Blog 33: Relevancy

My topic is relevant to college student audience because in college it is the time of defining oneself and a time of being influenced by others.  Religion is a huge influence and helps define oneself so naturally college students may have a tendency to accept it or reject it.  Also college students tend to live in small place and are constantly surrounded by peers so this creates an environment where they are always subjected to the subject of religion.  Having been subject to religion all the time makes this topic very relevant to college students.  Also everyone has their own way of thinking which makes them unique.  This is the same with religion; everyone has their own beliefs which also increase the diversity of the nature.  Finally with religion and a college community you have a greater number of experiences that can increase the influence on you.  Today is a great day and it is very nice outside and I really want to play volleyball or lacrosse.  My friends are up here from OU and I am stuck here writing a blog.  I missed my blog last night I totally forgot about it and that really sucks.  Oh well I guess it isn’t a big deal since is technically only one third of a point.  Yesterday was a pretty good day as well, I think finally the temperatures are starting to level and be normal and hopefully no more rain!

Blog 31: General Perception of Religion

Today is so windy but it is still so nice out!  I am really liking the fact that it is not raining today!  Today in class we talked about our common place papers and the topic that I have come up with is the public’s general view on religion.  The general perception of religion is that those that embrace it have strong basis of morality and ethics.  However, according to a recent study, that is strictly a stereotype, the New York Times states that, “belief in and worship of God are not only unnecessary for health society but may actually contribute to social problems” (Gledhill).  This not a well known viewpoint on religion; instead most Americans relate the world Christian with “good person”.  Even in politics this is a common practice.  In most campaigns you’ll see that the politician running puts a strong emphasis on his or her religion.  Where in fact if people actually knew, they should be associating religion with increased, “…rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy and abortion in the prosperous democracies” (Gledhill).  Also when concerning religion not many people associate it with the scandals that are happening all around the world.  There has been problems and speculations of cardinals touching little boys at the Vatican.  Also the controversy  in the Texas where a priest is accused of molesting boys.  There has been many cases with this kind of controversy. 

Blog 30: Comfort Food

Today I read the common place article titled, “Comfort Food” by Morgan Glaze in the article Glaze’s main point is the plastic surgery is the new ice cream and she says that all the people are flocking towards it.  Her statements are that given our society how a person looks is judged and very high on the priority list.  I agree that in our society to much importance is placed on looks and physical appearance and not enough is placed on really matters; personality.  Glaze says that although plastic surgery used to be popular mainly in Hollywood it has spread like a malignant virus to even here; The Ohio State University’s campus.  The author makes claims that when you undergo cosmetic surgery, unless justified by health concerns, you are changing for not yourself but someone else.  I agree when you change your appearance not like changing your hair color or your style of clothes you are permanently changing your image, and that image is only for the world to see, not for yourself.  The plastic surgery doesn’t change your internal flaws of your image; they in a way enhance them and can eventually lead to Body Dimorphic Disorder (BDD).   There is no reason as to why people should feel the constant pressure to change their appearance, if our society wasn’t mainly based on looks and instead placed an emphasis on internal appearance our world would be much uglier on the outside, but flourish on the inside. 

Blog 29: Coke Zero, the Deadliest Beverage…or So They Say

Today, which was a nice but shitty day at the same time, I read the article “Coke Zero, the Deadliest Beverage…or So They Say” from Commonplace by Ted Elliot.  The author says that although coke zero has no calories, fat, or sugar it is still much worse for your body then coke is if you actually read the ingredient list.  Also in the drink is phosphoric acid which is a rather dangerous acid if there is a high molarity.  I wonder why phosphoric acid is added to the drink, I wonder why coke decided to keep/put it in the drink.  The next ingredient is aspartame which is common in a lot of diet drink and according to the author’s source has been shown to cancer in rats.  What I want to know is if there has been a link between this ingredient and cancer then why has the FDA approved it and allowed it in soft drinks that people may drink multiple daily.  Of course though the author is preaching that moderation is the key to healthy life style, and if you are downing more than four coke zeroes a day then your obviously not practicing a healthy life style and probably have body problems that may take your life faster than cancer caused from the five parts  per billion benzene and aspartame.  Basically we all should know exactly what we are placing in our bodies and how much of it.  It is our bodies there for it is our responsibility.

