contemporaryissuesgroup-blog

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Table of Contents

1- Unconditional Movie Review by Emily Brennan

 https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258495275/1-unconditional-movie-review

2- Chuang Yen Monastery by Emily Brennan

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258491850/2-chuang-yen-monastery

3- An Interview with Bhavesh Desireddy by Emily Brennan

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258488300/3-an-interview-with-bhavesh-desireddy

4- Thoughts on Islamophobia by Emily Brennan

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258485515/4-thoughts-on-islamophobia

5- Honest Thoughts on Religious Rights and Laws by Emily Melville

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258482705/5-honest-thoughts-on-religious-rights-laws

6- Religion’s Role in Literature by Emily Melville

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258480120/6-religions-role-in-literature

7- “Red Sam” by Flyleaf Music Review by Emily Melville

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258477605/7-red-sam-by-flyleaf-music-review

8- Advice on How to Approach a Conversation About Religion by Emily Melville

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258474530/8-advice-on-how-to-approach-a-conversation-about

9- Pray by Jamie Molina

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258470890/9-pray

10- Real Time with Bill Maher by Jamie Molina

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258468360/10-real-time-with-bill-maher

11-

12- Original Artwork by Jamie Molina

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258462695/12-original-artwork

13- “Can’t we all just get along?” Original artwork by Devin Timpone. 

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258458425/13-cant-we-all-just-get-along

14- A Libra’s guide to religion by Devin Timpone. 

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258455530/14-a-libras-guide-to-religion-as-written-by-a

15- Spotlight movie review by Devin Timpone

 https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258452775/15-spotlight-2015

16- A short story synopsis by Devin Timpone

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258450115/16

17- How Important Is Religion? by Jacques Sullivan

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258443685/17-how-important-is-religion

18- Genesis - “Jesus He Knows Me” Review by Jacques Sullivan

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258440565/18-genesis-jesus-he-knows-me-review

19- Poem - Angel & Night Murmurs by Jacques Sullivan

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258437450/19-poem-angel-night-murmurs

20- 

21- An Interview With an Ex-Catholic by Ethan Fiege

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258428040/21-an-interview-with-an-ex-catholic

22- A Recipe to Develop Spirituality by Ethan Fiege

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258425495/22-a-recipe-to-develop-spirituality

23- Religious Horoscope by Ethan Fiege

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258422160/23-religious-horoscope

24- Movie Review of “Religulous” by Ethan Fiege

https://contemporaryissuesgroup.tumblr.com/post/168258405090/24-movie-review-of-religulous

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1: Unconditional Movie Review

Unconditional is a film about a woman, Sam CrawBradford, whom after the loss of her husband loses her faith, and begins to contemplate committing suicide.  She is brought out of committing this action when a young girl gets hit by a car.  While at the hospital, she happens to run into her oldest friend Joe Bradford.  She discovers that he is a community activist, and has dedicated his life to helping young inner city children, most of which don’t have fathers.  While the two catch up, Sam’s faith is restored, and many of her once impossible questions have been answered. There is a long list of cliched elements in the film, but overall the film was enjoyable, the performance was good, and the themes were heartfelt and profound.

This film was created by Harbinger Media Partners.  This company typically creates films for religious purposes, to get the viewers to pursue God.  This theme was not very straightforward in the film and was not very much noted until the very, but that makes it all the better and more enjoyable for all, even those who may not be on a religious path.  

There some very significant metaphors and motifs that are mentioned throughout the film that were also very interesting, and played a huge role in identifying major themes.  One example that was very interesting and progressed the plot of the movie is Sam’s story of Firebird.  Sam is a childs author, and she has had an idea for a book about a bird, the color of fire learning how to fly.  The bird at first was scared but soon was able to fly above the clouds and conquered his fears.  This story is a metaphor for Sam, and her life after her husband had passed.  

#Emily B

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2: Chuang Yen Monastery

#Emily B

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3: An Interview With Bhavesh Desireddy

What religion did you practice while growing up?

Hinduism

Do you still believe in it?

No

Why not?

