His Blessing

The Vatican has given a nod of approval to the latest Harry Potter film, saying it made clear that good would triumph in a battle with evil.

Tuesday July 14, 2009
SkyNews

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince arrives in cinemas on Wednesday and is the sixth installment in the fantasy series about the boy wizard and his Hogwarts school friends.

The official newspaper of the Vatical City - which is ruled by the Pope - said it was the best adaptation yet of JK Rowling's hit novels.

L'Osservatore Romano said the film's treatment of adolescent love achieved the "correct balance" and made the story more credible to the general audience.

However, the paper criticised JK Rowling for failing to make any explicit "reference to the transcendent" in her books.

Nevertheless, L'Osservatore said the latest installment made clear that good should overcome evil - a fight that sometimes "requires costs and sacrifice".

"In addition, the fitful search for immortality epitomised by Voldemort is stigmatised," the review said.

The Vatican's praise follows the sharp criticism of the Harry Potter series by a conservative Austrian priest at the centre of a church crisis earlier this year.

The Rev. Gerhard Maria Wagner claimed Harry Potter novels help spread satanism, while other Christian groups have argued that the books promote witchcraft and dark arts.

Many churches, however, see the message of good versus evil as being in line with teachings of Christian morality.