Review of Ayn Rand's "Anthem"

Ayn Rand’s masterpiece, Anthem, is disturbing and eerie - not because of violent subject matter, but because it reaches the core of what it means to be human. She creates a future utopian society in order to reveal the problems with certain ideologies and promote her own philosophy. In this society, there is no such thing as an individual. They are brainwashed to believe everyone is exactly the same, their place in society is given to them, they are not allowed to think, compare themselves to others, learn anything aside from their way of life and brainwashing chants, own anything, prefer anyone above another, etc. Rand artistically portrays this way of life through each character’s reference to themselves as “we.”

“Our name is Equality 7-2521, as it is written on the iron bracelet which all men wear on their let wrists with their names upon it. We are twenty-one years old. We are six feet tall, and this is a burden, for there are not many men who are six feet tall. Ever have the Teacher and the Leaders pointed to us and frowned and said: ‘There is evil in your bones, Equality 7-2521, for your body has grown beyond the bodies of your brothers.”

If the description of the city is not unsettling enough, Rand’s grammatical shift takes her message deep into the mind, emotions, and core of her reader’s being. As the story progresses, her character eventually discovers the bondage he is in when he breaks the laws of society and flees. Upon his liberation, he discovers the forbidden word: EGO.

“I AM. I THINK. I WILL.

My hands…My spriit…MY sky…MY forest…This earth is mine…

This, my body and spirit, this is the end of the quest. I wished to know the meaning of things. I am the meaning. I wished to find a warrant for being. I need no warrant for being, and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and the sanction.

It is my eyes which see, and the sight of my eyes grants beauty to the earth. It is my ears which hear, and the hearing of my ears gives its song to the world. It is my mind which thinks, and the judgment of my mind is the only searchlight that can find the truth. It is my will which chooses, and the choice of my will is the only edict I must respect.”

Though Rand’s political message is obvious, her philosophical message is quite involved. In her introduction, she claims to be a humanistic atheist. Rand believes everyone is born with a will and it should be exercised freely. To be human means to be able to exercise the will: to be an individual. The greatest value is the ability to rationally make choices. Likewise, the greatest sin upon mankind is the suppression of their will.

Her message of the innate individualism of human beings is true and portrayed brilliantly. Mankind is indeed born with a will and the desire to exercise it. Furthermore, it is impossible to entirely suppress this will. In the story, an elaborate society with fully brainwashed citizens and a strict discipline system are not enough to prevent the innate sense of the ego from emerging.

Despite the nuggets of truth, Rand’s belief that man’s self is ultimate reality and the chief value is mistaken. Upon reading her work, it is my proposition that she could also find friends in the Existentialist camp. In Existentialism, the emphasis is on becoming rather than being. Man’s existence precedes his essence; thus, his ability to choose is more important than the choice itself. In Rand’s philosophy, the unleashed will exercising full freedom of choice is more valuable than the choice itself. In other words, a choice is either good or bad based on how it is derived.

The greatest ontological problem is Rand’s attempt to create a basis for reality upon potentiality rather than actuality. The ultimate goal for man and the pinnacle of his existence is the ability to choose, or “choosing,” which is a potential. In contrast, for a Christian, the ultimate reality based upon actuality is “Yahweh is.” Upon this actual existence, everything else can be derived. Yahweh is the necessary being, the first cause, and thus the ultimate value. His existence is firm, never changing, and is the ultimate truth and lens by which man should view the universe. In Rand’s world, the number one value is an “imperfect action” known as the act of choosing freely and having an uninhibited will. There is no “is” in her ultimate reality; only becoming. Thus, there is no actuality; only potentiality.

My next task of research is to observe the connection between Ayn Rand and Sigmund Freud. Updates to come!

Shyamalan's Newest Masterpiece

I am a huge fan of Shyamalan for many different reasons. He never ceases to create a movie that is artistically brilliant and thought provoking: the two common denominators for my favorite movies! I recently saw The Happening with my brother. Though my jaw hurt from grinding my teeth during the entire film, and I refused to give my mother a synopsis of the movie unless she turned more lights on in the house, my brain was quite happy feasting on the philosophical ideas and themes.