Because I don’t have a clear understanding of it, and I was forced into it when I was a kid so I never really had an interest in it, nor did I want to learn more about it.  My family would just tell me to go places and do things, and I would just listen without really believing in the things I was doing. As I’ve grown up I have more of a reason not to believe in it because I can think for myself.

What did you do as part of this religion as a kid?

We would go to temples.

And do what?

Pray to gods, and sit in while the priest did stuff, or did or service or pooja.

Whats pooja? What do you do as part of it?

You sit there listen to a priest read from a religious scripture, and after he’s done you would put your hands together slightly lean forward then pause and stand up, and that was prayer.  We usually give a fruit, or coconuts to give as a tribute to the gods, and it’s considered a blessing, and then at the end you can take it back later and eat it.  You also put red powder on your forehead, not sure why, but if you haven’t noticed, I don’t really care about this religion.  

Did starting to practice hinduism at such a young age affect how you behave at all today?

I wouldn’t say so, because I think the environment I grew up in had more of an impact than the religion did.

What kind of environment did you grow up in?

Well I moved around a lot so I had to be friendly and outgoing or else i wouldn’t have friends.  So this had more of an impact because I didn’t change or act a certain way because of my religion.

So what would you consider your religion to be now?

I’m an atheist.

Why?

I feel that if there were a god the world wouldn’t be the way it is...like why would a god allow for all the hardships and injustice in the world.  And, sif there was a higher being, why couldn’t he create a perfect being, and that’s why I would support evolution, because it tracks how beings adapted to their surroundings rather than people just being placed by a higher power.

Do you think that believing in a religion is bad?

No, because we should respect other people’s opinions, and religion is a sensitive topic, and people go to war over religion.  I’d consider religion to be a pivotal point in society, and it gives people meaning and beliefs, and a way for them to describe their surroundings.  Also, it sometimes teaches people how to behave since each religion has its own set of rules that believers should follow. I think that in some cases people use it as an excuse to do bad things, so i would say that all together believing in religion is not bad, but sometimes the way people interpret it can be dangerous.

#Emily B

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4: Thoughts on Islamophobia

       Religion is a right.  It is a freedom that the United States government has granted.  People com here in order to escape the tortures of their own countries.   Executive order 13769.  This limited the number of Syrian refugees from the middle east, entering the United states.  This is known as the travel ban, which is also known as the Muslim ban because most of the nations this order was forced upon all had Muslim majorities, and it was issued for the third time recently, and soon will be fully enforced.    

       This is clearly some form of Islamophobia that president Trump and the United States government is expressing.  A phobia is considered to be an exaggerated, usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation.  For a good chunk people in the US, Muslims are seen a perpetrators, they commit crimes, perform horrific actions, and they are never the victims of such things.  

       There is a clear difference between Islamic extremism and Islamism. Islamic extremists have the main objective of merging the mosque and the state, and wants the entire world to be under Muslim rule, even if it means committing horrific acts.  Most other Muslims are likely just as scared of these extremists as any other citizen of the US, and do not have these same beliefs.  There is currently, and has always been a non-violent, as well as  a human rights movement going on among these non-extremist Muslims.  

      People pay too much attention to bad things that people have done if they do not look like them, or have different beliefs.  Islam is a more peaceful, non-violent, and pacifist religion, and just because some people commit horrific actions does not mean all will.  The biggest mass shooting in America taken place during a concert in Las Vegas, was committed by a white man.  He had killed 58 people and injured many more, but just because this man had committed an act of terrorism, doesn’t mean all other white people will.  Also, because it was a white man that had done this, it is not making people any more or less scared of white people, but if we treated white people the way we treat Muslims if one person does something awful, we might as well be.    

#Emily B

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5: Honest Thoughts on Religious Rights Laws

America is a nation that was founded on freedom. From its origin, it was seen as a place people could go to in order to escape the persecution they were suffering in their home countries, specifically religious persecution. About half of the original thirteen colonies were founded based on the idea of religious freedom and to this day, the first amendment guarantees US citizens the freedom to practice the religion of their choice. While religious freedom is an excellent thing, religious rights laws are going too far and allowing people and businesses to discriminate against others in the name of religion.

