Entry 12: Sin

What is sin? How does society define it? How do you define it? How does the dictionary define it? Is there a difference in these definitions? Have you ever done anything that others would consider a sin? Have you witnessed or heard about anyone else sinning? Can something that is a sin to some people not be a sin to others? Describe any situations in which you have experienced yourself or someone else sinning or being accused of sinning. Use details and be specific. Once a person has sinned, how can he or she atone for the sin?

•  I believe that society's definition for a sin is any act that is immoral, or contradicts with their morals, according to the society. And I believe that in general, this is also my belief for how to distinguish between a sin, or not a sin. The dictionary definition, however, states "an offence against GOD or against a religious or moral law; the act of breaking a religious or moral law; an action that people strongly disapprove of". There have been many cases of sins committed reported on media such as on the newspaper, on the television, and on the internet. These sins include murder, theft, etc... Though some acts are considered as sins by some groups, other groups do not consider it as a sin. For example, in religions, some foods are prohibited. I have actually "sinned" many times, and quite often as well. Can you think of why I sinned so many times? Well, this is because I lie a lot. And when I say a lot, I really mean A LOT. But sometimes I believe that lying is necessary, so I don't think that that is quite a sin. I believe that only when you are lying with bad intentions are you actually sinning. As for how to atone for my so called "sinning", I believe that the only way is to do better next time, or become a better person.

Entry 11: Fear as a Motivator

Many people would agree that fear is one of the most powerful motivators of human behavior. For example, fear of injury makes us wear a helmet, and fear of failure makes us study harder. Describe how in his sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" John Edwards uses fear as a motivating force. Do you think fear is a great motivator? Have you ever been motivated by fear, or has anyone ever tried to scare you into doing what he or she wants? Describe the situation and whether fear worked to get you to conform with his or her wishes.

• In "Sinners in the Hands of Angry God", Edwards uses the idea of burning eternally in fiery pit in hell to motivate other people to believe and obey God, and to accept Christ as their savior and follow Christ's teachings. If people fear burning in hell, then they would work harder to achieve salvation so they won't have to burn in hell eternally. I believe that fear is a great motivator. There have been many different cases of people using fear to control people, such as tyrants and dictators. And of course, I have been motivated by fear before. For example, fear of my parents motivates me to do things that I don't like and am reluctant to do. One example is to do all the chores. I'm afraid of my parents because they threaten me about two things: first, they might not provide food and shelter for me anymore, and this would get me into big trouble; second, they threaten to transfer me back to local school, which is a bad thing for me because I have never been to local school and I never officially learned Chinese before (resulting in writing difficulties; I am, however, fluent in speaking, listening, and reading). Another case where fear motivated me is when I got a bad score on a test, I will put in twice the effort to catch up. I guess this is just my personality, because I get guilty of getting a bad score and I feel fear for getting scolded. However, most of the other things that motivates me is not caused by fear.

Entry 10: Church, anyone?

What experiences have you had in witnessing (in person or in the media) religious services or places where religion is practiced like churches, temples, or synagogues? Describe the place and the ceremony (if any) in as much detail as you can, using all of your senses. What aspects do you notice the most? How would you compare your experiences with what you perceive to be those of the Puritans (for example, those listening to John Edwards's sermon)? What parallel structures do you notice among different religions? How do you feel when you witness or experience religious ceremonies or events? If you go to such services regularly, describe what it means in your life and how it makes you feel.

•  I have many friends who are religious. Most of them are either Christians or Buddhists/Daoists. So, I sometimes see my friends go to religious services (especially the Christians), though I have never went with them. Around school campus, there are also many churches, since we are a major educational area with Chia-Tong University and Ching-Hua University. Even though I have never been to the services myself, I have seen them on television, especially in movies. Most of them are plain yet elaborate (yes, contradictory, but in a sense very true). For example, the benches are quite plain, but the glasses and the podium are quite elaborate, as well as the clothes of the minister/pope/etc. Most of the time the service sang songs. Compared to John Edward's sermon, it is quite different. First, singing is very different from angry, powerful, emotional sermons. However, both religions have the same sense of plainness. When I witness religious ceremonies, I respect the ceremonies, even if most of the time I do not understand what the religious is about. I also try my best to understand them, even though the religion is different from my own. I go to "services" (actually praying to Buddhas and my ancestors, etc) quite regularly, on important holidays and anniversaries. To me, it means a part of my life and a part of my family tradition.

Entry 9: Motivation

In the poems we have read for this class, as well as in The Scarlet Letter, there is a strong religious theme. In these works, the characters behave in ways that might seem strange to you. What do you think it is that causes, or motivates the characters to act the way they do? Is it one thing, or many? What generalizations can you make about how the beliefs of the different characters are related to their actions? Can you see differences between how the characters interpret and apply these beliefs? Consider your own behavior and whether it is guided by a set of principles or beliefs. If so, what are they? If not, why do you think that is so?

