Allie Stough - Same Kind of Different as Me

The main character, Denver, has some tragic events happen in his life. He decided to live on a plantation with his Aunt and Uncle who were sharecroppers. After a while, he then got on a train and became a homeless man. He then got a job at a prison in Louisiana. He worked there for ten years and was honored for his work. He then became homeless again and traveled the streets of Fort Worth, Texas. Now today he is an artist and a volunteer for the homeless. I have read all of these books with my church group and really have enjoyed them. It really makes you think about like and how precious it is.

Allie Stough - Heaven is for Real

The main character, Colton, is a four year old from Nebraska. His dad is a pastor. Colton was in the hospital for an appendix that has ruptured. He had emergency surgery and became unconscious on the operating table. He remembers going to Heaven and seeing Jesus, God the Father and angels. Somehow he unbelievably came back to live and lived to tell his story. He said he saw his sister in heaven that his mom had miscarried. He also saw his great grandfather in heaven. I had always believed in heaven, but after reading this book, I really believe in it. I know that when I pass away I will be in a happy place with all of my relatives.

Allie Stough - Paper

When speaking about John Coffey, Stephen King said he intentionally “decided to give him the initials J.C., after the most famous innocent man of all times”. A significant Christ-like moment was toward the end of the movie when John urges Edgecomb to put his “hand in the hand of the man.” Paul does indeed do that in carrying out the execution of John Coffey. John Coffey performs miracles. One would least expect a Christ-like figure from a famous horror writer like Stephen King. There are many allusions to Christ in John Coffey, including his very initials, J.C. There is a mysterious past to John Coffey with his court papers history revealing not a trace of him prior to his arrest. The portrayal of John Coffey as a healer is first revealed in curing Paul’s urinary infection. Even his calling to Paul as he lay on the floor writhing in pain is Christ-like as he says ‘you need to come to me’. Then there is the resurrection of the pet mouse and finally the healing of the prison warden’s wife’s brain cancer. The guards come to believe in Coffey’s innocence without knowing how to save him – like Christ who must follow the path before him. Christ becomes the most famous innocent man of all times like John Coffey. John Coffey’s initials are J.C., which also stand for Jesus Christ. He said he tried to take it back but it was too late. Wild Bill murdered the girls and John tried to bring them back to life. John Coffey – Initials J. C. – as in Jesus Christ. Is Coffey guilty? He is found holding the two dead girls crying “I tried to take it back, but it was too late.” The ‘it’ is all the pain in the world that Christ dies for on the cross. When John was watching the movie, a ray of light casted over his head like a halo and he said the dancers are like angels. Jesus had a halo over his head. Saints and angels also have halos. John calls to Paul, boss, when he is in pain on the floor just like Jesus calls his people. John sacrifices himself and endures the suffering of others. He is a black man who absorbs all the pain of the whites. His lawyer says, “It is as if he has dropped from the sky.” He is made to look 7 feet tall. Camera effects are used to make him look taller and god-like. He stands on a platform to make him taller. Coffey is always filmed at an upward angle to emphasize his size. He is even filmed on a platform to raise him above the guards. This gives him a super human quality.

Allie Stough - Paper

Percy Wetmore, on the other hand, seems to delight in the executions. P. 32 Detweiler He seems to be for the death penalty and the other characters are opposed to it. He wants to observe an execution and “see one cook up close.” He kills Wild Bill with a gun because Wild Bill is making fun of him. Everyone on the mile hates him because he is really mean. Percy Wetmore is conspicuously smaller than all his team members. He is cruel and even kills the pet mouse by stepping on it. He is out of place in contrast to the other guards. He eventually becomes responsible for the cruelest of executions because he purposely does not wet the electrocution sponge. He tells one of the prisoners to send him a card from Hell. He yells ‘Dead man walking’ when he brings John to be executed. Percy has earned the hatred of the guards and the convicts alike. There is a tension between Paul the decent caring supervisor and Percy Wetmore. These two characters seem to depict the debate of today between those for and those opposed to the death penalty.

