Response to Jill's Final Presentation

Music is something very important to me because it’s able to change my mood so instantly and there is so much passion involved, but I had never thought of it in terms of how it came to be or how it evolved. The song that Jill used towards the beginning of the PowerPoint (Buckshot Lefonque) describes the way jazz and other types of music evolved and it got me thinking that all variety of music I listen to originated from different times people and places. I loved the videos that Jill used about Haiti and the Tribute to Michael Jackson because they were visual and emotional examples of how all different types of people can come together to celebrate a talented and music changing artist. Jill did a good job showing rather than telling how important music, or the arts, is to freedom of expression in America, and how they have changed America in many different ways. They lyrics she uses are very powerful and meaningful and they back up the points she is trying to make. Especially with rap, she did a good job trying to see both ends of the spectrum and how different people like different music but over all it can unite or separate us for our tastes. Jill did a great job telling the story of music and how it’s related to America and she made it interesting by using great examples of videos, lyrics, and quotes, all of which backed her points. “Why am I fighting to live, if I'm just living to fight Why am I trying to see, when there aint nothing in sight Why am I trying to give, when no one gives me a try Why am I dying to live, if I'm just living to die? Someone tell me why”-- Tupac Shakur. This is one of the many examples of this and how she relates what it means to be an American to music, she shows an American trying to express his struggles and passion through music.

Redemption By: John Gardener

This story for me was very interpretive and important, because like the title it is basically a story about a boy who "kills his brother" by running him over with a tractor. Although Jack could have prevented this accident by pressing on the brakes, he was so shocked that he didnt react fast enough. His intentions were definately not meant to kill his brother. Jack spends the next years draped with guilt and unable to find redemtion within himself and pushes God away, although others seem to be supportive and forgiving. As Jack seems to be wasting away ignoring his family and friends he finds an escape and peace in playing the french horn. He begins to use it to fill up his time and it becomes his world. Jack comapres to his music teacher both of them surviving from a tragic accident and fining peace through music. Jack and other characters either turn to God or ignore him, those who look for him or rely on him seem to find peace or at least are able to face this, but those who turn away just bury thier pain inside and do not face it because they deep down know that God is forgiving.He finally finds that disregarding your faith is not the best way to heal, and when your God sends you through something he will always pull you through as well. Even when we think God is unfair or cruel in the things that he does to us he has a plan to help us out as well. for Jack, after the accident he wanted nothing to do with God, God gives him a way out and puts the French Horn in his life to help him to move on and discover redemption within himself.

The Church and Democracy: Primary Source

http://america.eb.com/america/article?articleId=387209



John Courtney Murray " The State-Church and Democratic Society," Annals of American History. <http://america.eb.com/america/article?articleId=387209>[Accessed February 1, 2010].



The idea of this article was to merge democratic standards and standards of the church together to form a theological society. It also connects the two saying that they go hand in hand and each requires parts of the other to be successful. I think this article is both truthful but also unrealistic, it is true that many morals that exist in society also exist in most religions such as do not kill, or do not steal, but the idea that all are going to agree to a church state rather than a democratic state is very far fetched. The church state after all is highly controlled by its figures of power and maintained by conservatives, while the basic framework and building of our government is to have as little power given to single figures as possible. He also talks about how although the Constitution says there is freedom of religion to believe or not to believe what you want to, this conflicts often with the ability to exercise it freely. Sometimes in attempt to protect those who don't believe a certain thing from being made to, the government often prevent the free expression of religion. A big part of this article is that the church must adapt to changing times and changing people, the world is becoming more and more liberal (not to say there aren't many conservatives) and with change must come adaptation in order to prosper.

School Prayer

http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=26&entryid=383462&searchtext=school+prayer&type=simple&option=all

"school prayer." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 31 Jan. 2010. http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com.

Prayer is the acknowledgement of a higher being and the request for guidance from that being, but if our country isn't acknowledging religion than issues their should be no "official" prayer in school. Prayer can be easily done while walking or before class or during class, rather than making an official time that makes those who do not believe feel uncomfortable. It is much more constitutional to allow allow those who want to pray to pray when they want to, but not make an event out of it because not everyone does. The establishment of a nonsectarian prayer doesn't work either for this reason, and it seems to me that when people pray they think about much more personal things than just a standard and recited line for all to use as a filler. It is not the states role to get involved with any type of religious matters, accept those affecting the well-being and safety of others. If the governments concern is not having a moral code for kids to follow; than just teach them good morals through education and world issues rather than religion.

