A professor in the Kyeongyang magazine brings to the attention of the readers the way we educate monsters. John Stuart Mills the economist and philosopher is paraphrased: "One person with a belief is equal to the force of 100,000 who have only interests."
In a world that praises those who abandoned their beliefs in order to make secular monetary gain is a present day reality and many are awed by those who follow their beliefs. However, those who follow their beliefs not infrequently bring fear and pain to those around them.
The professor then gives us a profile of Anders Behring Breivik, a mass murderer who killed 8 and injured many others in an explosion in Oslo, Norway, and going to an island where a youth labor group was meeting killed another 68. He was against multiculturalism that the labor party sympathized with and helped. The professor asks the readers what prepared this young person to perpetrate this horrendous act and publicize it on SNS with the above quote from John Stuart Mills.
On Facebook, he made known to the world that he spent on self-study 14,500 hours on business adminstration and history and another 3,000 hours studying religion and finances, sufficient, he says on Facebook to get a master's degree in the subjects.
Of all the animals on the earth humans have the ability to think but at the same time are the cruelest. When some judge another to have done something not liked we hear of cases where they kill and justify their acts.
Moreover, when justification is made as a group or on a social level, the result is beyond imagination. The Nazis were able to kill six million people in six years and justify their actions at the collective level. Scholarly studies often fosters this ability to justify our actions.
We all understood that study and knowledge make us better persons. This was the way we looked at learning because in the past education was to cultivate our humanity and was consistent with our reason. Consequently, the more study the chances that such a person would have a well formed character and moral sense was taken for granted.
However, scholarly study at present is not what it was years ago. Today study is to enable a person to logically systematize thoughts so as to convey ideas. To study a lot is to master the subject with no concern for the person's self-betterment and building of character. A person misunderstands dialogue as the ability to present his position, his or her efforts to elaborate their opinion is what is important and when not accepted they despair and often express hostility.
Korea's devotion to study is second to no other country in the world. The numbers that go on to college is high and the years spent in study continue to increase but at the same time horrible and shocking events continue to appear in society.There are many varied reasons but our educational system can't be excluded.
Thoughts can help to destroy ourselves and others but also to sacrifice ourselves for others. From an early age, we need to educate to see the pain of others and want to help, this will make the world a different place in which to live. Otherwise, we will be producing 'philosophers' like Breivik who think what they do is for the betterment of humanity.
Catholics
living in Asia celebrate the New Year three times and today is the
first of the three. Advent is the beginning of the church year, our
first call to begin again, the second comes with the solar new year on
Jan.1st and on Feb. 16, 2018 we celebrate the lunar new year which is
the real New Year for most Asians.
In
the Catholic Peace Weekly one of the writers in his column prepares the
readers to make the most of the new year's beginning. From his own
personal experience there is the crossing of two emotions. The feeling
of gratitude for what was accomplished and on the other hand remorse and
feeling of defiency for what could have been. But with the new there
is hope and a new resolution. Of course also some fear and worry but his
hope will also be there in first place. Without which we will not be
beginning a new year.
Looking
back there is little that was accomplished as planned. Most of the
problems were caused by himself rather than disrupted by unaviodable
cirucumstance. In the family, with peers and in relationship with people
the problems were self inflicted but at the same time much was
worthwhile and for which he is thankful despite the hesitations and
regrets.
Hope
is embraced with the new start. It is not filled with anxiety for the
future but a joy associated with the specific joy of the birth of the
Savior. The new year does not begin with the birth of Jesus but with
Advent to give us time to repent for our weaknesses and failures of the
past year and prepare for the joy that Jesus has brought to us with his
brith.
Moreover
this new year begins with the Jubilee Year of the laity. What do we
mean by the Jubilee of the Laity? Is it not the year in which the
laity with great joy live with the understanding of the meaning of
Jubilee? We Christians are disciples of Jesus who are given the task
like Jesus to proclaim the Lord's year of favor (Jubilee) Lk. 4:19. A
time to liberate, become holy and spread the joy we have received.
For many these words are empty of meaning.The calling of the church is
clear. Materialism, searching for pleasure, human rights abuses, contempt
for life makes our society increasingly dark. We need to see beyond the
darkness. Let's proclaim the Jubilee in all that we do during the year.
Pope
Fancis in his visit to Korea in 2014 emphasized this in his call to the
Korean laity. He wants the laity to approach first those who are in need
of help, and help them to live a decent life as human beings. The family, the basic unit of society, should be prepared for this mission with its unity and mission.
Jubilee encourages us to start with courage, joy, hope and conviction
it is the wellspring for our mission. We believe in God who is holy,
merciful, and loving, the God of Jubilee.
In many parts of the world environmental activists and those who want to see economic progress are in opposition to each other. Both have ample reasons for their positions and the issue is not one that is easily dealt with.
An article in the Catholic Times presents the case for the environmentalist. A priest working in this field presents his thoughts for the readers in the View from the Ark. In the year 2000 a large number of children requested the Seoul Administrative Court to suspend a reclamation project that was destroying a tidal flat for future generations.