Blog 28: Fat and Happy

The article I read was Fat and Happy? By Jennifer Gallat, in this article the author says that those who think that the obesity problem does not pertain to those who do not have fat children and are not fat themselves are still responsible for the growing obesity problem.  Also the author informs us that even if you are not obese the problem still affects us all; she states that the United States of America spends roughly one hundred and fifty billion dollars a year to battle obesity, and where is this money coming from?  Us, the taxpayers.  This whole obesity problem is mainly our own faults; starting with schooling.  In the article it says that once again recess is trying to be cut from school schedules even though recess lasts for approximately twenty minutes.  Also the food and beverage items that schools offer are not up to the standards of “healthy”.  The author says that only small changes have to be made for eradicating starting with better role models.  But I ask how can obese be good role models for their young?  It starts to grow into a problem of do what I say not what I do and it is not effective at all.  The obesity problem is perpetual in terms that obese people can’t be role models for the children.  Kids see and follow and no matter what the situation.  

Blog 27: Introduction

                In today’s world the opposition of religion is often met with widening glares and hushed words.  Denouncing religion is not something taken lightly; now a day’s atheism in the United States has become a subject affiliated with taboo.  To some religion becomes a life saver, providing a basis of morals that all men should follow or it holds as an obsession; to others it stands as a burden to the advancement of society.  When concerning specific topics such as homosexuality, stem cell research, abortion, and terrorism (etc… add more or change depending), the world of religion has adopted a trend of restricting these issues, thus hampering the growth of men.

                At one point religion imparted answers to the unknown, providing a sense of security and a will to live in a time much more confusing than ours today.  It was used as a scapegoat, a way of getting past their fears, but in doing so bestowing a foundation of morals with false reasoning.  However, religion, unlike ourselves, is not capable of evolving.  Having being forged long ago; there is an installation of the stone ages in all those that truly accept it.  Religion, once considered an essential to the lives of humans, has been devolving ever more rapidly with the advancement of science and has become more of a resemblance as a bane then a fundamental.  

Blog 26

Today, I came home from OSU and I was extremely happy.  The campus was almost deserted, resembling a old western movie.  When I first started watching the series Dollhouse I never thought that it would eventually lead to my topic of religion.  In Dollhouse it is very technology oriented and religion was one of the last subjects I expected to see.  The implications of my episode, “True Believer” and my real world phenomenon is that the episode allows me to see another side of religion.  Usually my viewpoint of religion is very skewed and biased and having spent very little time in church I have another perspective to consider.  It has allowed me to see all the positive aspects when concerning religion as opposed to only the negative aspects (in my opinion and view).  From my research and from analyzing my episode I see that not everyone perceives information the same.  Upbringing greatly defines you like; in no ways can some ideas change how you think.  I think that although some actions and implications may be deemed immoral by some religious communities; that it is only some.  In no way can you truly generalize religion and get the right point across.  You will not give the topic justice.  One can try; but although most religions are founded on the same beliefs there is still a vast difference in almost all.

Blog 25: Real World Connection

First off I would like to say that today is super depressing.  Nothing but rain and almost everyone has left campus.  It is terrible.  My real world connection is Religion’s views on homosexuality, abortion, stem cell research, evolution, and terrorism.  When concerning stem cells most religions deem it immoral even though the research has the potential to save an innumerable amount of lives; even with this potential though most religions oppose.  In a recent PBS article on Religion and Ethics, the article “Religious Views on Stem Cell Research” states that, “The U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops oppose the research as “immoral, illegal, and unnecessary.”  They say life is sacred from the moment of conception”.  What is unnecessary is the comment that stem cell research wouldn’t benefit all the people and the people’s family would deem that comment as false and superfluous.  As for the immoral comment that strictly depends on when life is created, as stated above they believe it is immoral for “…life … is from the moment of conception” however this is not a definition more like a perception of the point of life.  There has been great debate among scientist as to when there is the moment of life.  Just as the Union of Othodox Jewish Congregations states, “an isolated fertilized egg does not enjoy the full status of personhood.”  Even among religions everywhere there is great debate amongst the moment of life.