Theme 1: An Epistemological Critique on a Post-Enlightenment culture.
For those of you who lead normal lives and do not read Plato's Complete Works for your quiet times, let me explain a major epistemological shift in the history of thought. Pre- Enlightenment, the way one knew something for certain was through reason. Senses were understood as being decieving and untrustworthy for certain knowledge. Post-Enlightenment, and the influeces of Hume, Bacon, etc., it is impossible to know something unless you can hear, taste, touch, see, or smell it. Scientific experimental theory developed and empiricim has reigned ever since. In Shyamalan's movie, the main characters all have empirical occupations. One is a mathematician, another is a high school science teacher. They all find their comfort and explanation of reality in scientific theories and mathematical equations. In the story, there is such an unexplained catastrophe that occurs, that the math and science guy seem completely ludicrus as they are not only unable to stop what is going on, but also are unable to understand what is going on. In one scene, to keep a lady from freaking out at the sight of dead bodies everywhere, the math guy says, "look at me! look at me! I'm going to give you a math equasion that I want you to figure out. If I give you a penny one day and two pennies the next day and three pennies the third day and continue for a month, how many pennies will you have?" As they are attempting to focus on math to gain some type of security, they too die a horrible and futile death at the hand of something they cannot understand or explain.

Theme 2: This World Unseen
In light of the epistemological message Shyamalan promotes, one would think he would point his viewers toward a transcendent reality by which absolute, rational knowledge of the metaphysical realm is possible. However, this director most certainly points not to the "other world" but to this world unseen. The "spirit of nature" prevails and has the ability to overpower mankind. Nature is one within itself. The rocks, trees, and grass can communicate with each other. (I mean, you don't see the trees talking to the grass in the movie, but the message is explained that they are one.) There is some force within this world that has complete power over man and scoffs in the face of their method of security: empiricism.

Theme 3: Environmentalism
Another theme clearly displayed is envoronmentalism and the threat humanity has on nature. In fact, this theme is so prevalent that it gives away the movie in the first 10 minutes. Humans are the invaders and nature, who is able to evolve as necessary to protect herself, has come to the place where she is able to expell the rising threat. Though I am quickly becoming a theologically justified "green freak," I think Shyamalan's environmental message based on the forces of this world unseen is flawed. Nature being a spirit and a unified whole seeking to expell humanity is clearly based on a Moby Dick mentality that we are at the mercy of nature. (except, the humans don't prevail in this case.) Many evangelicals view mankind as the dominator of nature. The proper perspective is not to view nature as the dominator of man but man as the steward of nature. Part of becoming Christ-like is also taking part in his redeeming of creation, whether that be care of the earth or care of the suffering.

Overall impression? Wonderful movie, intellectual-candy, artistic brilliance. Just make sure you are prepared for a very post-modern ending (aka: forget Aristotle's notion of resolution or "happily ever after") and it might be a good idea to immediately follow it up with a mindless comedy of some sort - just until your jaw stops hurting and you don't use a coat hanger to flip on the light switches before you enter a room.

Conference Day 3

Whew! I have just a few minutes before another meeting but I wanted to share a really neat experience God used to confirm (yet again) where he has me! I am using this blog as a journal so I can remember everything that happened so just bear with me!

Since I already had my name on the Milan job, I haven't really been looking at specific jobs very much. I looked at a few just to be "open" but nothing came even close to peaking my interest. However, I have had a heart for the Middle East for a while and it does keep coming back up in my mind. However, I know God could have me there at a later time (or not at all). I found out last night that I still have to choose a second or third choice to turn in even though I have my name on the job. Sometimes things happen and I get placed somewhere else. So, I figured I probably should start researching some of these jobs just in case. I went to the NAME region table and had a great conversation with the lady there. I looked at a job in Morocco that initially caught my attention, but after reading it I realized it was not at all what I felt lead toward. Almost everything about it didn't fit for me. The lady then asked me about my background, interests and passions to see if maybe there was another suitable job somewhere else. After telling her, she smiled and said, "This is very rare, but you really seem like a perfect Western Europe." We had a great conversation about opportunities to reach out to "cousins" in Milan and the possibility that God could have me in NAME at a different time. I walked away feeling yet another amazing sense of confirmation. I mean, these region people are recruiters! They want you to come to their region. For her to tell me that Western Europe was an amazing fit for me and that she felt God had really prepared me for that region was amazing!