I firmly believe that everyone should be able to practice their religion and nothing should stand in the way of that. However, when the laws set up by individual states to protect religious freedom stand in the way of the basic human rights of others, there is a major problem that needs to be addressed. Since the Supreme Court ruling to legalize gay marriage in 2015, many Republican states have come under fire for having strong religious rights laws that allow them to continue discriminating against members of the LGBT community by claiming doing otherwise would violate their religion. Examples of bakeries refusing to make wedding cakes for LGBT couples or employers firing someone after finding out they identify as gay and claiming it is because of their religious beliefs are all too common.

I cannot stress enough how important religious freedom is. To take it away or hinder it in any way would be just as much of a human rights violation as the examples named above are. This does not change the fact that the religious rights laws that exist today do need to be changed or abolished in order to end the discrimination that exists under them. There is a way to continue allowing individuals to freely and peacefully practice their religion without standing in the way of the rights of others. The US Constitution already explicitly safeguards religious freedom through the first amendment, which makes state-level religious rights laws unnecessary. To remove or them even just alter them in order to protect the rights of the LGBT community would not prevent anyone from practicing their religion, but it would prevent them from interfering with the rights of others.

Most religions preach love and acceptance of all other people and this is something that needs to be kept in mind when making decisions about religious rights laws or protections on the rights of the LGBT community. Religion does not give someone a reason to be hateful or intolerant towards others; it does just the opposite. It is possible, and even encouraged, to practice a religion while also being civil and accepting of all other people, no matter what their race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation may be.

#Emily M

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6: Religion’s Role in Literature

Hammesfahr, Petra. The Sinner. Bitter Lemon Press, 2007.

The Sinner is a mystery and psychological thriller by German author Petra Hammesfahr. It is not a typical crime novel in that from the start it is known that Cora, the main character, is responsible for killing a man in broad daylight seemingly for no reason. The novel focuses instead on attempting to put together pieces of Cora’s past in order to understand what led her to commit the crime. As more of Cora’s childhood is unearthed, religion becomes a major focus of the novel because it is revealed that her mother was a deeply devout and fanatical Christian and often abused and neglected Cora in the name of religion. This has a large impact on Cora’s mental health and as a result, religion begins to shape the rest of her life and the rest of the novel.

Sturm, Lacey. The Reason. Baker Books, 2014.

The Reason is the autobiography of Lacey Sturm, the former lead singer of the Christian rock band Flyleaf. It details Sturm’s beliefs and practices regarding religion throughout her life, from being raised by a religious mother and grandmother to becoming an atheist at age ten after the tragic death of her cousin and eventually returning to religion as a teenager after being forced by her grandmother to attend church on the day she had secretly planned on taking her own life. Sturm provides an honest and thought-provoking narrative of her struggles in life and the role religion played in her coping with them all the way from her childhood to recent years.

Yousafzai, Malala and Christina Lamb. I Am Malala. Little, Brown and Company, 2013.

I Am Malala is the inspirational memoir of Malala Yousafzai, most well known for surviving being shot in the head by members of the Taliban on her way home from school. Religion played a large role in Yousafzai’s life as she grew up in Pakistan, a primarily Islamic nation. She had always practiced Islam and had a strong faith, which only grew stronger after the Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group, became prominent in Pakistan and attempted to stop girls from receiving an education, going so far as to attack schools that taught girls. Yousafzai relied on her faith to help her cope with her fears as she continued to attend school and after being shot by the Taliban for that very reason.

#Emily M

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7: “Red Sam” by Flyleaf Music Review

“Red Sam” is the emotional and raw song by Christian rock band Flyleaf. In the song, the lead singer, Lacey Sturm, tells the story of an encounter with who she truly believes was God speaking to her and how it stopped her from taking her own life. An atheist through most of her teenage years, Sturm was angry and depressed and saw no reason to continue living. She left school early one day with a plan to take her life when she was stopped by her grandmother who noticed how unusually angry and upset she was and insisted she go to church. She grudgingly went, but when there the priest began to speak about a suicidal spirit in the room and several people approached her to pray with her and said things that applied to her circumstances in ways they would not have known. It was in that moment that Sturm realized there must be a god and changed her mind about taking her life.