Blog 24

The episode i choose was "True Bleiever" form the series dollhouse, it was a reallly good episode.  Relating to the religion world and all sects that comply.  The real world phenomenon i have is the West Borrow Baptsit Church which are known for their crazy tactis like picketing hte funerals and not havinf any fun at all.  They are like a cult where ther eis a close knit of people thatr beilve im the same beleifs/  The coll thing is they like to ghang out as a family. wwhich is awesome to think about but in reality is it bad.  The church imprints the minds of th elittl e ones with nothing but hate for everone else which is why they preach hatw to everyone else.  I ike blogging,m hahaha just kidding.  ummm i think this is enough but im not sure.  if not then ill take the half credit.

Blog 23

In this scene of Eli from the episode “True Believer” in the series Dollhouse, Whedon is trying to make a bold statement.  The bold statement he is pursuing is that following anything or anyone completely without your own questions or you own inputs make you just like a doll.  This is shown in the scene because the leader of the cult group is a crazed criminal, a crazed criminal that everyone in the group has complete trust for a no one ever defies his word.  He wants people to never becomes a sheep and be herded into their stable; he wants people to live.  In the show he has shown this with the evolution of Echo, instead of just being the normal doll that listens and follows commands she has started to question her surroundings and in doing she has become a better doll.  In the series he has placed a reward with not being a sheep, he has in a way denounced religion.  What is the one thing that followers refuse to ask questions about and scrutinize?  The answer is religion.  Followers refuse to ask and inspect the religion they follow, even when the evidence is right in front of them they are still acting like sheep and go with it.  In this episode Whedon is trying to convey an image where religion is a hamper to the growth of the human race. 

Blog 22: Render a Scene

The general background information of my series so that you all can fully understand my quote is that Echo, a doll that can be replaced with different memories to change how she thinks, acts, feels, etc. is implanted with a memory of a blind extremely religious member.  She is being used by the ATF to get into a very secretive and protective cult society because the leader of the cult is said to have a large stockpile of weapons and ammunition.  This turns out to be a true fact and there is quite a large amount of weapons.

When the compound is surrounded by hundreds of ATF officials; the cult leader and a ruthless weapons criminal, Jonas Sparrow; sees no way out.

As the trampling booms of the hundreds of ATF  officials resonates within all the ears of the compound; fear casts a blanket spell on all.  Confused and uninformed all the members reveal faces similar to frightened little children.  To induce faith in his “children”, Sparrow reads the passage of a great fire not harming those true believers and sets the building to ferocious flames.  In this ordeal Eli, a very confused young man, does not flee with everyone else.  Instead he stays while breathing in the deadly smoke and continues to pray; asking god to provide protection from him from the flames that he can so easily avoid.    

Blog 21: Societies worse off ‘when they have God on their side’

Today I read an article that was in The Times magazine.  In this article the author says that a study was conducted to see how religion affects a nation.  The results of the study show that, “In general, higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy and abortion in the prosperous democracies” (Gledhill 1).  From the article this is proven from the rates of these said subjects compared to how “religious” a nation describes itself.  America is described as a very religious country and from the study is shown to have a all of the said above.  This is very different from what most people usually think when concerning religion; the general view is that religion is necessary to provide a foundation of moral and ethical standards in society.  Although this may be shocking to some its, is most certainly not surprising to me.  If you are subject to what is right and wrong from a book or just from a church session you are not truly learning it; instead if you actually experience what is right and wrong I do believe there is a more lasting impression.  Just like learning; studies have shown that a more hands on approach is better absorbed than their lecturing counterparts.

Blog 20: Integrate a Quote

Darwinism and the Elimination of God?

In the article, Has Science Eliminated God?, the author Mcgrath brings up a point from one of Dawkins books.  In River out of Eden by Richard Dawkins, the professor of Oxford uses the following quote to get his point across, 'The universe we observe had precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference” (Darwin 133).

To sum up this article, the author brings up the apparent design of certain intricate structures within the human body, such as the human eye, to say that some things cannot be explained by natural forces, “which obliges us to invoke a divine creator” (McGrath 118).  However, Dawkins makes the point that complex things have changed over an extremely large amount of time. Dawkins brings up the point in his book, Climbing Mountain Possible, that from one point may seem impossible but from another is completely attainable by a simple step by step process. Dawkins argues that through the theory of evolution, there is no space or reason for God. The argument of very complex mechanisms having to be derived from a supernatural source is offset completely by the works of Darwin. Dawkins shows his very anti-religious ideas and often has no problem voicing a better world without it.    

