Pilgrimages of Life

Pilgrimages of Life

This course has taught me many things. It forced me to think about new ideas and opened my eyes to new things. We learned about the teachings of the Catholic Church as well as teachings of other religions. Seeing issues from multiple perspectives helped me to understand many different viewpoints. My favorite assignment from this course was the Love Story paper. I enjoyed interviewing my parents and listening to everybody share their own stories.
I also enjoyed watching the movie The Way. The main characters embarked on the journey for very different reasons. In the end they each found peace within themselves. Each of the characters had a story and an important reason for choosing to do the walk. They were apprehensive to open up to each other but as they progressed, they got to know each other. Rebecca Gallo's blog on BustedHalo truly captures the pilgrimage through Spain. Similarly to the characters in the movie, she has a story and a reason for embarking on the journey. She meets many travelers along the way and in the end discovers herself.

Overall, I think this was a very beneficial course to take. I was forced to think about new ideas and beliefs. It called me to answer questions like, "Who am I? What is my nature?" I learned a lot about both physical and emotional love. We talked about healthy relationships. I discovered in this course what I expect from relationships with others as well as what I can contribute to healthy relationships. I learned many things about myself and love.     

Some Say Love...

Some Say Love...

I agree with Whelan's article, Pure Sex, Pure Love: Stop Looking for Your Soul Mate! I think single people today build up great anticipation to find "the one." They expect their soul mate to be perfect. That puts pressure on a relationship from the start. If people are seeking perfection in a significant other, they can give up looking now. I think committed relationships should contain trust, respect, similar values and beliefs, and future plans. I do not think one person should be your "everything." If a person is concerned with finding a soul mate, they will always question if the person they married truly is "the one." The Song Down By The Water by The Drums expresses the message of love being there for you when you need it most. The chorus says, "if you fall asleep down by the water, baby I'll carry you all the way home." The song also holds the message of loving the same person forever. I think marriage is a permanent bond that should only be broken in extreme cases. The song Ho Hey, by the Lumineers, holds a similar message in saying, "I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweetheart." It implies the lovers are soul mates but does not seem obsessive or perfect. My favorite song, King and Lionheart, by Of Monsters and Men discusses a strong love where the two stick together through all challenges. "And as the world comes to an end, I'll be here to hold your hand, cause your my king and I'm your lionheart." They promise their love will stay the same in difficult times. In the song I Will Follow You Into The Dark  by Death Cab for Cutie, a similar message exists. The singer vows to stand with his love after death. He describes their deep love and says it will never die. In The Ballad of You and I by Melee, the singer relates love to a song that is constantly with him. "Every day that comes, every year gone by, lies the Ballad of you and I." I think the best love songs are about passion and togetherness. In all of these songs, long-term relationships are described. None of the songs reference sex or partying. They focus on true love that withstands time. 

The Changing Face of Marriage

The Changing Face of Marriage   

I grew up in a stable household with two married parents. We went to church every Sunday. My parents taught me about God and the Church from an early age. The domestic church was apart of our family from the beginning. I think children should grow up in stable houses and be taught religion from their parents. However, I know this is not an option for many families in America. My family has had a huge influence on my personality. It has shaped me into the person I am today. I am thankful that I grew up with such an amazing family. My Aunt was a single mother for 12 years. I know she struggled to provide for my cousins and blamed herself for not providing the ideal life. I think children are better off in stable, two parent households. In some cases this is not an option. If one parent if is not invested in the family or cannot provide for a child, he or she will not be able to raise the child. 

  

I think it is interesting that divorce rates are lower for college graduates. I plan on finishing college and would like to get married one day. I do not think many people plan on getting divorced before having kids. In most situations, the divorce occurs after the kids are grown. If I get married, I will only seek a divorce if it is the only option. I want my children to grow up the same way I did. I also do not think children should be victims to multiple marriages. In many cases, divorced parents get remarried. I think this would confuse children because then they would have a new parent and possibly even stepsiblings. 

I think the best environment to raise a child in is a family with two dedicated parents.

Marriage and Vatican II
50 years ago, Bishops met in Rome to update Church teachings with modern society. The issue of marriage played a large role in the council and is in question today (para. 8). Marriage is sacred to the Church and is seen as a noble vocation (para. 10-11). Today, the Church's teachings on marriage are being challenged (para. 17). Gay marriage is not accepted in the Catholic Church. Many liberal Americans are advocates for gay rights. Media today openly accepts homosexuals. Shows like Ellen or The New Normal receive high ratings as homosexuality is generally accepted in America. Currently, the national government does not recognize gay marriage. Few states accept it. Slowly but surely, gay rights in America have increase. "Don't ask, don't tell" was recently repealed allowing homosexuals to serve freely in the armed forces. President Obama expressed his support for LGBT to prepare for the up-coming election; he is the first presidential candidate to do so. The Catholic Church works to maintain traditional values when it comes to marriage (para. 24). The teachings of Vatican II on marriage do not coincide with today's society.

Dating: What's the point?

Dating: What's the point?

I do not think that dating is "practice for divorce." I think people date to discover themselves. As a relationship progresses, daters can learn what they want/expect in a good marriage. However, I think there is a big difference between casual hook ups and dating relationships. The word dating suggests some form of commitment and mutual interest. Hooking up is usually meaningless and does not last in the long run. The article by Christine Whelan suggests hooking up is an ambiguous term. Very few people surveyed believe hook ups lead to relationships. The majority of those surveyed believe they do not lead to anything and are just casual. I think people seek relationships for companionship or a deeper form of friendship.

Gender and dating relationships

In the article, the author questions traditional marriage stereotypes and questions the motive behind some modern marriages. In many ways, marriage has changed with society. Many couples see marriage as a party rather than a sacrament. I agree with the author that couples should discuss marriage plans together rather than wait for "the right time." Many women build up so much anticipation for the perfect proposal or perfect wedding. Both the proposal and the wedding should be about love, not perfection. At the same time, I think many traditions should be kept when it comes to marriage. I think many men would see a proposal coming from their girlfriend as a threat to their manliness. I do not think most women would care if a proposal was not perfect. If they love the person proposing, they will say yes anyway. My mom told me I should pick whatever last name is better of the two when I get married. If you decide to pass two last names on to your children and then they get married, will they have triple hyphenated last names? It does not matter what your last name is. It does not change who you are. 
The love story of my parents was not focused on perfection; it was focused on love. It can be easy for some people to lose sight of what is really important. My parents work as a team. They both cook, clean, and work. I do not think gender roles play a vital part in our house. My parents encourage me to do whatever I want. I know they fell in love for the right reasons and cared less about wedding planning and more about begin together.  

Wonderful Gift and Awesome Responsibility

I am familiar with the church’s message about human sexuality. I know the church has high moral values and teaches that sexual intercourse is for married couples. I agree with the Bishop that sexuality is a big responsiblity and truly is a gift from God. I was surprised that the article mentioned the church’s view on homosexuality. I was not expecting the article to express the church’s opinions for gays and lesbians. Many church leaders have pushed homosexuals away from the church and refuse to accept gay marriage. I think this article could be a little more modern. I think times have changed a great deal; people are not getting married at 15 anymore. In many cases, couples wait until they are in their thirties to have children so they can financially support them. I think the church should take into consideration the changing needs of our society.