year of living biblically

Here are your questions. Choose three of the seven to answer. You choose which you want to address. Answer them via the blog or have a hard copy when you get to class.

1) Comment / summarize on why Jacobs has such a hard time speaking biblically or avoiding Lashon Hara - "The Evil Tongue"

speaking biblically requires a total switch in the content of the conversation: no lying, no complaining and no gossiping. especically he says it's hard to avoid Lashon Hara a.k.a the evil tongue, which can be interpreted as gossiping, according to the modern perspective. first of all, everybody gossips these days, americans in particular if what I have experienced is right, comparing Korea to Boise. Moreover to follow the bible correctly, one needs to avoid almost all negative speech whatsoever, which constitutes 70 percent of all conversations in New York, he said. following the bible would need more so-called-spirituality or maturity in modern days than in ancient times, cause one needs to be patient and composed in order to avoid bad mouthing about someone obnoxious whom we could see everyday. I don't remember why exactly I wrote in the book that it's harder in moderns days, while reading. if I recall the reason, I will add it.

2) What did Jacobs mean when he stated: "It is exactly what I was always most afraid of with religion. To embrace religion, you have to surrender some control."

I guess he means people should abandon attachment or connection that they have felt familiar to, which is scary for the fear of unknown. however I want to comment on the next quote "it's why I don't know what to do with Jasper if I give him some religion. then he might become obsessed and go guru Gil on me. then again, if I give him no religion, he could descend into moral anarchy. they are both risky" why does he think that he needs religion to teach morality? religion is merely one way to learn morality rather than only source that people should worship and treasure.


4) What is Jacob's revelation (no pun intended) when he decides to "convince myself the that the earth was formed a handful of generations ago." (When he is trying to figure out why the Answers in Genesis people believe so strongly in the creation story)

first of all I want to say I am stunned about how strong this individual is after reading that he made himself believe in one idea that he hadn't believe. it's such a hard thing to force oneself to believe in things unfavorable. this is why I am struggling with this world religion class because I don't believe in religions thus am biased on and skeptical about them.

he notices that he feels more connected to other individuals after believing that everyone is an descendant of a couple: Adam and Eve. he also notices is that his life would be more significant if he thinks the earth is barely six thousand years old. that way, he would have had significant influence on this earth and the world's existence. and he can feel superior to the beasts and nature, because god created humans on the last day. the key motivation to creationism is the need to feel less inconsequential. I have thought alot about this quote, and came up with a conclusion that people in belief of creationism, if I deciphered what he described correctly, are people who are not satisfied or feeling insignificant in reality, cause they are not giving enough credit or trust, etc. I also recognize it would be a different case with someone who realizes the vastness of universe and agonize over time and space.

7) What is meant by the term Chasid Shote or Righteous Idiot? What does this address about religious belief?

the term Chasid Shote or righteous idiot means people who are preoccupied with the ritual aspect of religion so can't recognize the real intent for which the ritual is made. this addresses that religious belief, at least literalistic fundamentalism is not supposed to supplement reality but help one dream in some idealistic world where everything is intended for religion