FINAL APPROACH
D2
Integration of Church and State ELI OLSON Correspondent
Politics and religion are some of the most divisive topics in modern culture. Unfortunately the two have become massively mixed, corrupting both in the process. Just recently Justice Scalia spoke against the strong separation of church and state established in the constitution. Though over three quarters of the US population is Christian, favoring any religion is by definition unconstitutional. The history of this fault lies at least partly in the Cold War ideology attempting to separate America from the atheistic communists. Much more of the fault however lies with the American people simply accepting the way things were presented to them without looking at the documents we claim to endorse. Even more worrying than the influence of the church on politics however is the way that politics have crept into the church. The image of the church today is not groups mobilized to fight poverty or help the downtrodden; instead the church is seen as a place that oppresses and tries to eliminate thoughts and voices that differ from its own. While mi-
nor biblical topics like gay marriage are brought to the forefront, major topics like society’s treatment of prisoners are all but forgotten. The early church’s practice of forgoing individual property for the common good and living without luxuries would seem like an anathema to those who claim to follow tradition today. From these changes the image of preachers is no longer that of humble men and women serving in a soup kitchen, instead the image we see is an angry minister yelling about hellfire and brimstone. Unfortunately someone ranting about peace and forgiveness just doesn’t seem to inspire the same passion in the media. It’s not as though the Christians doing many of these actions are bad people, it’s simply that people’s attention has been put in the wrong direction and on the wrong topics. Somehow a man who spoke against money is now used to tell people they should vote for an agenda that includes commercial greed. And someone who tried to stay out of politics has been dragged deep into them. In the process a religion based on love and forgiveness became a tool for hatred and condemnation.
SEPT. 18, 2013
Chinese 天高皇帝远 Corner: JAKE SUSS Correspondent
After three months of studying in China this past summer, Global Security and Intelligence Studies/Chinese students took the last week to travel and enjoy the sights in Yunnan, China. Yunnan is in the south of China, bordering Myanmar and Laos, and consequently very far from the capital. While there, students often heard the saying, “天高皇帝远” or tiān gāo huángdì yuǎn. This directly translates to “the sky is tall and the emperor is away.” This translates roughly to the English saying, “When the cat is away, the mice will play,” and refers to the minimal imperial management of Yunnan from Beijing during China’s dynastic period.
What Happened to Religious Tolerance? JAKE SUSS Correspondent
Arizona is a bastion of Christian conservatism in the United States, and with a predominantly older, white, Christian populace, Prescott is the embodiment of this. Often in places that are so homogenous, there exists a certain amount of discrimination towards those of other faiths. Unfortunately, Prescott is no exception to this, and you can witness religious discrimination at a regrettably frequent rate. In our town, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University brings in a myriad of different cultures and religions, including students from different states and backgrounds, and even students from
countries like the United Arab Emirates and China. This means that on campus we have all manners of faiths and beliefs, from Christianity to Islam to Buddhism to Agnosticism. Nearly every religion preaches religious tolerance and peace, so what makes one group think they are better than another? Where do the religious or ethnic slurs come from? Some intolerance comes from a person’s upbringing and background. If you grow up in a religion that preaches if you follow this religion fastidiously you will go to Heaven, and all others will not, it is easy to fall into a belief that your religion makes you inherently better. Parents who encourage their children to choose friends of a similar faith or teachers who passively or ac-
tively imbue in their students their own religious beliefs can exacerbate this problem. Another root cause of religious intolerance comes from an “us versus them” mentality, which a homogenous group dynamic can often perpetuate. Especially because Embry-Riddle is such a small school, which forces students into very close social groups. When one person voices an intolerant view, others will often agree out of a desire to maintain acceptance in the group. To me, the most perturbing cause of religious intolerance comes from a simple misunderstanding or lack of knowledge about others’ religions. Most Christians can easily recite the Ten Commandments, but cannot differentiate between a Sunni Muslim’s beliefs
and a Shiite Muslim’s beliefs. This obliviousness results in ignorant comments that stem from disliking what people perceive as the truth about a religion, not its actuality. How can you criticize something that you do not understand? That is like demeaning a cat for having a tail, simply because you do not have one and do not understand why it should. So what does this mean for you? It is simple: regardless of your faith or beliefs, be tolerant of others! At the most basic level, we are all human beings on this planet, working for the same essential needs. Take a few minutes to learn about other religions; talk to someone who believes differently than you do. What you find may surprise you.
Counseling Corner
with Julia Weinberg, PhD, LAC
The Embr y-Riddle Aeronautical University Wellness Center promotes healthy emotional and physical health. As the new semester is well on its way, we may find ourselves challenged. Prevention and resources can be invaluable! Just a reminder that the Wellness Center has available over the counter medicine and doctors to provide support for your
physical health needs. Visit the Wellness Center on Monday to Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. or call Extension: 6653 to make an appointment. Also, keep in mind that stress and anxiety can challenge your immune system, distracting your focus and disrupting your sleep. Challenging yourself to find time each day to relax, laugh, and slow down has been shown to increase our ability to focus and achieve optimal performance.
A study of 500 college students (Roberts and DanoffBurg, 2010) found that relaxation promotes physical and mental health by decreasing stress. Consciously relaxing stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, commonly known as P.N.S. The P.N.S. calms us and reduces our feelings of stress - heart rate decreases, breathing slows and deepens, blood pressure decreases, digestion is enhanced, and even vision improves - all
strengthening our physical and emotional well-being needed for the rigors of ERAU! How are you relaxing each day? Some people experiencing relaxation with walking and running, some relax when spending time with friends laughing and dreaming, some people relax by slowing down or enjoying a good meal. If you are not finding time or an activity where you are able to relax, struggling to focus on your studies, struggling to sleep rest-
fully, or struggling with other life challenges, you may want to consider scheduling an appointment with a counselor at the wellness center to develop a plan for reducing stress and relaxing! Don’t forget that ERAU Counseling Services is available for all students here at ERAU for free! You can stop by for no charge whatsoever.
Counseling Services is located at the Wellness Center, Building 73, in Haas Commons. Making an appointment to see a counselor on campus is easy! Just stop by or call the Wellness Center at (928) 777 - 6653. Don’t forget to “LIKE US” on Facebook! Use the QR code below.
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