“Red Sam” is an incredibly vulnerable song in which Sturm shares the thoughts and feelings she had on that fateful day. Beginning by describing the pain and emptiness she felt, Sturm goes on to sing “There you stood holding me, waiting for me to notice you.” She describes the love and warmth she felt, saving and permanently changing her life.

Although the song is religious and does refer to a god, I do believe it can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of their religious beliefs. It is incredibly powerful and shares an inspirational story of how religion saved someone’s life at their darkest point. Even for people that are not religious or do not believe in a god, it is uplifting and shows how things can change in an instant when someone opens their minds and allows the change to occur. I believe everyone should take the time to listen to the song and allow it to inspire and uplift them as well.

#Emily M

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8: Advice on How to Approach a Conversation About Religion

Religion is one of the most controversial topics in the world today, so much so that it is an unspoken rule to avoid talking about it with friends, family, or acquaintances, regardless of whether you have strong religious beliefs or do not follow any religion. However, for most people their religious beliefs or lack thereof are part of their core beliefs and opinions and it is important for them to surround themselves with people whose beliefs align with theirs, especially when it comes to long term relationships. So how exactly can you find a way to bring up your beliefs without creating tension or starting an argument?

1. Be patient: There is no need to rush into the conversation. Forcing the conversation to happen will likely make it more uncomfortable than it needs to be. Allowing it to come up more organically will make it go smoother and reduce the tension. A candid and honest conversation with a friend or partner is the best way to go in this situation.

2. Be understanding: Religion is often a very personal topic and people can have a wide variety of views on it, which can often be born out of personal experiences and vulnerable moments. Keep this in mind when discussing religion with someone. Be considerate and sympathetic of what may have shaped their beliefs and avoid doing anything to possibly write off their beliefs to prevent offending them.

3. Be open minded: Religious beliefs, like any other opinions, are not static. As life goes on, people change and their beliefs change with them. When discussing religion with someone, be open to their ideas and do not shut anything out because it is different. Even if something does not quite line up with views you currently hold, it is still very possible that that view can resonate with you and can lead to the evolution of some of your views.

4. Be accepting: While it can be easier and feel more comfortable to have close relationships with someone that holds similar beliefs, it is certainly not necessary. It is possible to have a happy and healthy relationship with someone even if they have different beliefs from you. Embrace and cherish the positive relationships you have and don’t feel a need to distance yourself from someone because of their religious beliefs.

#Emily M

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9: Pray

I learned about Sam Smith several years ago. The first song that I listened to was “Money On My Mind”. It was different from any other song I had heard, and it is probably for that reason that I was not a huge fan. I did not delve any further into his music until I stumbled upon “Nirvana”. It was beautiful, emotional, and different. At first, I did not realize it was the same artist, I had let my phone play a random playlist on shuffle, but when I did it gave me a new perspective on “Money On My Mind”. This began my journey of listening to everything ever sung by Sam Smith. I became obsessed and resolved to one day meet him. As luck would have it, there was a signing in Brooklyn, and I finally met someone who had expressed into music what I never could into words. Recently he released “Pray”, a very raw song about faith and how we seek it out in the most troubling of times. The song begins with Smith describing a desperate time in his life and how he might turn to prayer. He admits to never having believed in God, but he is begging for salvation. He never actually says the words God or Lord but there is a chorus in the background that sings it for him. This is a very open declaration and I admire him all the more for it. His voice can be sweet, deep, and filled with emotions that do need to be spoken. No matter your music preference, Smith will connect with you on a soulful level.

