Brothers,
In his chapter on "Idealism," Emerson discusses religion with regard to humankind's identification with Nature. That said, I proffer my first question:
1. What is the value of religion or religious experience? Or, put another--perhaps more controversial--way: Is there value to revealed religion and its ritual practices? Draw on your own experience of God and Nature in answering the question.
In his chapter on "Spirit," Emerson ends with a rather poignant quote: "The poet finds something ridiculous in his delight, until he is out of the sight of men" (509). Wow! He's saying a lot with a short phrase. That said, I proffer my second question:
2. What the heck does Emerson mean by that saying? Be as rigid or as loose in your interpretation as you feel necessary!
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This short phrase Emerson uses could probably be interpreted in hundreds of different ways. When I read this quote I get the sense that Emerson is almost trying to be funny. Saying that poets can almost say anything, and someone would interpret it in some way even if the poet himself ment nothing by it. I think he is also trying to get at the point that a poet's words mean nothing if only the poet reads them. The need to be appreciated by an audience in order for the words to have meaning, and all different people can interpret the poets words in different ways. I could be way off, but thats kind of how I see what he's trying to say.
I think that religion has a really big value in society. It has a large value even if u do not belive in any religons. In society religion sets many of the laws because of the moral teachings they emphasize on. Many of the laws are based of the Ten Commandments and everyone has to follow them regardless of your choice of religion. Without the morals or different religions the whole worold would be in chaos because no one would know what is right and what is wrong. So even though many people do not have a religious affiliation it is religion that keeps the world in order.
Sure I think that religious experiences have a positive effect on most people since it teaches good morals and values and also gives one a sense of community if they are active in their religion. However I feel that this is not always true considering that some religions teach that another group is the enemy and they must be killed which leads to suicide bombings and various other bad things. OTher wise I feel religion can be a positive thing as long as it teaches one to respect all things and not hate a certain group.
Nergal, Lord of Decay
This is a quote that has a much deeper meaning than what was actually said. I interpreted it as Emerson saying that the poet himself finds much joy in his work when people are getting a deeper meaning out of it and learning from the poem. He says that once out of the sight of men or the poem has been forgotten and the audience has left, the poet loses his taste and delight for the poem. The poet enjoys his work when others do as well.
Yes, I think that there is value to reavealed religion and it's practices. The practices of a religion, whichever one it is, for the most part inspires us to act in a good way and make the right choices. If, in fact, a person does not have a religion such as being atheist; That person will most likely be affected by the actions of another religious person. Therefore inspiring in everyone, people with or without a religion, to act in a good manner. Although some people do choose to commit violence or crime it's not that they think that there is no God, it's that they deliberately choose to do the wrong thing. Without religion the world would be a complete mess, but this would only occur if no one had reason; which is necesary for religion. This means that it is not possible for one to think that there is no God or no religion.
I think that whether religion has value or not, is a personal opinion. It depend on the person whether or not religion is valuable. The more that someone puts into their faith or religion, the more that they will get out of it and value it more highly. On the other hand if someone have a religion or they do not follow it, then they will have no value of religion and get little or nothing out of their faith, or their lack of faith. I feel that religion definitely has some value to it, the question is more of how much you value your own religion. Religion gives some people a sense of identity and it means nothing to others.
Religion as a big role in society. Religion is the basis of our society and without we would be centuries behind where we are now. Religion is something everyone needs to fall back , God is always there for you. Our laws today are based around the ten commandments, without them maybe we wouldnt have all the laws we do now and crime would increase. Religion has affected my life and many others without most people wouldnt be the people they are today. Religion is always there for you but it is your chocie to use it or not.
Religion is probably one the biggest aspects of the society that we all live in. In religious world their are different religions and different people who support these religions. Religion has big value in some patterns. Some families must abide by different religious practices. For example, Jewish people must abide by The Torah, just as Catholic must pray and abide by the Ten Commandments. If you don't have a religion, what do you have to believe in? I believe religion brings not just families but people all around the world together.
In the quote, I think that Emerson is trying to say that when a poet says something that he likes and trys to incorperate it into his poetry, the readers will not always understand the meaning. The poet can make that special something in his poems hard to interpret to some people, who can find another meaning to the poem.
another very deep assignment....<3<3<3<3
In my opinion, religion has an unimaginable amount of value. Sometimes we don't realize it, but it plays a huge role in our everyday lives. We pray everyday, we communicate with God everyday, and we learn about him in religion class. When we find ourselves in trouble, or are in need of help, we communicate with God through prayer. Religion also has a sense of unity. There are many different religions throughtout the world, with a diverse number of beleifs, but prayer and communication with God are aspects that all religions can embrace. With that being said, I think it's fair to say that religion has a great amount of value.
