I'm really happy to not be sick any more. Luckily I got pretty good by the time my birthday came around. Which was great. Mostly people from my cluster and some other UW friends of mine came up, smoked cigars, and got more than buzzed off of various exotic alcohols. It was mostly a really great night, though, especially since it's the first time I've ever drank with my clustermates. I really like them.
Ohh! Then on my actual birthday Daniella came up and saw me. She got me a few gifts, but best of all, she managed to get me David Byrne tickets! I'm more than pleased with this haha.
Right before my birthday I was also really happy to be featured in the Daily. I posted this one Facebook once already, and shown those really close to me, but here's the link anyway!
http://dailyuw.com/2009/4/8/back-roots-how-conservative-groups-campus-are-plan/ - The FEATURE! haha. Some people have found and joined us since then, and random people have been asking us about YAL.
I dunno, but I've really felt a lot more passionate about such things lately. Politically and religiously. Politically I've been giving a lot more time to YAL and been talking about politics with more of my close friends. Usually I just don't bother, unless someone brings it up first, but I've been in the mood to discuss politics again. It's been easier to really get out there when handing things out or holding signs in Red Square. I've always been too embarassed to start speaking aloud in public (public speaking), afraid of sounding stupid or crazy. I feel really confident, though, and that public speaking is necessary in furthering my views, getting them out there. If I don't, who will? CNN? Fox News? haha I wish. Libertarian views would appeal to a great number of people, but they're so rarely spoken of today, and other than Ron Paul most libertarians seem inept at inspiring any passion in anyone. I just wish I had more time, more skill.
Religiously, after watching Peter again, an amazing dubbed Italian movie, it really got me thinking about Jesus and such again lately. I've been going to church more often again. It's a really great feeling. Then I've also been thinking about it a lot more because of the Christians I see every other week in Red Square. They hold up giant signs about the sins our generation commits ("free sex, idolatry, binge drinking," etc) and how we must repent or face Hell. One stood on a box today to publicly proclaim that Jesus died for our sin, and that if we continue to sin and not repent we'll burn in Hell and will deserve it.
I'm not quite on the same page with them, and it got me thinking, got me to talk to them. Sure, the Bible does support what they're saying. We're all sinners, and UW like any other college is no stranger to the sin of indulgence, and repentance is something incredibly important. However, Jesus and Christianity are largely special for their proclamation of forgiveness, for unconditional love, and the sacrifice that Jesus made. These Christians seem to ignore that completely. Sure, God can be vengeful, and if we lead evil lives only evil will come of it, but almost every religion says that. Christianity is supposed to be about how anyone, no matter how weak and how sinful, can be saved. With faith and good works the dead can rise, the broken can be healed, the blind can see, (insert Biblcal reference here). Christ offers a gift of salvation through unprecedented kindness and sacrifice: treating others how you would lke to be treated, loving your enemies, having faith that God will take care of you
These guys really seemed to be ignoring that. A couple weeks ago I finally got the courage to approach them. I approached angrily, I reproached them for making it impossible to be a Christian at UW and not have people consider your crazy or intolerant. I questioned them about how Jesus went about helping others and finding disciples, pointing out the lack of condemnation in his words toward sinners. They listened, they were offended and angry as well, but polite.
Today I saw them again, and eventually decided to go up to them again. They remembered me and we talked. I wasn't angry, I didn't condemn them for the way they were doing things, and I was understanding. I pointed out that they weren't saying anything necessarily unsupported by the Bible or Jesus, but that they were simply ignoring the greatest and most important part of Christianity. The Great Redeemer redeems through love, not fear, and their xenophobic attitude wouldn't play well at UW. We talked for a long time. At least the guy I talked to was a really nice guy. Others came and joined the conversation. He questioned my own beliefs, figuring out that I was a Catholic (and as such believe that non-Christians who lead good lives can go to Heaven), and wasn't happy that I didn't take the Bible literally. He listened, though, and by the end I think I made a dent in his attitude. He explained it wasn't even his sign, and he wants a new one. We talked about our own religious lives, how we came to believe what we do. I told him I'd join him, and so would others, if he was publically proclaiming Jesus' love and God's forgiveness instead of their anger. He seemed a little moved. He didn't want to show it, though, I can tell he takes pride in being a rock of person. He has my email, and I hope I hear from him sometime. If not, I already know what I want to say to him next time they're on campus.
I'm just a Catholic, no one likes to agree with us on anything (Protestants call us soft, everyone else calls us fascists, and the TV calls us perverts), but I may have just slightly changed the way that man (and those who were listening) sees Jesus Christ. I wasn't able to make it to church today, but I feel it was a Good Friday well spent.
I kind of can't believe how much I wrote, and with how much detail and honesty haha. I don't even want to re-read it, it looks like I wrote this entry while I was drunk haha. Oh well, it's honest at least.