Blog 19

Today i will blog about a quote that i read that is very interesting.  The quote is from Emboided Science verse religion and science.  it is very informative and i like it very much.  It will provide much information for my paper. by the way it was very not nice out, it rained a lot and i didnt like it.  I can believe that this article is so informative. The quote is "The chief focus of religion-and-science consequently takes into account five basic issues: (1) the kind of world we want, (2) liberating science, (3) human action and ethics, (4) religion and the world's possibilities, and (5) recovering myth. " It basically says that exactly whjat it says.  Right now i cam wearing a snap back.  I love the hats that are snapbacks.  They are really cool and Mac Miller a famousish rapper wears them.  He is also Jewish which is also coolsih.  Mac Miller has some famous sonfs that everyone shoulf know, they include The spins, donald trump, Senior skip[ day, and forezen pizza & kpool aid.  There are a lot of people in my room.  There are 11 total, it is fun.  I dont like the fact that i have to blog on a saturday.  Last night my room mate puked in my room, it was very disgusting.  I dont know why i am blogging about this.  I hope this is 250 words becasue i relaly want to get the points and it is very hard for me to concentrate on this while it is a saturday.  Nastyness is in the cup that is going around.  We are plaing bet your liver.  Bad idea have fiun everyone.  It should be 250 but i reall ydont know.  

Blog 18: Dawkins’ Religion

Today I re-read the article “Dawkin’s Religion” by Vincent Brummer.  In this article the author tries to pick apart the arguments Dawkins makes in his books that in essence denounce religion.  The article is very much pro-religion and often calls on misinterpretations of Dawkin’s take of the biblical writing to make its main arguments.  This seems to be a common theme from all the authors that denounced Dawkin’s views; often calling upon Dawkin’s definition of faith which is belief without evidence.  To me that is the whole foundation of faith but this is not the same for most of the authors.  In Brummer’s writings he quotes one of Dawkins’s arguments in Dawkins’s book he states that religious beleivers, “hold beliefs

that flatly contradict demonstrable scientific facts as well as rival religions

followed by others. People not only hold these beliefs with passionate certitude, but devote time and resources to costly activities that flow from holding them. They die for them, or kill for them” (Dawkins 178).  Religion is to some extent an unnecessary waste of materials and time, to some religion has provided a new sense of being while to others it is just an activity that has to be done to please the peers.  To both groups, how is it plausible to believe something and live your life by something that has constantly been disproved?  Yet some people still hold the disproven. Which is why Dawkins holds religion as a malignant virus that turns sane people to become irrational.

Blog 17: Integrate a Quote 1

Today was a beautiful day, I tossed the lacrosse ball and the baseball in the oval and it seemed that everyone was having a great time.  It was the perfect weather for waffle ball but sadly I could not play, maybe next time!  Too bad the sun went away and it dark out, oh well.  I enjoyed it while it lasted.

Richard Dawkins, a renowned professor at the University of Oxford for Public Understanding of Science, states in his writings of A Survival Machine that, “The universe presented by organized religion is a poky little medieval universe, and extremely limited” (Dawkins, 117).  With religion you get a restricted viewpoint that is resistant to the ever changing ideas and morals of men.  The ancient doctrines that are the base for religion and govern it with an iron fist are resistant to changes.  In the past the governing words of religion may have been eye opening and awe inspiring for those that embrace them, but in today’s world those non-evolving words are what are making the human species limited.  These limitations that religion places on the species can be seen in the resistance of churches everywhere to accept the ideas of homosexuality, stem-cell research, and cloning.  The world is constantly changing; but the doctrines are not; never being revised to be more accustomed to today’s generation, it induces a state of hampering for the prospecting human race.

Blog 15: Richard Dawkins and the God Controversy

Today I read the article, “Richard Dawkins and the God Controversy”, in this article the author attacks Dawkin’s beliefs and his book, The God Delusion.  The author states that, “Dawkins invents his own definitions of faith in order to attack and demolish them.  Faith it “blind trust, in the absence of evidence…””  The author states that his definition of faith does not concern Christianity, more so it concerns religions of the Islamic culture.  How can that be?  Faith is exactly that; that is the point of faith, I is to trust and believe in something that isn’t certain, which is exactly what religion is.  The author is showing a state of something similar to patriotism to his faith, Christianity, saying that the ideas and statements that Dawksin brings up in his book may concern other religions but definitely not his.  The author asks, “Can Dawkins be deliberately ignorant that Jesus taught us to love even our enemies?”  Now I ask can the author be so ignorant to state such a statement when he completely disregards all other religions.  If Dawkins was ignorant to this wouldn’t it mean that all other religious followers that don’t follow Jesus (Jewish people, Musims, etc.) are ignorant as well?  The author says that one of the reasons Dawkins is incredible is because when asked the question why are we here, Dawkins states “… to be here, there is not higher purpose…” The author is disgusted by this answer, but I don’t see the problem with it.