Based on the Rio Declaration which refers to the environmental rights of future generations: natural resources do not belong to the present generation but are the common wealth of future generations. The court however dismissed the children's case for not being eligible plaintiffs. We do not have a sense of responsibility for future generations nor reflect on the burden we are placing on them.
Forty three children in the Philippines in 1990 won a lawsuit against the logging companies for the felling of trees in virgin forests that would mortgage the future of these children and future generations according to the Rio Declaration. Consequently, the government rescinded more than 70 permissions that were given.
At the time the universe was created one of the most popular theories is called the Big Bang, about 13.7 billion years ago. From nothing we have something. It is assumed that there was an impulse toward life from the first moment of the Big Bang. He quotes that God has prepared to meet us for 13.7 billion years.
Problems in the ecosystem of this wonderful universe that God created have appeared. A great deal of time has passed from the creation of the world. From the the time of our industrialization, resources discovered and pollutants dispersed we have done more harm to the ecosystem than any time from the appearance of humans on earth. We have not done a good job as stewards.
Korea in the amount of greenhouse gases and carbon emissions is ranked 7th in the world and the climate change is something that is experienced in Korea. After Fukushima nuclear disaster and the understanding of the dangers of nuclear power and nuclear waste we are still talking about the increase of nuclear power plants. Knowing that publis opinion is still far from being convinced of the problems he laments the arogance and lack of wisdom that he sees.
In Laudatio Si Encyclical Letter Pope Francis stresses: "Once the human being declares independence from reality and behaves with absolute dominion, the very foundations of our life begin to crumble, for 'instead of carrying out his role as a cooperator with God in the work of creation, man sets himself up in place of God and thus ends up provoking a rebellion on the part of nature'. Humans don't have absolute dominion over the world we have to acknowledge this truth. We can't solve our problems only in our way but in God's way.
A
peace activist writing in a Catholic Times' column on Korean
unification and reconciliation introduces the readers to a folktale all
Koreans know. It's the story of two brothers: Nolbu and Heungbu. Their
father left the family inheritance to both equally but the older brother
kept it all and threw out his brother. The brother did not complain and
accepted his life of poverty.
One
day Heungbu saw a swallow on the ground with a broken leg and treated
the bird so it could fly. The following spring the swallow returned with
a seed. He planted the seed in the yard it became a big gourd. When he
cut open the gourd all kinds of good things came out: gold and gems. He
sold them and became wealthy.
This
news reached his brother Nolbu who asked his brother how he became so
wealthy so quickly. The brother explained what happened with the
swallow. Nolbu went home and broke the leg of a swallow and waited until
the following spring. He also was given a seed which he planted but
this time all kinds of bad things came out and he lost all that he
possessed.
The
younger brother helped his older brother without his knowledge. In
conclusion the older brother apologized for his greed and the younger
brother shared his wealth with the brother and they lived happily ever
after.
Do
we have this type of opposites in real life resolving in this way? We
don't find persons who are all good or all bad. Usually we cast our
light on what we want to see and ignore what we don't want to see. We
can bring to the fore the good or the bad.
Behind
any conflict or fight there is another side that's developed over many
years in the way participants grew up and were raised. What is the
secret for a resolution? Is it to continue maintaining one's viewpoint
or to consider the other viewpoint if one wants to see some resolution?
Brothers
quarrel and go to their rooms and lock the door is this not what we
experience in our world? Mother is in the kitchen preparing a delicious
meal but anger blocks them from the enjoyment to their great loss.
Rather
than have a third party do the knocking on the door when it is one of
the brothers, elder or younger and they have a desire for
understanding, the opening of the heart, the knocking on the door is
not a problem. This has a greater possibility of resolution than having a
third party doing the knocking, where defensiveness and revenge often
appear.
We
are all weak deficient human beings. However, despite this we we make
the effort with the strength and freedom we have and if we don't have
the strength we know it will be given to us and quietly go to the door
and knock. "Let's resolve our problem", these words gives us a hope for
change.
An
arrow shot from a bow is meant to reach the target. What is the target
for the treatment of alcohol addiction? The answer to this question is
not as easy as one would think and the writer in an article in the
Catholic Times explains why.
Probably
most would answer that treatment for alcoholism is to stop drinking.
However, those working with the addicted quickly find out that the
patient is faced with many problems attributed to withdrawal. These
symptoms are serious: anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and anger
difficult to control. Pleasure and temporary relief of stress that
alcohol supplied are followed by depression and helplessness.
Craving
for alcohol, the mentality of the person is affected, he has a 'dry
drunk', behaving like a drunk person, the mental faculties and emotions
are distorted not able to satisfy the addiction. In the treatment
process dealing with this pain, all disappears by giving in to the
temptation and drinking.
