September 2007 Archives

http://www.cafepress.com/divinitee

Check it out. My friend Oscar has started designing and selling some tshirts and things, inspired by the Baha'i Faith. I might get a couple shirts. Please pass on this link to help him out!

This is a whole new kind of hilarious.

Okay, it's not really. It's just social critique inspired by the Pythons, so the kind of hilarious that it is is quite old-hat. But it's still funny.

I found this on Polyglot Conspiracy, with a list of "most fascinating" topics "ripe for socio/linguistic dissection".

I checked my emails and RSS feeds this evening (having had a busy, internet-free morning) to find this story from the Baha'i News Service about the bulldozing of a Baha'i cemetery in near Najafbad in Iran. Yeah, that's right, bulldozing a cemetery. Destroying over a hundred graves. My mind is well and truly boggled. Did they want to make sure that they were all dead? More likely it is intend to upset and anger the Baha'i community of Iran, yet another tragic event as part of the Iranian government's ongoing plan to persecute and strangle the Baha'is in that country (read a translation of the memo outlining this policy (pdf)), including denial of education (more here), arbitrary arrest, covert surveillance, and state-sponsored media propaganda.

Thankfully I am not alone in my outrage. Several Baha'i bloggers have commented on this, including Wendi Momen, Barney Leith, Bilo, and Omid T. I would like to number myself among them in being both saddened and dismayed by these reprehensible actions of the Iranian state.

In spite of this, the Baha'is of Iran remain steadfast and resolute, determined to make not just their country, but the entire world a better place. After reading about the events reported above, I stand with them.

McDowell, John C. The Gospel According to Star Wars. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007

I just finished reading Dr John C McDowell's The Gospel According to Star Wars: Faith, Hope, and the Force. It claims to be the first comprehensive theological reading of both Star Wars trilogies, and I think it does so very well.

The reason I picked up this book was because of its Christian perspective. Much of the philosophy in Star Wars would appear to be, at first take, derived mainly from Eastern and eclectic philosophies, for example Buddhism, Daoism, and Gnosticism. Reading a Christian author deal with and resolve many of these "incompatabilities", as some authors have seen them. "The Force is too Eastern, they complain, and cannot therefore teach Christians anything theologically." (p16) As well as explaining why Christians ignoring non-Christian philosophies are making a mistake, McDowell also shows that "[t]he Force is in fact far more Western than many realize, and even [more (sic)] importantly parallels some theological matters that Christians would do well to think harder about." (p17)

The main thrust of McDowell's argument is that Lucas did not intend Star Wars simply to be a piece of money-making entertainment - but rather that he viewed it as an vehicle for moral education. His first chapter looks at Star Wars from a thematic and literary perspective, asking if Star Wars could be considered popular (contemporary) mythology. Chapter 2 examines the Force, and on its identification with the Christian God. The next chapter explores the evil that is present in the Star Wars universe, and deals with issues such as dualism and original sin. How this evil leads to the downfall of Anakin Skywalker, particularly as a tragic hero, is the subject of chapter 4, and chapter 5 deals with how this evils surfaces in Republican and Imperial politics. Chapter 6 explores salvation in Star Wars: the parallels between Anakin and Luke (especially as redeeming figures); self-discovery (enlightenment); and the films' use and justification of violence. The next chapter is subtitled "The Ethics of the Good Life", and deals with the values that Lucas puts forward, such as selfless and harmonious living, and the dangers of the dark side. The seventh and final chapter is subtitled "Redemption in Star Wars" and also touches on eschatology and destiny.

This is all done with varying degrees of success. As well as providing a detailed theology of Star Wars, he discusses in-depth what this means for Christians and how this can help them relate to their faith. Throughout the book he displays a thorough mastery of both the source material and of the issues and literature surrounding it. The book is both well-researched and well-referenced.

With the good comes the bad, and as ever I have my criticisms. I must admit to being a little bored in the middle of the book, around chapters 4 and 5. Perhaps I was expecting something else, but getting bogged down in literary theory, Jungian archetypes, and anthropocentric politics isn't my idea of theological analysis. (On the other hand, I found chapter 6 positively fascinating, especially the analogy he draws between Anakin and Luke on the one hand and Adam and Christ on the other.) Often McDowell spends more time explaining a particular concept or theory than actually relating these theories to Star Wars itself. Then there's the question of the appropriateness of applying these theories to what is, as McDowell freely acknowledges, a "popcorn movie" (p108).