Blog 14: Dawkins vs. Voegelin

Today I read the article “Between Realities: Dawkins vs. Voegelin” which poses one of the post modern problems as “god confusion” which is basically the variety of personal experiences and understandings that has created a religious tension in today’s world.  Dawkins “… maintains that religion closes people’s minds to scientific truth, oppresses women, and psychologically abuses children.”  Now although this may have been taken out of context from Dawkin’s book, The God Delusion; it brings up a point.  In my opinion I agree that religion can close your mind to scientific truth just as religion can give credit to God for something that happens when it n fact has nothing to do with a superior being.  In certain religions there is an oppression of women’s rights so that to me is also a negative effect of religion.  However, in no way do I believe that there is psychological abuse to children that happens due to practicing religion; unless you are part of the West Borrow Baptist Church, but they are an extremist group with less than one hundred members (mostly family).  Dawkin’s believes that morality does not rely on belief in God; and I for one am I huge supporter of that.  I do not people the human kind as a race needed the ten commandments to understand good from evil.  To know that it is wrong to kill, steal, or commit adultery.  I think the human race deserves at least a little credit, or perhaps the mammals we evolved from.

Blog 13: Science and Religion An Inevitable Clash?

Today was a beautiful day, I got to go outside and even blog outside.  It was the perfect temperature and while I was blogging I saw a lot of different things in the oval.  I read the article Science and Religion: An Inevitable Clash?, it asks the question if it is impossible to be religious and be a scientist.  The author believes that it isn’t impossible and all that oppose this idea like Dawkins are ignorant.  The author very greatly despises Dawkins and it can be easily read in the article.  Which to me, I personally think you can not really be a true scientist and be religious at the same time.  Science has been ever more disproving the works of religion and to be a religious scientist to me is kind of an oxymoron.    The inevitable clash that arises from religion and science is that were made by two different procedures.  In religion you have all the answer or conclusion and you try to make those answers plausible; whereas with science you perform the procedure to are left with the answers.  I really don’t know what else to put into this blog, so ill end it with you all should watch the movie Religuous.  It is very funny and brings up a lot of very good talking points.

Blog 12: Dawkins’ Religion

Today I read the writings of Vincent Brummer, who attempts to explain why Dawkins thinks the way he does.  However, I feel like only Dawkins can really explain his atheist beliefs.  In the article Brummer states that Dawkins beliefs are based, “… on the assumption that religion is an explanatory theory that has been made obsolete by the results of scientific enquiry.”  I fully agree.  It baffles me when people reject the theory of evolution even with this gigantic amount of evidence that supports it due to faith.  Otherwise completely sane and level minded individuals believe in events and actions that are strictly un-plausible and accept it, but these same people do not believe in magic or completely insane ideas, that when examined deeply are on the same level of bologna as religion.  To Dawkins, religion was a way of understanding the world when there were no answers; in this article Dawkin’s attacks all religion calling it “…intolerant, blind faith, cruel, extreme, and having prejudice.”  The author states that Dawkins clearly has a loathing for religion and he is often saying the world would be a better place without religion.  In this article they say faith is hermeneutical (which is the study of interpretation theory, and can be either the art of interpretation, or the theory and practice of interpretation from Wikipedia) rather than epistemic (concerned with reasoning about knowledge).  Basically, faith is not taken the route of using reason to prove it.

Blog 11: Richard Dawkins

The article that I read for this blog has to do with the beliefs and ideology of Richard Dawkins.  Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist that is a professor at the esteemed University of Oxford.  He has created a name for himself by criticizing the works of Creationism and his thoughts of intelligent design.  In the article Has Science eliminated God? – Richard Dawkins and the Meaning of Life. he states that “Science has swept God from the public arena, and relegated him to the margins of our culture.”  The whole idea of religion is just a giant scapegoat, back in the day when the first works of the bible were created; there was specific reasoning behind it.  It was necessary to have religion in order for all the followers and peoples to have a reason for living.  Back then, there were no answers for almost anything, so religion was used to give us these unknown answers.  Although, not correct (science can almost disprove all religious stories and thoughts) back then it was used to get by the unknown, to make the world a little more friendly in the eyes of the uneducated.  Over time these thoughts have been constantly pounded in peoples head’s making it extremely hard for science to get through.  Brought up as a practicing Presbyterian, I have come to accept the conclusion that God is a illusion made to cope with everyday life back in the stone ages.