Allie Stough - Paper

Coffey’s crucifixion is the electric chair. He exudes Love, forgiveness, good counsel, and miracles. Coffey, however, unlike Christ, does not shower his blessings on Percy or ‘Wild bill’, but only to those who are already virtuous. John Coffey actually becomes the instrument of their punishment by pouring his evil from the brain cancer cells into Percy’s mouth. Percy in a fit of craziness then kills ‘Wild Bill’. Coffey then reveals that ‘Wild Bill’ actually killed the two girls he is accused of killing. Alleva feels that Coffey is less of a Christ figure and more of the ideal Black man white liberal’s would like him to be – someone who suffers for the white man’s errors. Alleva actually describes the movie as ‘anti-capital punishment with a vigilante sensibility’.

Allie Stough - Paper

I am opposed to the death penalty. I feel that it is immoral to kill someone. If we can’t kill someone with a gun then why can we kill someone with the death penalty? It puts too much burden on the person who has to perform the act of the death penalty. I feel that the person who committed the crime should stay in jail for life with no opportunity for parole. It gives them their whole life to think about what they have done. The death penalty today is performed differently than it was in The Green Mile. Death by the electric chair is rarely done today, instead it is done by lethal injection. Only about half of the world uses any form of the death penalty for certain offences. The death penalty has been changed over time. In the 18^th century B.C. people were killed with an ax. In 399 B.C. Socrates was required to drink poison for heresy and corruption of youth. In the 5^th century some typical forms of capital punishment included: crucifixion, drowning at sea, burial alive, beating to death and killing by the intrusion of a sharp object. Romans who killed their parents were put in a sack with a dog, rooster, snake and ape and submersed in water. In 1608 the first recorded execution was in the English colonies when George Kendall of Virginia was plotting to betray the British to the Spanish. Finally in 1890, William Kemmler was the first person in the U.S. to be executed by electric chair. The Green Mile is very agonizing on all of the actors. John Coffey has to walk the green mile on his way to be executed. The guards walk up and down the mile knowing that they have to execute John.

Dan Matarazzo Buckroe Beach (Natural Experience) #2

Last week, before the weather went down to nearly winter temperatures again, I took a break from the library and classes to go to Buckroe Beach in Hampton. My girlfriend immediately started tanning which I find quite possibly the most boring activity to do when you’re at a beach. I took off on a long walk down the shore line. After enjoying the surrounding scenery, waves at my feet, and girls sprawled out in bikinis, I quickly ended up being almost out of sight of the peer we had set our stuff out. Normally, I would head back around this time but decided to continue on for a bit longer. Soon my mind wandered from school and the people at the beach to the shells, salty air, small waves, and birds flying around me. It struck me how much the beach contrasts to the mountain, there are no ridges or over empowering formations, rather just a peaceful slops going into the water. The ocean still finds a way to make you feel small like the mountain does. As, you find your peace, you look off into the distance and the ocean stretches out further than your eye can see. The beach was very relaxing and a great way to spend my day than in the library.

Emily Jackson Dunlop- Noland Trail

Recently I went out to the Noland Trail to enjoy nature nearby. It's amazing how close beautiful, natural scenery is when most of the time I am surrounded by society and man made scenery. A lot of times I wish I was able to relax and enjoy the peacefulness that one finds on the trail more often. Hearing the birds sing, smelling the fresh air, and taking pictures to bring back and enjoy later is truly refreshing. The weather was perfect, warm and sunny with a slight breeze making the leaves gently rustle and swirl about. The lake is also beautiful in the springtime. Seeing the gentle waves ripple after dropping a rock into the water has a sense of peace to it, an example of simple activities that we just don't have time for anymore. It was nice to take a break from the rush of college life and take in the beauty of nature.

Steven Chung--Outside Reading Blog 1

For my RSTD 212 class (Religions of the West) I was required to read and write a critique of the book, The River Between. I found that some parts of the story relate to some topics we have covered in our class. In one part of the book, Waiyaki, the main character in the story, was led by his father into the sacred grove. At this location, Chege, Waiyaki's father, informed his son about the origins of the land and his tribe, and about the sacred prophecy. As Chege and his son approached the Mugomo tree and the mysterious bush around it, he told his son, "that is a blessed and sacred place" (Thiong' o 18). That place was sacred because it stood out from any ordinary place. It was a special location that possessed meaning and significance. Other people may see the tree just as on ordinary tree, but to them, that was where Mumbi's feet stood, who was a parent of their tribe. This is why it could have been sacred to Chege, but now that place had become a sacred location for Waiyaki because that is where he learned of the ancient prophecy and his ultimate duty. He would never forget that place or that day, and he even returns to the sacred grove later in the book when he searches for guidance and wisdom before he would be put on trial in front of his people.