On the whole, however, I found it an enjoyable and stimulating read. Many elements of the theology McDowell promoted I found immensely refreshing in the face of a contemporary stagnation of Christian ideals. It has also inspired me to consider what parallels exist between the philosophies of Star Wars and those of my own belief, the Baha'i Faith.

Freshers' Week was a lot easier when I was actually a fresher. This past week has been non-stop, hectic action.

First of all, I've moved into my new flat. So there's all the hassles associated with moving to somewhere new - changing addresses, unpacking, sorting out bills, rent, internet and stuff, setting up my computer(s), getting to know the kitchen, and so on. Then of course there's me being the President of the Edinburgh University Baha'i Society, so that means organising events, administring over new members, overseeing transfer of certain materials from last year's executive committee to the new one, attending two days' worth of Societies' Fairs and having to explain hundreds of times what the Baha'i Faith is and what our society does. On top of that, helping out the local Baha'i community to organise and advertise certain events, which necessitated a few trips to Glasgow. Naturally there's also the academic side of things, such as registring for my courses and looking up the reading lists in advance. And finally there's just general social time, meeting up with friends I haven't seen since May, or even longer in the case of a few.

Sometimes there are little things that just throw you off. Like when you realise that some of the freshers running around were born in 1990 - which makes me feel old. Sometimes there are bigger, more unexpected things that throw you off. Like when your good friend's grandfather dies suddenly while walking in the sunshine.

Both of these happened. One of them caused a little mirth, the other some musing. Being a Baha'i, I believe that death is not the end. It's not the beginning either. It's simply a continuation of a person's spiritual journey.

Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this world, can alter. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of God, His sovereignty, His dominion and power will endure.
Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p155

As such, Baha'i funerals are generally more like a goodbye celebration than an occassion for mourning. Of course, they are still serene events, with respect shown to both the deceased and their family.

O SON OF THE SUPREME!

I have made death a messenger of joy to thee. Wherefore dost thou grieve? I made the light to shed on thee its splendor. Why dost thou veil thyself therefrom?
The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh, #32 from the Arabic, p11

Regrettably I was only able to attend the service for this particular funeral, not the interment. It was a beautiful service nonetheless, with a real tangible sense of love from the deceased's family and neighbours. A very moving event.

So now I'm trying to catch up on my sleep and prepare for next week, when classes begin. I've already been emailed an assignment for this Wednesday. I guess that's why they call it Phonology, not Funology.

So I've started a blog. I did have vague semi-blog-like things back in the early days of the internet, but I updated them so infrequently that I soon abandoned them. Then, as blogs became more popular, the anti-conformist streak in me took over, and I resolved not to blog or have anything to do with them. But now, I don't care, I want to blog and I enjoy it, so here we are.

To be honest, the biggest obstacle in beginning this blog was choosing a name. Something like "Rory's Blog" didn't seem too appealing. I wanted something witty, intelligent, and unique. I wanted something that would reflect part of what this blog was about - my own thoughts and reflections, particularly on the subjects of religion and linguistics. Alice's suggestion of "Rorycopter" just didn't quite cut it.

So we have "From Under My Sculpt". It's very obscure, but I think it does all of the above. The name comes from a poem written on a toilet roll/tissue holder, in Chinglish. Here's a picture:

Okay, so you can't read it too well. It reads:

Hai! Wait for a moment.
Hey lets go home together
I want dear mommy
Fluffy coney and wonderful sculpt
Wan mao plastisol

It was seen by my fellow Wildfire Dance Theatre members while they were touring in China. When I later joined the group, "sculpt" (and wonderful ones at that) was a common word, and "under your sculpt" was the place where you kept things. It could also refer to your head or brain. My time in Wildfire Dance Theatre was a defining time in my life, when I really consolidated my identity as a Baha'i. The origin of the phrase reflects my linguistic interests, and the name as a whole is a tale of where the reflections are from - under my sculpt.