#Jamie #Music Review

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10: Real Time with Bill Maher

Bill Maher is a late-night television host. His focus is on politics, but covers everything from the environment to sexual harassment. He is irreverent, cocky, and hilarious. Perhaps most shocking is his criticism of religion, although he may not get many laughs from his audience. Maher proudly calls himself an atheist. The first time I heard this I was surprised. Atheism was something you kept hidden from friends and family. Yet, Maher repeatedly speaks about his beliefs, or lack thereof, and is unafraid to ask his guests about their beliefs. Near the end of every show is a monologue called New Rules. It begins with a few light-hearted jokes about modern culture and culminates in an overarching theme. A couple of years ago he chose to focus on the story of Noah’s Ark. He points out glaring inconsistencies and goes so far as to call god a “psychotic mass murderer”. I do not consider myself to be a religious person, but even I was taken aback. After I recovered from my initial shock, I realized he was right. Maher uses such blunt language to emphasize the ridiculousness of religion. He is attempting to shock people into reality. This action is what makes him so unique as a late-night host. Most public figures are afraid of offending and losing their fan base. Maher believes the message he is trying to convey is more important than public support. It is easy to dismiss him as arrogant and narcissistic, but beneath the biting commentary is a desire to fix the world’s problems, no matter how hopeless.

#Jamie #tv review

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11: Jamie

[contemporaryissuesgroup-blog]

12: Original Artwork

#Jamie

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13: Can’t we all just get along?

Devin Timpone- Original artwork

[contemporaryissuesgroup-blog]

14: A Libra’s guide to religion (as written by a Libra)

Devin Timpone- Horoscope

Libras: something to believe in

Libras: You want something to believe in. For you, religion is a ray of light, one you will willingly follow, because it offers something bright and beautiful. You are drawn to this light like a fly.

When life hands you something dark and ugly, you shy away. It’s hard for you to accept the cold and dreary. You are ruled by Venus— the planet of love and beauty. Beauty— in yourself, and in society, rules your every move.You want to be apart of something beautiful.

Remember, you are an air sign— your mind is your greatest strength. You like to be challenged by what you don’t know. Religion offers the answers. You are an idealist. If it exists in your mind, it’s real. It doesn’t matter if it exists in the physical world. You are a true believer. You place an enormous amount of faith in, “what if”. Religion ignites the flame of curiosity within you. The more you learn, the more you believe, the more that flame burns into a fire.

What does religion need? It needs a mind to understand it and a heart to devote itself to it. You have the very best of both. Religion appeals to you. But be weary, Libra. Do not become consumed by it. There is more to life than what lives inside your mind.

Your greatest weakness is indecisiveness. You’re always gravitating towards balance, and so when your scales are shaken, you panic. You’re too concerned with making the right choice. When life takes you for an unexpected turn, use your religion as a crutch. Remember your faith is a tool— it can steer you in the right direction. You must remember to use this to your advantage.

Religion causes conflict when people are unable to accept beliefs other than their own. Luckily for you, Libra, your open mind prevents you from falling into this trap. You are aroused by the minds of others. This can strengthen your faith, if you allow it. Do not feel constricted by the walls of your own religion. Do not be afraid to venture out and accept ideas that appeal and excite you. Remember, you chose what to believe. You have the power to believe in whatever that may be.

Your biggest fear is confrontation. Conflict crushes the perfect reality you’ve created in your mind— and you hate the harsh reality it brings. Acts of religious violence pain you, and you may find yourself lost and helpless. Remember you hold so much love in your heart. It is your responsibility to aid others with it.

You want to please everyone, but this is simply not possible. When you are targeted, you freeze up. You crawl up into a ball and hide away. Do not let this control you. Stand up, even if everyone else is sitting. Speak up for your beliefs. When they are threatened by society, do not lose your faith. You must be courageous, as difficult as that is for you.

You are the diplomat of all the signs. You are an excellent communicator— a charmer, and you have a way with words. You can unite the world if you devote yourself to it. In a society where this is so much violence, pain, and conflict, you have the power to bring peace. Remember religion should be used to unite, not divide. Speak up. Be brave. Show the world what you can do.

Above all, do what you do best: believe. In love, in life, in faith, and in yourself.