So, much to my parents great pleasure, :) it looks like God does not have me there! I still love the culture, have a heart for the people, and want to visit whenever I can! I do have to choose a second and third choice, however. I think my second choice will be a job in Slovakia doing something very similar to Milan. The third choice will probably be either Belgium or Poland. (leaning more toward Belgium probably) Again, these a just options for the event of something unusual happening. (like Jason getting hit in the head by a soccer ball and having to come back to the states :) But, I know God works in strange ways so I have to constantly stay open to his guidance!

Gotta run to another meeting! I'm totally not reading over this to check for type-os but that's okay. Thanks for the continued prayers!!

Chatting with Dr. Little

I love having His Royal Brilliance's office right outside my door. Coming soon: The "Real" Dr. Little. Preview? I'll give you a hint...he comes in every morning singing, "I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Wiener." I promise. Not sure if thats an ontological or epistemological statement.

On one of those quiet(er) days, Dr. Little and I started talking philosophy, general revelation, definition of faith, etc. Here is something he said that I thought was very well-put:

Revelation makes God known
Reason makes revelation knowable
Faith makes it applicable

Philosophy 101: Faith is not a leap, it is ascent and trust to a proposition about something.

Take that, Kierkegaard!

Brokenness

I met a man this week who has been broken. He has experienced more horrors in the past few years than most experience in a lifetime. He knows the feeling of torture - both mental and physical. He knows the pain of being ripped away from his family and friends. He has experienced daily, relentless despair. He has been broken by a cruel, merciless world.

To be broken by the world is pain and death. It brings despair and agony.

But

To be broken by grace is life and joy! It brings healing and reconciliation.

God, heal his brokenness from the world by breaking him with Your grace.

Humility and Joy

This is a quote from Dr. Liederbach that he uses to keep him in perspective:

You are more sinful than you ever dared believe, but you are more loved than you ever dared to hope.

Don't we always think the opposite? I frequently think less of my sin or at least avoid understanding the true depths both consciously and unconsciously. However, while I so frequently manage to ignore the depths of my sin, I also fail to fathom the depths of the love of my Savior! At least in my own life, it is only through facing the horrors of my sin that I am able to relish in the love that saved me. This is yet another area I am a Pharisee and blasphemer who denies the power of God's grace in my life!

Which is better: making less of my sin but not relishing in the love of a savior or truly understanding it and being blown away by His grace?

A Mid-Week Day Off

It's official! My last day of work is October 17th and I could not be more excited!! Since my departure date is so soon, I decided to utilize one of my remaining vacation days...to take an exam.

The exam for my theology class was online for only a 24 hr. time frame and we were assured we would need all of the 2 hours allotted to us to take it. I had no idea when I would be able to finish studying and take it being in the office from 8-5 every day. So, my boss let me have the day off.

I allowed myself to sleep in 30 minutes longer than I usually do. (for the exam's sake!) I rolled out of bed, grabbed one of mom's homemade rolls, lathered it in butter, and retreated to the bonus room to cram for the exam. After creating an extensive study guide and selecting one of my siblings to call out the questions to me, I felt ready around lunch time. I took the exam and rather enjoyed the 9 essay questions. As I told my professor today, I don't know if that means I did really poorly or if I am an absolute nerd. He said, "Well, I already know you are an absolute nerd so hopefully that's all it is." One of the questions actually asked me to share the professor's view on a certain verse and also allowed for an alternate view. I was happy to share mine - which is very different from his! Those of you who have been around me lately probably know this professor and I don't exactly see eye-to-eye on the issue of General Revelation: a passionate topic for all History of Ideas students.