Blog 10: Research

I will still be focusing my research on the clash between science and religion.  On how, although they are polar opposites, one still can not disprove the other and the fact that not one is completely correct when dealing with the meaning of life.  After reading some of the comments made on my prospectus (which i didnt do correctly in the first place), i have decided although some may disagree, that the clash between these two subject is still very much timely.  Also i realized that i never provided a realworld example in my prospectus, so my real world example will be the clash of the supporters of The Big Bang Theory and that god had created everything.  My research is mainly composed of the highly regarded Richard Dawkins who is a well known atheist that has been trying to convey his message for quite a while.  One of the books he has written and that would very much help me is called, The God Delusion.

1.  Fehige, Yiftach J. "EBSCOhost." EBSCO Publishing Service Selection Page. Dec. 2011. Web. 08 Apr. 2011. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=11225bb2-437b-4ab8-b491-08c675787cad@sessionmgr15>.

2.  Hefner, Philip. "Recentering Religion-And-Science." EBSCO Publishing Service Selection Page. Mar. 2010. Web. 08 Apr. 2011. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4>.

3.  Monroe, John J. "Science and Religion: An Inevitable Clash?" EBSCO Publishing Service Selection Page. Mar. 2011. Web. 08 Apr. 2011. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=6>.

4.  Brummer, Vincent. "Dawkins' Religion." EBSCO Publishing Service Selection Page. July 2010. Web. 08 Apr. 2011. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=6>.

5.  McGrath, Alister. "Has Science Eliminated God? -- Richard Dawkins and the Meaning of Life."EBSCO Publishing Service Selection Page. Oct. 2005. Web. 08 Apr. 2011. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=6>.

Blog 9: Dollhouse Prospectus

I have chosen to write my prospectus on an episode from Dollhouse that regards religion.  After watching the episode “True Believer”, I have realized that Joss Whedon has only brought up the subject of religion once, and that one time was a full episode.  Whedon implies that religion is a bane on the human advancement; that although following anything blind is not intelligent, he attempts to show that following religion will leave you with nothing but an empty shell of yourself.  This can be shown by the one scene in the episode where Eli, a cult follower completely consumed by the works of upper beings, chooses not to leave a fire thinking if it is God’s will then let it be.  He is the example of blind faith.  Where as in the episode Echo, who has an imprint of another blind follower, realizes that no matter circumstance, there is free will of choice and actions; Echo saves Eli.  This could symbolize the relationship between religion and science.  Echo, being a doll, has her whole world completely created by science.  Another instance where Whedon mocks the virtues of religion; when he has the leader of the cult, a crazed lunatic that has escaped from prison, tell all of his followers that if they stay in the fire and if God sees them worthy then they will be saved.  He placed none of his actions in his own hands; leaving nothing buy blind faith to save him, which it didn’t.

Blog 8: High School Is Hell

To me the real strength in this argument comes from the fact that nearly all of us who are reading it have been through high school and all the horrors it has to offer.  In the article High School is Hell: Metaphor Made Literal in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the connection of just how wild and crazy high school is, is made.  In high school there are always problems afoot and there are always those that antagonize those minor almost miniscule problems to become dramatic obsessive issues.  In this article, Buffy The Vampire Slayer takes every school day insecurities and problems such as: pressures, image, reputation, and violence, and personifies these problems into actual horrors.  From the show not only are these horrors giant problems in the protagonists life, but school events such as homecoming, speeches, prom night, and cheerleading tryouts are also right up there as well.  This shows just how important surviving high school and just how more difficult it is than fighting any monsters and demons.  It is very ingenious for the writers to add these metaphors into the show; for not only is the target audience to anyone that has been terrorized in high school (everyone that’s actually attended), but it also might ease the transition into high school for the younger ones.  Giving them a sense that they are not alone in their meaningless high school quibbles and problems. 