[contemporaryissuesgroup-blog]

15: Spotlight (2015)

Devin Timpone- Movie Review

If you’re a film nerd like I am, you pay special attention to critically acclaimed movies— especially those who win the academy award for best picture and best original screenplay. And if you’re a little more of a nerd, like I am, you put a huge amount of faith in rotten tomatoes. For a film with a 97% on the tomato-meter, Spotlight is a film I had always intended to see, but didn’t get a chance to watch it until a few days ago. Now, keep in mind this film is heavy— not something I’d watch if I wasn’t ready to give it my full and complete attention. As someone who prefers fantasy-esque fiction movies, this was something I wasn’t sure I’d like before I gave it a watch. And although I think there was potential to give the film a little more character, I am willing to forgive the little flaws, for an overall thrilling, engrossing, compelling, story that kept me on my toes and demanded to be talked about. If you haven’t heard of Spotlight, this film tells the true story of the investigation of the Catholic church for it’s sexual molestation allegations against children. Concurrently, it is also about the moral demands and of good journalism, and what it means to use writing as a form of exposure and platform for justice. Reporters reporters Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) and Matt Caroll become tied up in this complicated investigation— conducting interviews, digging up old articles, and reopening old cases that were covered up by the church for years. They speak to molestation victims from years ago, now in their adulthood, who all have compelling and hair raising stories to tell about how it feels to be molested by leaders of faith— and how that impacts a young child’s mind and esteem. One story I found particularly interesting was an interview conducted by Rachel McAdam’s character with a molestation victim over forty years ago. (I’ve watched this scene on youtube a bunch of times since seeing the movie, and it gives me chills everytime! Here’s the link if you’re interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH4E6mdxZDw) 

 One of the quotes from this survivor that stuck out to me was, “How do you say no to God, right? It’s important to understand that when a priest does this to you… it’s not just physical abuse. It’s spiritual abuse, too. He robs you of your faith.” I think this quote is quintessential to the overall theme of this movie: that religion can be amazing, life changing, and spiritually awakening, but only if it’s used for good. That same power of religion can have catastrophic consequences if it is placed in the wrong hands. It can ruin lives in the same manner that it creates life. And so this is a movie that will make you think. The acting is really phenomenal. I believed every story, and the fact that this is a real, historical event adds a certain depth that may spark controversy or ruffle some feathers. But that’s what I like about this movie: this events need to be talked about. We can not continue to brush sexual molestation under the rug— nor can we pretend all leaders of faith are righteous or holy. My two favorite elements of the film are the screenplay and the overall conceptual premise. Its writing is really authentic and comes from a place of true emotion. I can see why Spotlight won best original screenplay. Nothing seemed clichè, or like a duplicate of a movie I’ve seen before. And the overall theme of this film opens so many doors— really sparking thought and reflection on what it means to be religious in contemporary society. It really highlights how easy it is to become disillusioned from your faith— especially when you are raised to believe your religion is everything and shouldn’t be objected or questioned. It really had me thinking about victims of sexual abuse in general, and how difficult it is to be heard when you feel like nobody is listening. Children, in particular, have this the hardest. Childhood innocence is something so beautiful and pure, and it is so unfortunate that people out there take advantage of that. They poison a life before it even has time to grow, learn, and explore. What would I change about the film? I’d love to see some flashbacks. I think there was room to run with this— and a good, thrilling, flashback scene could give the film a break from the long, heavy, investigation scenes. I’d also like to see more experimentation with the soundtrack. I think there’s potential to use music as a powerful instrument here. This film becomes slow at times, and I think it’s missing a change in perspective or time frame. I’d like to see more creativity with elements of filming, whether that be a cool camera technique or editing strategy. Keep in mind these ideas are simply suggestions and do not by any means distract from how great of a watch this is. I think the awards are well deserved and I’m extremely glad I finally got the chance to see it. Spotlight, as a whole, raises some real questions about religion and spirituality. It ties into works we’ve read into class, such as the O’ Connor stories and A Handmaid’s Tale. It expresses the idea of religion as power and a weapon for illusion and manipulation. It begs the question: what is right and who is right? What sins deserve to be forgiven? And how do you remain religious when it was your own faith that damaged you, spiritually? If you are looking for a film to make you think, and tie you into a piece of history that is incredibly relevant to contemporary religious issues, give Spotlight a watch. It will certainly shed some light on what has been hidden in the dark for far too long.