After the exam was finished, I had the daunting task of trying to decide if I wanted to work on school or play the rest of the day. My reason trumped my emotions and I sat down with one of my books and told myself I was going to be here until 3:30 when I had scheduled to meet a friend for coffee. I sat for about 5 minutes until my cooped up energy kept harassing me like an Egyptian fly in my face and my mind started wandering to thoughts of being outside enjoying the beautiful weather. "Okay," my rational-self said, "just go outside on the front porch and continue reading." About 3 minutes later my harnessed energy crept back up and every ounce of flab on my body felt heavier and heavier while my muscles felt limper and limper. "Go biking!" screamed every other voice within me. The moment these voices convinced my reason it would be "good for me" to utilize the exercise, I jumped up, threw on a tank top, stuffed my bike in the back of my Camry, and headed to Durant Nature Park.

The trail kicked my butt. It had been raining all week and I guess I underestimated how difficult it would be to bike up and down hills filled with sharp turns, roots, and rocks on damp, slick terrain. There were a few places I had to walk and quite a few times when I should have flown right into the mud before my "conquer the trail" mentality kicked in! By the time I got back, I looked like I got in a fight with the trail...and the trail won. I had mud all over me and every single muscle in my body (including my backside!) was already sore. I stuffed my muddy bike in the back of my poor car and headed back to find a shower before meeting my friend in less than 30 minutes!

I made it to the coffee shop...and I don't think anyone knew I had just used a half a box of "wet ones" to clean off the mud quickly so to retain my punctuality! Jen and I had an awesome time talking for almost 2 hours. (I'll try to add another post of my thoughts on our conversation.) When 5:30 came, I left for my next activity: haircut with Tara!

Tara, the most awesome stylist in the world, cut my hair in a pixie cut 2 months ago. I have never loved a haircut so much in my life!! It has been so easy, fun, freeing, and allows me to be creative with different styling options. The only part of the cut I didn't love was how she cut the hair in front of my ears asymmetrically so the right side was shorter and the left side came down to a point. I thought I might like this and it is definitely really popular now...but I didn't. I ended up just pulling both sides behind my ears. I always knew I had a thing for symmetry but I though I could handle something new. Not. When I sat down in the chair and she started attacking my head again, I asked her what she was thinking.
"Not telling," she said.
I could see it in her eyes: I'm going to make her WHOLE head asymmetrical!!
"Umm, the only think I didn't absolutely love about the last cut was the asymmetrical part. I just couldn't get used to it! I think I have a thing for symmetry."
"I'm so glad you told me," she said! "Some people do and that's fine!"
Whew.... glad I caught that one! I am normally really daring and like her to experiment - but symmetry makes me happy!

While she was shredding my hair, I told her I was not moving to Rome, but it looks like I am moving to Milan!! Her hands dropped, her mouth opened, and her eyes widened as she turned and looked at me in the mirror.
"Milan??? No way!!!!"
I laughed, "yes, I know. That is your Mecca!"
At that point, cutsie Tinker Bell (with bleached, bleached blond asymmetrical pixie hair now) squeeled! "Okay, I said I would come to visit you in Rome but just to be nice and to wishful think. I really WILL come visit you in Milan!!! I'm dead serious. I'll call the owner tomorrow and schedule it for one of my two weeks vacation!"
For the rest of my time, she told me all about the fashion districts and everything she has dreamed of participating in for years on end. She would go to lots of hair, make up and fashion runway shows, pick up fabric from the fabric district for her friend who is an up-and-coming clothing designer, get a way-cool Milan haircut for herself, and pray Beckham comes to play the Milan futbol team while she is there! I think she would be so much fun to explore Milan with - and hopefully she can help me fit in there a little more! Hearing her talk made me realize just what I am getting myself into fashion-wise. I am going to look like a total dork. I knew that ever since I heard the word "Italy" but I have a little more realistic comprehension now!!

I ended the day by meeting my brother at our favorite Korean restaurant and enjoying some kimchi and dolsot bibimbob. Yum!!

So, that is my account of my mid-week day off! It was wonderful! Since I have 3 more vacation days before I leave, I think I am going to take one day per week off just to keep me from going insain! Working 4 day weeks is just what the doctor ordered!

Polygamy vs. Female Candidates??