Around
half, according to statistics, after treatment return within a month,
two-thirds go back to drink within a year. Recovery is not easy. After
relapse, the situation is more serious, small and big conflicts,
diseases and attempted suicides. The pain is real and the temptation to
succumb is strong and not just an excuse on the part of the addicted
one.
The
brain which has enjoyed drinking regularly when the
drinking stops the brain goes into an emergency state. The brain to
overcome this abnormal state will take all the means available; we
have distorted thinking and emotions, destroying any kind of spirituality.
Those
who stay away from alcohol for at least two years over 80 % continue.
After one or two years most of the brain's functions return and the way
the person faces life changes.
He
tells his readers about a man in his 80s who was addicted but went to
see his doctor weekly and joined a group of alcoholics meeting
regularly. The writer asked him why did he want to change at his age.
"
I have been drinking for over 60 years. I worked hard and quite
suddenly I felt an emptiness in life, I had nothing. I worked, made
money and spent a lot of my time drinking with friends, I had little
time to speak with my family. I didn't want my family to remember me
only as a drunk who lived a worthless life.I stopped drinking, learned
to play an instrument, started exercising, reading and returned to my
religion. Most important I have been spending time with my family in
conversation. They liked what they saw and praised and respect me for
what I have done. I have begun living a meaningful life even if it's
almost over."
A
medical practitioner wishes the patient to enjoy healthy pleasures
instead of those that come from using addictive substances. They desire patients to
seek full communication with others instead of anger, have hope instead
of being controlled by instinctive desires and live a dignified life as
a human being. This is the ultimate goal for addicts to reach and not
simple detoxification.
Writing in a diocesan bulletin a layman gives the readers an insight into his experience of doing something he never imagined possible and the results. He never paid much attention to what was happening within his church community. What happened outside his little world was of little concern and the choir of his parish was outside of his world. Musical knowledge was scant, a weak voice and no interest, but this past summer he became a member of the church choir.
The choir leader asked him to become a member. They were preparing for a public performance and seeing their zeal he joined with the proviso it would be for three months. He could barely read the score and didn't think he would be any help but an obstacle. Only one of the songs that he would be practicing was in anyway familiar and he was given the tenor part.
At the first practice and for the following two weeks he didn't even once look at the score. Since he promised, he attended all the practices but continued wondering whether giving up wasn't the best course of action. However, as he continued strangely the tunes of the music stayed with him and he was humming the music. The devotion of the music director and president impressed him greatly. He gave full attention to the choir and practice.
A big change came over him. He began practicing the score, doing what the director suggested at the last practice and practicing in his home, confidence came. The score stayed with him even after practice, and he looked forward to the next practice.
They say that applause makes elephants dance and so also the public performance made the choir dance. Everything went well and was appreciated by all. Able to be a help to the choir gave him a feeling of satisfaction.
The writer began to wonder about his judgments that he has made in life. He thought that he knew himself but recognized that many of the choices he has made were not wise decisions. After the choir experience he realized that he had limited his area of activity with out reason by his preconceived wrong judgements and prejudices.
He doesn't know what the future holds in store but the areas in which he has little confidence will no longer be off limit. He will not avoid them as in the past. He now looks forward to developing his potentials which have been hidden; he wants to regain control of himself and not be controlled by his self imposed unreasonable limitation. The summer experience with the choir made him see life in a different way.
In the last half of the 20th century, industrialization and democratization of Korea brought about a great increase of the number of Catholics. From 3% of the population to over 10% growth needing the building of new churches and 5 new seminaries. It was a growth rarely seen in the church and a reason for pride.
A priest writing for other priests in a pastoral bulletin asks his readers: Do we have a better way of life from the increase of the number of crosses on church buildings and the number of Christians in Korea? Are we happier society for the increase? You ask 10 people and you get the same answer: No, is the very natural response to the question: no ifs, ands and buts.
Jesus' came into the world to reform it. He gave his life for the cause and we his followers are given the same mission of making this world one according to his will. Why then since we have an increase of twice to three times what it was, we so called Christians have not made any difference in the world we see? We perceive no sign of change. Rather with the passage of time why do we feel more anxious, tired and unhappy? Let us suppose that the majority of the population joined us would there be change? Seeing the results of the increase we have experienced our answer wouldn't be yes. Why?
The writer feels we have forgotten the responsibility we have as Christians. Often is heard the structures of the church are vertical, clericalism is rampant. Few are the members of the clergy who have reflected long and deep on the situation and are concerned with the situation. Tearing down buildings, extending present buildings and building new buildings is what is important. The building of churches and the increase of believers has little to do with the evangilization of the world.
We do not want to misunderstand what the work of the community of faith is. Church is here to work for the establishment of God's kingdom. The Church is not the kingdom but a means to bring the kingdom here to the world. When we are only interested in extending the church and fail to spread the message of the Gospel and absorbed in security and our own growth we become a business enterprise.
He concludes the article by reminding the readers that when we only think of building up the church making it larger and forget the mission of the church we forget the shabby looking Jesus who stood before the sign of authority and power of Pilate.