[contemporaryissuesgroup-blog]

16

Devin Timpone: Short story idea (A synopsis)

Backstory:

Nuclear warfare has devastated most of the western world in a matter of only a few months. This left almost unlivable conditions for humanity in the following years. After the initial attacks wiped out almost two thirds of America’s population, those left faced the consequences of radiation. Some lost eye sight, others the ability to walk, but most inherited a cancer-type disease which damaged the skin and left them in poor immunity for the rest of their lives. At this point, America faced the biggest depression of its existence. Civilization ceased to exist, religion was non existent, and people fought brutally over the lasting remains of food and water. Maybe believed it was the end. According to our narrator, this time was formally known as “The Dark.” Years later, a religious group with new, exotic ideas gained popularity amongst anyone who was left. They offered hope, and a reevaluation of the values and morals people should hold. They preached the idea that the world fell because of a disconnect between humans and the earth. They believed humanity became too concerned with materialistic goods, ego, and technology, which in turn, destroyed the planet.

As this group gained power, people accepted them as a form of government and rule. They helped restore agriculture and vegetation. They truly did improve living conditions, and for a desperate world, they were a beacon of hope. They preached an ideal of nature over nurture really emphasizing that humans are born with the potential to do right, but only if they live undistracted by material goods and pleasure over the course of their lifetime. This began a new era known as “The Light”, or “The New World.”

There became a push for procreation, in order to restore the population size. Children born in this new world are known The Cardinal Generation. These children are special because they are the only ones to not have any radiation effects. They are healthy, strong, and in good health, and so the rest of society really depends on them to restore life to the way it used to be. Our narrator, twenty-two year old Finn, was a child of The Cardinal Generation. The New world is the only world he knows.

For the cardinal generation, fate is predetermined. At birth, babies are assigned to a “house” which is consistant with a sort of trade. Examples: healers, fighters, nurturers, etc.  What house they are assigned to is dependent on uncontrollable, celestial circumstances such as the position of the moon when they are born. Their religion preaches that this is predetermined and chose by the universe.  They can fall into one of ten houses, each consistent with a particular element— which determines what job they will have in the future. An example: our narrator was deemed ignisis, or, “of the fire” which makes him a good fighter. He has known since he was a little kid that he would fight in battle. The new civilization is known as Luminor. Pleasures of today such as phones, magazines, pop culture, media, are banished, and considered black market goods. Our main character explains most people collect banished items from the black market. He had a wooden drum to play with as a child. It was his prize possession.

Most people live in rural areas, because big cities have turned into polluted, drug infested slums. People who do not follow the laws are often sent to cities to live the rest of their days. Cities are one of the only places you can find large amounts of goods from the old world. Most people who live in cities have severe, fatal forms of radiation poisoning and serve no use to the rest of society.

Plot:

The story opens up in Finn’s first person perspective, waking up in a hospital bed after having a strange, vivid, reoccurring dream. He is suffering a gruesome leg injury from a homemade bomb and has been unable to walk for weeks. It’s only now that he is gaining movement in it again.

He explains how there is tension between government rule and those who oppose it, those people being nicknamed “shuks.” Over the last few months, Luminor has seen a handful of ambushes from these rebels, and now Finn must recover quickly so he can be sent to fight back. He watches the nurses say a prayer for his sake.

We meet Finn’s best friend and the secondary character of the novel. He is known to almost everyone as “Spud.” Born Nathanial Isaac Dudley, Spud is one of five boys, each of which have died in battle. Finn feels great responsibility to keep Spud alive, for the sake of his single, grieving, mother. Spud is goofy, brash, and child-like. He isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed but has great courage and the ability to give his all to whatever cause he’s fighting for.