I must say, Sarah Palin's nomination has caused quite a ruckus amongst a certain group in the evangelical circle! I have been quite amused reading and hearing snapshots of various arguments to discredit her position. I quoted what one person said in my last post. Here is another interesting comment:

Complimentarians have basically argued in support of Governor Palin’s candidacy on the basis of the following: 1) there is no specific New Testament injunction against female magistrates. 2) we have old testament examples of women as magistrates. and 3) she is not running for pastor-in-chief; therefore, we cannot hold her (or Senator McCain) to 1 Timothy 3/Titus 1 standards. Taking their line of reasoning, what would stop evangelicals from supporting, say, a polygamist candidate? Ridiculous?

Lets take a hard, analytical look at his analogy. This writer says the logical basis to support a female candidate could also be applied to support a polygamist candidate.

How do we know polygamy is wrong? There are several ways: For believers, we know it is wrong because the Bible clearly speaks against it. However, the proper conduct in the political arena is not to quote scripture from the Senate floor as adequate support for passing a certain law. Rather, reason and Natural Law are the key supporters for this issue. J-Bud, in his book "What We Can't Not Know" explains that, while polygamy has been seen off and on throughout the history of the world, it is generally not respected as the highest form of family unit. Its scarcity and geographical limit speaks to the fact that it is not universally understood to be a proper family model.

Rationally speaking, we can look at the harms this type of relationship creates in the family as well as the reality of genetic defects and brainwashing control. Commune after commune have been broken up not because the government wanted to necessarily uphold a proper biblical view of the family but because it is known to be wrong through reason and natural law.

It is far fetched to say alleged "biblical womanhood" is known through reason and natural law. While reason does tell us it is "good" for a woman to stay home and care for her family, this harm does not compare to the harms of polygamy. There is nothing fundamental about the human conscience that says it is wrong for women to hold political offices. "Women Presidents" are not stationed beside "killing" or "torturing innocent babies" in the law written on the heart.

Again, I am NOT a raging feminist (or a feminist at all!) who is delighted to see a person of Sarah's gender run for office. Her gender means nothing to me. What I am concerned about is the attempted refutation that argues from twisted biblical texts to support an agenda or false analogies. Critical thinking is hugely important not only as believers encounter the world, but as they encounter other believers as well.

Palin: An Interesting Twist

I was very intrigued from the moment I heard McCain's vice president nomination was Sarah Palin. I felt a personal connection immediately knowing she is a family friend of Derek George, who is my former roomie's now husband. They speak very highly of her and absolutely love what she has done in Alaska. My intrigue was further heightened when I read an unbelievable speech she delivered last night and researched on where she stands on certain issues. I don't remember seeing a candidate in my lifetime who actually has potential of being elected while holding to such conservative principles! She has definitely power-packed the campaign and my lingering apathy for politics resulting from utter discouragement has had dormant moments in the last week!

A woman in office? I have heard several raise cain about this idea ever since she was announced. I even read one person interpret 1 Corinthians 11:3 in a rather disturbing way:

"And to make matters worse, most people in the Christian community do not understand that it is just as much a heresy to put a man as head of Christ as it is to put a woman over a man."

Wow. I won't bore my readers with the long treatise I could write against this statement! I would argue, rather, that this statement is more heretical than what it speaks against. Implying there is the same difference between a woman and man as there is between man and Christ is not only theologically erred and wrongly interpreted, it is blasphemous!

I do seriously disagree with women being in any leadership role in the Church. However, when it comes to civil government, I do not see adequate biblical support against it. It is indeed wrong for a woman to be over a man in the Church as I believe Paul clearly explains. (especially 1 Corinthians 11:3) However, as Al Mohler says:

"Do I believe that a woman can serve well in the office of Vice President of the United States? Yes. As a matter of fact, I believe that a woman could serve well as President -- and one day will. Portraits of significant men of history hang on the walls of my library --but so do portraits of Queen Elizabeth I of England and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

The New Testament clearly speaks to the complementary roles of men and women in the home and in the church, but not in roles of public responsibility. I believe that women as CEOs in the business world and as officials in government are no affront to Scripture. Then again, that presupposes that women -- and men -- have first fulfilled their responsibilities within the little commonwealth of the family."