This portion of the book caught my eye as I was reading it because I noticed the importance of sacred place in their tribe and I saw the connection it had with our class.

Dan Matarazzo Landscapes of the Sacred #1

Lane’s style of writing drastically contrasts that of most textbook’s context. The base outline is present with a defined theme and then topics related to such theme for support. However, the narrative Lane uses is much less defined and tailored toward studying the text, as it is to experiencing the text. For example, when Lane explains the four axioms, less attention is drawn for the definitions than would be found in a normal textbook, the transition between definition and real world experience is much smoother than most other scholarly texts. The best way to break down Lane’s work is to find his overall thesis and concepts, define, and include the real world experience in the definition.

Emily Jackson Dunlop- Cold Fever

The film Cold Fever was very intriguing and mysterious. I enjoyed watching the main character, Hirata, transform during his journey across Iceland for the sake of his parents. Hirata was greatly influenced by the rush of the modern day business world and during is trek through the Icelandic wilderness he changed his secular views to more traditional views. He learned to appreciate ritual when he performed memorial rights for his parents who had died years before. Throughout his long and difficult quest he was helped and hindered several times. All the events he encountered were a part of his own unique journey and his own story in Iceland. The trip was a life changing experience for him and brought meaning to his life. This film also helped me to better understand how powerful a ritual can be and also how meaningful rituals really are.

Kristin Melton-- Victor Turner

Turner classifies types of pilgrims that occur in all religions:

Prototypical pilgrims are those who were established by the founder of a religion, his disciples or important national evangelist of faith. These pilgrims typically visit ancient sites and manifest in their parts. Another type of pilgrims established are those who bear traces of syncretism with older religious beliefs and symbols. These people are referred to as archaic pilgrims. Within Christian tradition, two more types of pilgrims are identified. The first, medieval pilgrims, take their tone from theological and philosophical emphases. The final classification is the modern pilgrim. They are highly devotional tone and fervent personal piety of their adherents and the fastest growing group of pilgrims. I find it interesting that he believes all pilgrims can be placed into one of these categories, that they are motivated by 1 of 4 things.


2

Landscapes of the Sacred Blog #1

While studying for the mid term exam I came across some very interesting examples of axioms for the study of a sacred place. Lane talks about finding a clearing in the woods above the Mississippi River that he considers a sacred place. This field is very powerful and the place choose him, he did not choose it. This is the first axiom, a sacred place chooses you, you don't choose it. He describes this place as, "utterly peaceful and mysterious" and a mystical meeting was going to take place. He met simply with a deer but felt an enormous joy. This is fascinating how sitting in one place for a day could change your life. Finding a random clearing, spontaneously, is special and shows how sacred places can never be anticipated. They come out of nowhere and take you by surprise. This is very powerful and can be life changing.

Matt Marquand

Pilgrimage Blog #3

This is me complaining about the Appendix in Turner's "Pilgrimage."

What the hell, Turner.

The point of having an appendix is to help me understand the concepts on which I'm already confused. Studying for my exam was an unnecessarily arduous challenge thanks to your "definitions." Nothing about your Appendix was beneficial. I feel incredible pity for you, because I'm sure you spent days, weeks, or longer trying to interpret the terms you used so frequently in this book, when your intention was to hopefully help your readers. Although I applaud the attempt, you might as well have ended your book on page 241 and left it at that. When a classmate and I were stumped by the phrase "unification of disparate signata," our plan was to be enlightened, to have more answers than we started with. However we closed the book with only more questions and palms pressed against our foreheads.

Unification of disparate signata: the disparate signata of a dominant symbol are interconnected by virtue of their analogous qualities or by association fact or thought.

WHAT.

At first glance, I decided to not even try. But I went back and tried to REDEFINE the term which you had just so "simply" defined for me. When I finally figured out this jigsaw puzzle you call a supplement, I discovered that "unification of disparate signata" could have also been clarified as this:

Meanings of a symbol which are understood through similar, shared traits.

