(A picture of a view from my "dorm" room... and even though these pictures are post-project... I am still super tired and feel like a walking zombie... I know I don't totally look like that.... but I am and it is true!)
Well, I finished my project, it was due on Saturday! Wahoo, it is finished! So, now I am an expert on parenting, educating children, and wisely watching films with kids!! ha ha :) I guess some theories, but definitely not in practice!!! :) ha ha Definitely some good principles for educating kids through youth work!! :)
I am still tired and recovering, but, this week the teaching has been excellent, it has been eye opening! God is definately BIG! This week, our teacher is an astronomer who currently is studying the old clay tablets found in the Middle East area. She is studying for their understanding on astronomy back then. It is all so interesting. We have talked about how astronomy and astrology were one concept in the Antique times. The Mesopotamians studied the sky to explain the seasons, the months, and the days. They were using the positioning of the sun and moon to determine what was happening on earth. Which is exactly how astrology was started. It was really interesting to learn that astrology was not evil, mystical, or spiritual. As they were using the sky to explain the seasons, lunar months, and the days, then it was logical for them to also use the positioning of the sky to explain good and bad things happening; for example, five sheep belonging to a farmer died, or a baby was born, floods, drought, etc etc.... The Mesopotamians were reading the night sky to help their kings manage their kingdoms.
Many times we will run into people who think reading their horoscope is getting in touch with Mesopotamian wisdom. And, what we can see is that, it was "wisdom" at the time, when they thought that the heavens went around the earth. Now, of course, we know that the positioning of the sun and moon, determines the months and seasons, but there is no connection to fate, or good or bad things in people's lives.
We can put it into perspective. In the Middle Ages when it was decided that the sun was the center and the earth spun around the sun, then some astronomers could not accept it. They thought if it were so, we would spin off the earth. Many times the understanding of how the world is set-up or functions is understood through the culture. So, in relation to the Mesopotamians, they also logically interpreted the sky or the heavens to explain the happenings on the earth.
It is so interesting to study all this. Many times we are afraid of the things we do not understand. For example, I wrote an email once and talked about how many Christians are afraid of the Asian religions, but it is only that we are afraid of the things we do not understand. We studied the Asian religions, and it is easy to see how they have come up with ways to explain how they view the world. When analyzing the beliefs, there are contradictions, and nothing to fear. To quote Hollywood (ha ha), "When people don't understand, they turn to their assumptions" (Finding Forrester). Astrology and Asian religions are nothing to be afraid of, they will not disprove God. God is creator! The purpose of science is to understand how God set-up nature to function! To reveal Him in all the details needed for the earth to function as it does. This school has definitely given me a better understanding of science and people of other religions and what they are thinking, to be able to have meaningful discussions with people, that hopefully will lead them to The Truth.
