So, yeah
If you haven't noticed, I'm a bit awful at updating this thing. I do like having it, and I do so love the idea of using it. I just never find the time to.
But over the next couple of weeks, months, what have you, I have decided to update my live journal regularly as I implement some changes in my life. Seeing as how the wedding is just over a year away, I have a lot of work to do (well, not too much work when it comes to the wedding, but I want to look hot walking down the aisle). So, I am going to stick to my new way of life (better eating, working out, etc). I am going to get some sleep (this is probably the hardest as I'm occasionally an insomniac); and I'm going to keep organized and not lose my mind!
Also, I am going to get off my ass and submit my application to become an actual part of the English Department at EMU. No more of this indecisive BS. I really enjoy history and what it's helped me bring to my research, but I need to stop pussy-footing around and finish a degree.
I'm thinking of this as a sort of New Year's resolution, though I'm going to stick to these "resolutions."
Anyway, enough with the personal life, and more on to what I've been working on recently.
I began researching and piecing together one of the more ambitious writing projects of my academic career. I've come to a writing block--as so many do--so I am going to work out some ideas through this median. I don't know that anyone really reads this anymore, but it will help me anyway. So, after much distraction I give you an outline with which I have been working. Different aspects and sections will come in following weeks.
The overall theme: ascethicism
Many years ago, when Christianity was finding its legs, there were several reasons for asceticism, the chief being "because God said so." From Judaism, Christianity inherited a very strict law to follow--religious protocol if you will. With this inheritance came a tradition and feeling of necessity with certain aspects. It also aided in the building of new customs. These new customs formed the practice within the belief and all followers were expected to adhere. It was these actions that labeled one a "true Christian" and offered a place at God's table. Later on through the years, we come to medieval times and the Renaissance, much after the creation of the church (the Catholic Church). All adhered to the laws of the church as it was seen as God's ruling body on earth. To turn from the church was to turn from God, to risk Hell. At the time, this was what asceticism had become--following church bylaws and governance. The Reformation drastically changed this idea. After the formation of Protestant churches, one could turn away from the one sole body of belief that had existed close to 1500 years, the Catholic Church. This brings us to today, where we are rich in denominations. If one finds oneself unwilling to follow the expectations of a congregation, one can simply find another more suiting. Asceticism is now defined as a zealous lifetime, the word now carrying a negative connotation (think of Opus Dei). But is the asceticism of today what the early Christians anticipated and set-forward, or is it a misguided attempt to follow church regulation? Or perhaps following church law is not as misguided as I believe? Through the next couple of weeks, i will try to provide a response to my biggest problem: has asceticism evolved from a simple life dedicated to God and Christ to simply following the rules? And with this, do we need to redefine the word, and perhaps redefine religion itself? Because if Christianity is based on Christ, and Christ is The Church, what's the point of the institution?
Comments are welcome. Bring it on.
But over the next couple of weeks, months, what have you, I have decided to update my live journal regularly as I implement some changes in my life. Seeing as how the wedding is just over a year away, I have a lot of work to do (well, not too much work when it comes to the wedding, but I want to look hot walking down the aisle). So, I am going to stick to my new way of life (better eating, working out, etc). I am going to get some sleep (this is probably the hardest as I'm occasionally an insomniac); and I'm going to keep organized and not lose my mind!
Also, I am going to get off my ass and submit my application to become an actual part of the English Department at EMU. No more of this indecisive BS. I really enjoy history and what it's helped me bring to my research, but I need to stop pussy-footing around and finish a degree.
I'm thinking of this as a sort of New Year's resolution, though I'm going to stick to these "resolutions."
Anyway, enough with the personal life, and more on to what I've been working on recently.
I began researching and piecing together one of the more ambitious writing projects of my academic career. I've come to a writing block--as so many do--so I am going to work out some ideas through this median. I don't know that anyone really reads this anymore, but it will help me anyway. So, after much distraction I give you an outline with which I have been working. Different aspects and sections will come in following weeks.
The overall theme: ascethicism
Many years ago, when Christianity was finding its legs, there were several reasons for asceticism, the chief being "because God said so." From Judaism, Christianity inherited a very strict law to follow--religious protocol if you will. With this inheritance came a tradition and feeling of necessity with certain aspects. It also aided in the building of new customs. These new customs formed the practice within the belief and all followers were expected to adhere. It was these actions that labeled one a "true Christian" and offered a place at God's table. Later on through the years, we come to medieval times and the Renaissance, much after the creation of the church (the Catholic Church). All adhered to the laws of the church as it was seen as God's ruling body on earth. To turn from the church was to turn from God, to risk Hell. At the time, this was what asceticism had become--following church bylaws and governance. The Reformation drastically changed this idea. After the formation of Protestant churches, one could turn away from the one sole body of belief that had existed close to 1500 years, the Catholic Church. This brings us to today, where we are rich in denominations. If one finds oneself unwilling to follow the expectations of a congregation, one can simply find another more suiting. Asceticism is now defined as a zealous lifetime, the word now carrying a negative connotation (think of Opus Dei). But is the asceticism of today what the early Christians anticipated and set-forward, or is it a misguided attempt to follow church regulation? Or perhaps following church law is not as misguided as I believe? Through the next couple of weeks, i will try to provide a response to my biggest problem: has asceticism evolved from a simple life dedicated to God and Christ to simply following the rules? And with this, do we need to redefine the word, and perhaps redefine religion itself? Because if Christianity is based on Christ, and Christ is The Church, what's the point of the institution?
Comments are welcome. Bring it on.