Freedom of Religion?

http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=26&entryid=262170&searchtext=freedom+of+religion&type=simple&option=all

"freedom of religion." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 31 Jan. 2010. http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com.

Do we really have the freedom of religion? It was established that their should be a wall of separation between Church and state, and that no religion or belief should be taught in an educational environment. Yet, the government allows evolution to be taught in schools all over the country? I understand excluding religion from curriculum, but if you do this mustn't you also exclude evolution which to many can be seen as a form of religion. It is based on historical discoveries and facts but the implication that it exists and a higher being (which it implies in its teaching instead of religion) does not seems to me a lot like forced beliefs. It is important to stay consistant and allow americans to believe what they wil lrather than raise kids with the belief of a evolution and natural selection which makes any religion seem surreal, because it isnt enforced in schools where children build the foundations of their lives with morals rules and opinions.

Religion in the United States

http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=26&entryid=263185&searchtext=christianity+and+judaism&type=simple&option=all#top



"religion in the United States." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 29 Jan. 2010. .

This article was mainly about all the different types of religions there are in the United States and how at some point each one made a struggle to establish their place here in America. Some have had collisions with the government or with other religions based on influence and strength, but somehow our overall respect for each person to choose their own faith has allowed us to focus on what makes us similar rather than different and brings us closer together. The fact that the Constitution doesn't prohibit free exercise or establish a religion allows us all to be happy with what we choose instead of having to convince everyone that ours is the best, this contributes to happiness and togetherness because lets face it, its one less thing to fight about. Even though there are many different religions in America most have the establishment of a greater being and a desire to achieve a better life, this has contributed to the overall morality of America in that we tend to turn to our faith to value right and wrong which helps us to deal with situations with good morals present. The first amendment allows Americans to believe what they want to believe which poroduces a much happier and propersous nation, rather than a nation that resents its government for making them believe what it want them to. Although the government is istructed by the law to stay out of all religiuos matters, they can still be found in the constituion, our currency and the pledge of alligiance, so if America thinks the government was created and meant to be run unreligiuosly it should take another look; religious morals and standards are everywhere in our government.

Creationism vs. Evolution

http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=26&entryid=262157&searchtext=religion+and+science&type=simple&option=all

"creationism v. evolution." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 28 Jan. 2010. .
This article answers a couple of my essential questions about religion and gives a good timeline from where we as Americans were 100 years ago and how our views have changed or adapted according to new studies or old beliefs. They discuss Darwin's theory of Natural Selection and how his publishing's provided proof of species evolving, and how they weren't just created by a higher being like the book of Genesis says. Darwin's controversial findings created a movement more and more people beginning to believe it because of the unavoidable proof provided as apposed to creationism which does have as tangible proof. Some speculators and more traditionalists refused to believe and in fact sued the schools for trying to teach it but were denied because its based on scientific fact, and creationism was taken out of curriculum's in public schools because it was seen as unconstitutional to favor a particular religion. But who's to say that these two ideals cannot go hand in hand? Although Darwin maintained that God could have created the initial handful of creatures from which all other animals evolved, most of the public and scientific world saw Darwin's theory as a direct challenge to creationism. As time went on fewer people believed in creationism and more in evolution. To this day the argument still exists as to which of the two are true; personally I believe that together they make sense better than either individually. Although one may have more tangible proof it depends on the individual and what they choose to believe. And I think that this will continue to be a quarrel until all people on either side choose to look beyond their own noses and take the time to at least hear the other side, everyone had their own beliefs but it does not hurt to be open to new ones or at least prevent ignorance by listening to the other side of the argument.

Initital Thoughts On My Research Topic: Religion

My first thoughts about my topic (Religion) are that it there is so many controversial or widely discuseed topics that are very interesting such as the belief in science over God or the belief in God before science. Im interested in this topic because I have my own opinions and beleifs but I am interested to see the beliefs of others in comparison, because it is important to know about other thoeries or religions that my own. Its also important to know your own religion or belief very well and to be able to show people why you believe in it, because even as a high school student when religion is brought up I am asked to, not defend, but describe why I beleive what I do and the way I transfer that to all aspects of my life and how I live. I do have a couple questions about Relgion, however. Why is evolution being taught in schools and relgion not? Can science and relgion go hand in hand? Why is it that most people are able to see the differences in religions nad not all the similarities which are more often bigger, and what are these similarities in which religions? Shouldnt there be a connection to the way you act in a relgious setting and the way you act in public and with peers? Are morality/instincts and religion connected?