I feel that religion and religious experiences are very valuable and powerful to life of people who express religios belief. Our religious experiences include praying, our recent confession, and our masses and liturgies. We underestimate the power of these celebrations because these connect us with God. Our revealed religious practices are very important although we do not take them seriously. I feel we are connecting with god during our communal ritual practices and feel that we are spritually enriched with his glory during these celebrations. Our songs and prayers are proof that we know about God and his glory, however, we seem to underestimte his power ofver our everyday judgements. Our communal celebrations often reflect nature such as in songs and in prayer. God is seen metaphorically through nature and we can see this by nature's great power.
theres a value to revealed religion for some poeple. for others accepting some foreign idea and a bunch of seemingly crazy rituals doesnt make much sense. they see it as a waste of time. the value that can be taken from revealed religion is that some people can feel comforted and steadfast in a belief that is, in their eyes, proven and accepted by many. but like joe smart said some people just over emphize god's role.
as for the poet it seems like emerson is saying that the poet finds a ridiculous delight in people misinterpting and overanalyzing what he has written. a lot of times a poet or any person just writes something to write it and it may not have some hidden meaning and it might mean just what it says. the poet finds it humourus that people actually overlook something real simple. in that thouht maybe the quote means just what it says. the poet acts as if his joy in people enjoying his work is stupid until he's alone and then he really enjoys the attention.
The value of religious experience changes according to the person in my oppinion. In a way i think the religion that has not been revealed has more value because people in my experience are more interested in things they dont know about then what they do know so they will spend more time and effort into finding this religious mystery out and eventually deepening their religious thoughts
I feel that Emerson is stating that the poet feels emotion of confusion and depression. Emerson feels that the poet has an evil mind and does crazy things around people. I think it is ironic that the poet amuses himself by doing ridiculous things. Another thing that is ironic is that the poet feels lonley and depressed of people not accepting him but knows what he is doing is wrong in his mind but does not feel the need to change.
there is value in revealed religion, because it gives people hope. It gives them something to believe in. it is not essentially what religion you believe in but that you believe in something divine. my experiences with God are in Mass I go to in my community. Goining into the Church you can feel the hope, unity, and belief. Religios beliefs/obligations serv as goals for people and give them purpose and guidance intheir life.
Yes, there is value in some religions and some of their rituals, although not all. What I believe is that you get from religion only as much as you put into it. A person can’t simply go to a church, and expect to have a spiritual experience the first time they participate in a religious practice. For some it can take a whole lifetime to find God. Every person has to find his or her own way to be religious; they have to search for it within themselves. If a man finds church boring perhaps church is not the way he will reach God. People can help him on this journey to become religious, but in the end each man must find value in it himself. Otherwise he goes every Sunday and does the routine, and he finds no value in it because he doesn’t see the reason why he should even be there. I find value in my religion because I look for it.
1: Religion and religious experiences help people to better understand the religions that they have devoted themselves to. A religious experience such as a pilgrimage to Mecca or maybe something even as simple as going to Mass on Sunday can mean a lot to different people. Maybe there is spiritual value in something that most people don't see and one person might, if so, this religious experience embellishs that one persons religious beliefs.
2: This quote is very strange and it sounds like Emerson is suggesting that the poet is a different person when he is not around people. He implies that poet's find delight in somethig that's "ridiculous." Ridiculous could mean anything. Maybe Emerson is saying that some poets are having ridiculous sex when people aren't looking. Maybe Emerson means that poet's are doing full-on ridiculous things, like dressing drag or something to that effect. Personally, I don't really understand how the phrases "ridiculous delight" and "out of the sight of men" could mean anything less than actions that are most likely looked down upon in common society (i.e. crazy sex or dressing drag).
I think their was value in the practice of religions, however now they have become out dated and are no longer relevant,interesting, or engaging to our society. i think that the most important part of a religion is the platform, the values, and the way of life that in encourages.
I think that in some ways the practices and rituals enforce strong values by enstilling a sence of community and belonging. However i think that some rituals have become outdate and made for the world that was 2000 years ago before electricity, and equality. There for the basis of religeon can be applied to all generations and times, while the rituals must change with the society the is worshiping?
By this quote, i think that emerson is saying that poetsare constantly critized by others on their writing. because they are being critizes, the peots feel ridiculous in enjoying their poems. only when people stop critizing their stuff can they really find delight in their poems.
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