` Spud informs Finn that’s missed quite alot in the hospital. Since he was admitted, conditions in Luminor have turned violent again. Tensions between government rule and protestors have peaked. There has been a handful of ambushes from The Shuks in the last few days, an now they believe the Shuks are planning on ambushing Luminor again tonight. And since the hospital is in enemy territory, it’s vital that they move now and catch up with the other troops.

Spud supports Finn’s weight as they leave the hospital and move forward. Finn’s still losing alot of blood and goes in and out of consciousness. It’s through these moments of unconsciousness that we learn more about Finn from his memories. He remembers “Transition” day, when he was sent away from his families at eighteen to begin his civic assignment as a solider. He remembers saying goodbye to his parents and how proud they were of him.

He also thinks Audra, his fiancè. In this society, each of the ten houses has another house that it goes with. The house you’re matched with is opposite you, and they’re stuck together to promote an idea of balance. You can only be married to someone who has the house sign of your designated match. Audra is a quiet, peaceful, girl. She’s assigned to the house Terrasis (nature and growth). At this point, we are unsure of the nature of Finn and Audra’s relationship, but he hints that they do not have much in common. Regardless, he cares about her deeply and sees a long future with her. After walking around for some time, Spud and Finn have reached the gates of the city. The plan is to meet up with the rest of the troops who have stationed in an abandoned building. Instead, they are lost wandering down dangerous city states. Finn comments on the unfamiliar smells and accumulation of garbage and debris that lines the streets. He has never seen a city up close before. Before they realize, they are stopped by two Shuks of english decent. They smell like cigarettes and look intoxicated. Unable to fight back with Finn in such poor shape, Spud and Finn submit to being held at gunpoint by the men. They are taken to an underground site of rebel Shuks where they are placed in a holding cell, mocked and ridiculed. Finn slips back into unconsciousness, where he dreams he is a drummer on stage in an alternate life, being cheered on by a crowd. When he wakes up, Spud is fighting off a drunken Shuk in an attempt to get away. In this chaos, a homemade bomb is dropped into the room they are being held. Spud jumps on the bomb to take the heat of the explosion. He is killed, and Finn’s life is spared. With his hearing impaired, Finn desperately looks around for a way out. Desperate and traumatized by his friend’s death, he limps through the underground tunnels until he comes across a familiar face. The girl he encounters is one from a vague, but present memory of his childhood. She is a childhood friend of his, one who was assigned to the house of intellect, but instead left Luminor to join the rebellion. Finn remembers her name: Runa. They instantly recognize each other. Runa decides to help Finn, since she knows he will most likely die from his injuries in the near future. She helps him disguise himself as a Shuk and shows him around the underground tunnels of the city. Finn is amazed by the music, chaos, and parties of the city. It’s unlike anything he’s ever experienced. As much as it terrifies him, he is drawn to it. It’s like a secret that’s been kept from him this whole time. Finn stays there for weeks and has an existential crisis— feeling guilty for leaving the rest of his troops to fight while he stays with the people he was raised to believe is the enemy. We see changes in his character as he embraces the philosophies of these people and begins to believe house system is impractical and a device to control the general public. He’s not sure what he believes at this point— and wonders who would be if he wasn’t assigned to be a soldier. A part of him wonders if he could be a musician, because of how much he loves the sound of drums. The story comes to an end when the city is ambushed by Luminor. The last thing we know is Finn being faced with a choice to fight with the Shuks or the war boys. We don’t explicitly know the outcome of his choice, because his perspective once again goes into the unconscious state. He has a dream of an alternate reality where he lives without houses or rules, laws, or a fundamentalist upbringing. He begins to believe that the house he was assigned doesn’t define him, but the person he has become and the experiences he has gone through does instead. In the final scene, weeks later, the number of rebels have almost tripled. They begin to walk into the streets of Luminor, protesting, chanting, in a mob of music, song, and banished clothing and jewelry. Though they know they could easily be shot and killed, they continue to walk, fearlessly, motivated by their cause. Finn is the back of the line, face painted, in real clothing, playing the drums to the beat of the music.