In my walk through the primary documents of the History of Ideas program, I never read one Founding Father directly or indirectly claim women should not be in office. This argument is a fallacy known as "an argument from science." Just because the Founders never specifically mentioned women should be in office does not mean they believe they should not.

With that said, I am by no means a feminist who is thrilled by the very idea of a women being in office. Sarah's gender means nothing to me; her principles do. Do I wish she would stay home with her little ones and wait to run for office when they are older? Yes, I do. But, if the Lord can use her to change the direction of this nation, to Him be the glory!

As believers, we have the privilege of being part of the Missio Dei, or the "Mission of God." We are tiny yet useful specks in God's grand narrative of redemption. Thus, it is our responsibility is to engage the culture with the gospel. The point is not to make the Church or even the world "look" like it is supposed to. Rather, the point is to transform it from within. The anwer to this problem is not to preach "biblical womanhood" as a primary doctrine in order to make ourselves "whitewashed." Rather, our approach should be to engage culture for the purpose of transforming (not whitewashing) it with the gospel.

Drivenness Redirected

While spending a week with one of my dear friends, she randomly asked me, "when you are falling asleep, do you make up fictional stories in your head?"
I relpied sarcastically, "Are you asking me if I tell myself bedtime stories to lull myself to sleep? Um, no."
"Oh", she said. "Then what are you thinking about?"
I thought for a moment and replied, "well, I reflect on the day, process my thoughts, and then plan my to-do list for the next day."
"Doesn't that stress you out?" she asked.
"No," I said, "It actually helps me relax knowing I have not forgotten anything and I have everything under control."

After that conversation, I began to reflect more on the strengths and weaknesses derived from this character trait! Perhaps it should have hit me harder while I was paralyzed in the hospital several years ago due to an unattended strep infection that became very serious. I was forced to further reflect on this issue while writing the autobiography required for my IMB application. Starring at your personality strengths vs. weaknesses on paper is indeed sobering.

Those who know me know that I am love organizing, analyzing and planning. As a result, I have always been very driven and am constantly working on "achieving." I strongly believe many high school and college students SHOULD be more focused and driven. I never viewed the highschool and college years as the time after childhood when you get your last "hurrah"before adulthood. More than just dry "achievement," I have also had a passion for life and want to see and do it all! Life is too short and I want to cram as much as I can into the short years the Lord gives me!

As life goes on, I've learned the Lord loves to throw monkey-wrenches into the plans of people like myself. I have been hit with a few of these in my life and they certainly have made an impact on me. Now, ironically, I am fine with God changing my plans because I trust in his lovingkindness and sovereignty. However, I still find myself planning nonetheless! It is almost as if I am fine with God changing my path but I just want to know that I could stay on the current path and everything would work out. I don't think I am doubting that God will work everything out, but I just want "the plan" based on the status quo! I call it "verified possibility"...:) You can see this even in the way I take walks! Taylor, Heidi and I like to walk in the evenings. They just "walk" with no real destination or plan in mind. I, however, cannot do that! While we are walking, I am constantly beggin gthem to give me even a vague "idea" of our destination, route, time limit, etc. They, of course, refuse to oblige and just laugh at me!

There is a song written by Charlie Hall called "One Thing" that really strikes me. One of the verses says:

All of life comes down to just one thing:
and that's to know you, oh Jesus
and make you known

The way this phrase is worded really hit me like a ton of bricks. Of course, I surrendered my life to Christ a long time ago, but this shed light on an all new corner of my life and gave me a deeper understanding of surrender. It spoke to my lust for planning and for my mind that is constantly analyzing. Even though I am fine with "planning" within God's plan and I desperately want His will for my life, my heart's perspective has changed. I know God gave me that ability to be used fo rhis glory. How amazing would it be if I focused all my drivenness and devotion onto the real meaning of life: knowing Christ and making him known?? I know this has been the desire of my heart for many years, but have I been giving it all the ammo I've got? Of course, the Lord is not honored through laziness or apathy. The lesson learned is not to necessarily loose those personality traits but to redirect them toward what really matters.