Blog 7 “Man on the Street”

I actually was so interested in this series that I watched this 7^th episode right after the 6^th episode for the Dollhouse series.  This series is very amazing and you can never fully understand what is going on; there are many different twists and you should always expect the unexpected.  Which to me the line I just said makes nearly no sense because if you expect the unexpected then the once “unexpected” is now expected, thus one can never expect the unexpected.  Anyways in this episode one of the twists is the person across from the only law enforcement in the Dollhouse’s way is actually a doll, and it just so happens that this sleeper doll is in a relationship with Ballard aka the single FBI agent on the Dollhouse case.  So I want to know if you ever actually know someone; from these episodes it becomes increasingly clear that no matter what; you never truly know another person.  If it be the case that they put walls up between you from knowing; or they actually don’t know themselves.  Also in the episode the act of human trafficking was brought up.  To which civilians in the show answer the question if the Dollhouse is human trafficking.  To me it cannot be human trafficking due to the fact that the dolls are technically volunteers; they were never truly forced into doing what they are doing; they at one point knew what the circumstances of fulfilling a clients fantasy.  

Blog 6 Dollhouse “True Believer”

Today I watched the fifth episode of Dollhouse and it was amazing!  Just like the other episodes I was completely engrossed in what was going on in the episode.  In this episode Echo infiltrates a completely crazy religious cult for the FBI.  In doing so we see just how brainwashed all the members are and how crazy the leader is.  So I wonder how people can so blatantly follow a leader and put all their trust in them without any thought or intuition of their own.  How can people take a huge leap of faith when there is no evidence or even logical sense to back it up?  Basically, I want to know how people can convince themselves that their religion is the right religion.  I feel that people tend to have a blind eye when it comes to the works and writings of religious intent; that people overlook what is plausible and embrace what is impossible.  Many scientists have completely disregarded religion and hold it as a bane on human advancement.  The most famous of which is Richard Dawkins; a renowned scientist at Cambridge University, published a book called, “The God Delusion”.  In this work he proves that religion can be real based on the fact that it is regionalism; or where and how you were brought up.  He states if you’re a diehard catholic and if instead of being born in the United States you were born in the Middle East chances are you would be a diehard Muslim.  

Blog 5: Dollhouse “Gray Hour”

Today, I watched the next episode in the Dollhouse it was called “Gray Hour”.  In it Echo is uploaded with a master criminal mastermind memory named Taffy.  However, during the theft of a very expensive work of art, one of the members double crosses the crew and leaves them stranded.  As this unjustly event unfolded Echo had her memory erased by the presumed all-star doll Alpha (Alpha is a rogue doll).  In this episode Victor says something along the lines of “If I could be a doll and have all these memories erased, it would be a gift.”  So I wonder if all of the dolls in the dollhouse are escaping something from their past.  I think that they are using the dollhouse as a scapegoat to get through their life and all of their bad decisions.  I believe that people need to live with the decisions they make and learn from them instead of constantly running away from them.  So I wonder what each doll has done in their past and how they were chosen to be the dolls.  I think it would be awesome to be a doll though because if you were then you would be the best at your profession or your always having a lot fun being a partier or pleasing the clients.  In certain circumstances scapegoats are necessary but I think in general for the dolls they should have dealt with their problems instead of running away because once they are done with their service they will once again have to deal with their problems.

Blog 4 Stage Fright

Today I watched the next episode in the Dollhouse series; the episode is called “Stage Fright”.  In this episode a very talented and rich singer has a psychotic fan that is trying to kill her.  As the plot unfolded it came into realization that in fact the famous singer was communicating to her lunatic fan in order for him to kill her so that “she can be set free”.  What I am still trying to comprehend is why in the world would anyone try and attempt this?  It makes no sense, especially in the fact that she is well off and has everything she could ever want. In essence her life is perfect.  Yet she is still in this delusion that, if she were to die, her life would be much more fulfilling and enjoyable.  What Echo responds to this is, “if you don’t like your life then change it.”  I am a full believer in this state of mind, instead of complaining about how your life is; do something about it.  Don’t accept a mediocre life to your standards, strive for the best, most satisfying life you can.  Also in this episode a doll used to trick the FBI agent says “People are crap.”  This is also a statement that I fully employ.  There is no illusion to the world about the atrocities that has happened here in the world.  Ranging from Hilter and Stalin to Jodef Fritzl; in many ways more than one, people are crap.