.........

Why was this term not simplified as aforementioned?!

And mind you, Turner, this is only one of several examples. When I'm looking up a word, I never expect that I will have to look up multiple other words in the definition first. I shouldn't have to go through a multi-step process to understand one term! By the time I actually learned the significance of "unification of disparate signata," ask me if I cared. OR ask me if I had overly concerned myself with one word for five minutes too long.

- Emily Schulz -

Pilgrimage Blog #2

The next interesting fact I found from Turner was also in Chapter 1, which stated that a prime ingredient in liminality is spacial location. They mention that liminality in major initiation rituals was unlike any other sacred ceremony. "In many tribal societies, initiands are secluded in a sacralized enclosure, or temenos." Such "temenos" were purposely built away from the villages and other common areas so that when rituals were performed, the atmosphere was nothing but sacred and had no bias or caused any distracting thoughts or events. The point of temenos is to totally in-capture a person's focus and have them become one with the location, therefore making the place sacred for every person who tred on the land. That to me was an excellent idea on the tribes' behalf. Today, there are so many "sacred places" such as churches and monasteries that are right in the middle of everyday terrain. How is that sacred? And how does a person who sees those landmarks when out of the threshold, become liminal when entering them later? I think all sacred places are better when nowhere near areas that consume the rest of your life or are simply involved in such everyday living. It just makes the connection nowhere near as strong when the time comes to have transcendence. And to leave cultural norms behind is hard to do when the sacred place is sitting in the society that it is trying to leave behind.

- Emily Schulz -

Pilgrimage Blog #1

One of the best parts of this book came from Chapter 1 when Turner discusses liminality and symbolic inversion. He said "the possibility that freedom of thought inherent in the very principle of liminality could lead to major reformulation of the social structure and the paradigms which program its; but in the limina throughout actual history, we tend to find the prolific generation of new experimental models." I found this to be a great observation. It's a good point to bring up that people seem to consider transcendental activity the most during times of adapting to change in society. When we are seeing adjustments to our world and grand culture, oftentimes it has us reflect more on our individuality and spiritual involvement. The world has seen many changes with strides such as new utopian formations, philosophical systems, scientific theories, art forms, etc. What better time than to look at oneself when others also notice and make a change. I really liked this statement, and so I thought I would let everyone know of my approval!

- Emily Schulz -

Sacred Place Experience

The Wednesday over Spring Break I went with my hometown friends on a walk. We found ourselves in the backwoods near the county line bordering Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania. As we went further into the woods, we ended up at a hidden quarry. We had heard that it existed but we had never seen it for ourselves. It was beautiful :] There were waterfalls and cliffs reaching sixty feet tall, hidden from everyday view by its surrounding trees. There were caverns we were able to explore and a huge secluded river to swim in. For a place within such proximity of a loud city, it seemed to be a location far away from the rest of world. As the sun set, we sat in silence together and listened to nature. We closed our eyes and heard the wind blow through the trees’ branches and leaves. We heard the babbling of the water as it rushed over the rocks and logs, and we recognized the sounds of crickets and various birds. The whole experience for me was incredibly peaceful. With such a hectic life I never take time to sit in silence with those I love and enjoy the air around us. Although those friends and I are already very close, the sense of being in another place, especially one which was so tranquil and undisturbed by the world, had us develop an even stronger, much more intimate bond. I felt the numinosity and the genius loci of the area affecting us. It was awesome. It was transcendent and I felt as if I was not on Earth but in another dimension, one more calm and serene, which had me believe my friends and I had stumbled upon a spiritually sacred place.

- Emily Schulz-

Emily Jackson Dunlop- A Trip to the Beach

Recently I took a trip to the beach. Seeing the ocean and feeling the gentle breeze is one of my favorite things to do. The beach is a special place for me. Some of my first memories of going on vacation with my family are on the eastern coastlines of the United States, smelling the fresh salty sea air. I feel very at ease and content when I feel the sand, hear the seagulls and the ocean waves, and simply just experience the atmosphere around me. The feeling I get when I'm at the beach is unlike any other. Relaxation comes naturally and nothing else matters but the moment. These reasons are what comprise of my love for the beach.