In class we discussed the mary/martha dilemma. Or really, we discussed whether or not someone could be called to just sit in a corner and pray all day for the glory of God.
Dr. Brekke talks a lot about the fact that we see the individual as needing to be balanced, but the medieval mind saw that society had to be balanced. I think both are flawed views, but i love the idea of a community functioning as one thing.
I think that's a concept completely lost on us. The idea that alike and equal aren't the same concepts. That the hand is not the same thing as a foot but neither is better. I doubt medieval's struggled much with gender roles, or relationship roles. It's fascinating to me. I don't know if it ends up looking more like a caste system or the body of Christ. I know it's supposed to look like the body, but can this practically play out? What do you guys think? Would you rather return to a communal understanding or do you like individualist isolationist America? We certainly bathe more.
I commented on Meghan's post.
Dr. Brekke talks a lot about the fact that we see the individual as needing to be balanced, but the medieval mind saw that society had to be balanced. I think both are flawed views, but i love the idea of a community functioning as one thing.
I think that's a concept completely lost on us. The idea that alike and equal aren't the same concepts. That the hand is not the same thing as a foot but neither is better. I doubt medieval's struggled much with gender roles, or relationship roles. It's fascinating to me. I don't know if it ends up looking more like a caste system or the body of Christ. I know it's supposed to look like the body, but can this practically play out? What do you guys think? Would you rather return to a communal understanding or do you like individualist isolationist America? We certainly bathe more.
I commented on Meghan's post.
You know...I really like that question! haha. America is VERY individualistic, and that prevents Americans from being able to understand what life is really like in other places. Throughout history, countless cultures (including those during medieval times) relied on communal understanding in society. This understanding was something that people were afraid to break because the penalties varied from excommunication to death! Living in those times produced an entirely different perception of life than what Americans have. I would say that I like being of an American mind in regards to individualism and uniqueness; however, I believe that most of the problems Americans face would be solved if we were less focused on ourselves and more focused on a greater purpose.
ReplyDeleteThe individualistic mindset of our society is certainly what makes America unique, but it's also what has us known as the self-gratifying society we have come to be. The thought of a society that didn't consider the individual, or even odder, the individual who didn't consider themselves, is completely foreign to our modern day thought process. I think that a balance of both would be better for our society, as the individual must be considered, but so many of our problems would be solved if we lost our selfishness.
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