• The characters act the way they do in the stories because of their beliefs that what they are doing is right and correct according to their religion, and they believe that by doing the right and correct thing, they may be rewarded. In these stories, most of the rewards would be to be allowed to go to heaven and be saved by God's grace. There are also other causes. For example, moral may be a cause or motivation (though it is not as strong compared to religious beliefs in what is right or correct. The generalization about these characters in relations with their actions can be said that they follow a set of guided principles or beliefs, which motivates and causes them to do a certain act. Most of the time we can see differences between how characters interpret and apply beliefs - it is quite clear especially when they are extremely religious/devote/pious/etc. My own behavior is not really set according to principles or beliefs. One of the main reasons for this is because I am too lazy and I don't have the motivation to continuously follow the set principles or beliefs. For example, when I set a schedule for finishing homework, I am never able to follow it.

Entry 8: Compare and Contrast: Bradstreet v Sor Juana

Compare and contrast the two poems in terms of topic, theme, use of metaphor, use of rhyme, and the key words in the poem. Particularly discuss the use of the word "vanity".

• The topic of both poems is concerned with the idea of something or someone taking away your material possessions, and you the responses of both authors. Anne Bradstreet's response was to think about the real reward, which was heaven, while Sor Juana stated that even if something or someone took away her material possessions, she still has the most important one of all - knowledge. The overall theme of both poems is very similar, that material wealth is one of the less valuable things for an individual. The difference is that Anne Bradstreet thinks that heaven and God are the most important and valuable for an individual, while Sor Juana thinks that knowledge is more important and valuable for an individual. Both poems have a rhythm. Anne Bradstreet's poem rhymes at the last words of each sentence, two sentences per rhyme. Sor Juana's poem does not rhyme in English, but in Spanish. The key words in Anne Bradstreet's poem are more related to religion, such as chiding oneself for thinking about material wealth, and the prices paid in order to go to heaven. In Sor Juana's poem, the key words are knowledge, mind, and vanity. She is saying that knowledge and mind is more valuable than material wealth, and that we should not lose ourselves with vanities such as material possessions.

Entry 7: Hounding

To hound means "to chase or follow; nag." Consider the title of this poem. What does it mean when the world hounds you? How effective is the poem's title in conveying the speaker"s attitude toward the world? How does it compare with your own point of view? How would you state the theme of the poem (remember, a theme takes a complete sentence to state)? Which words or lines convey the theme most clearly for you? What is your personal reaction to the theme? Do you agree? Disagree? If you were to write a poem on a similar topic, what would your theme be? Hmmm... Do you think you will be asked to write such a poem in the near future?

• When the world hounds you, it means that you have bad luck, and that disasters are continually happening to you. The poem's title is not really effective, I believe, because it makes me think that instead of not caring about the world hounding me, it makes me feel as if the world is hounding me and I should be very scared. However, the actual point of the view of the author is that knowledge is more important and valuable than material wealth. In a sense, this is absolutely true, and I agree with it. If one has knowledge, then one would be able to get a job and survive. However, on the other hand, minimum material wealth is still necessary and required in order for people to survive. I believe that the last line of the poem conveys that theme most clearly. "Mind is the better and the truer way; to leave the vanities of life aside, not throw my life away on vanity." If I were to write a poem on a similar topic, I would also write a similar theme. As for the last question (most likely added by our teacher to make our lives a lot, lot, more miserable and to make us suffer even more), I believe that the answer is yes, we will be asked to write such a poem, and that we will have to write such a poem as our next journal entry.

Entry 6: Poem About Loss

Write a poem about a personal disaster or loss. Structure your poem based on how Anne Bradstreet structured her poem:
-Description of the event
-Remorse over loss
-Remembering cherished things
-Chiding self
-Reminding self of what’s important
-Satisfaction in knowing true reward lies in heaven
Of course your poem will not (necessarily) emphasize the same feelings, but it should have the same basic parts. Try to use inversion at least once, but you do not have to follow a particular rhyme scheme or meter.

• The poem below describes me trying to get some sleep but not succeeding in doing so because of the rain. 

Hitting the window pane,
Fell the rain,
My watch, I glanced,
To see that time,
Has flown by me.
It was three,
In the morning,
The rain it seems,
Has kept me,
From my sleep.


I sighed in my head,
Thinking of tomorrow,
Another full day ahead.
This thought tires me,
For I have not slept.


But tomorrow is a new day,
A day with activities,
And things to do,
To keep me from,
This lasting boredom.


Therefore I shall not,
Mind this drumming rain.
And shall instead,
Just go back to bed.


What I should do,
At this certain instance,
Is to keep what I can,
Of my remaining hours,
To sleep till,
Waking hours.