Please be reminded of the following class requirements:
1. Use of inclusive language (10% of your grade)
2. Attendance and class participation (10% of your grade)
3. Individual Journal Reflections/Reactions (40% of your grade)
4. Group Project (40% of your grade)
Four (4) of your best reflection/reaction papers (on parables, redeemers in stories, forums, film analyses, etc.) will meet your requirement for #3 (individual journals). If you have not submitted the minimum 4 reaction papers, post your entries here. You have until October 17 to write your reaction papers. Your Curriculum Guide Group Project is due on October 10. Due to many requests for an extension, we have decided to move the deadline to October 13. You can put your projects in our boxes or email them to liztapiaraquel@utsem.net or rvelunta@utsem.net.
Do take advantage of our remaining class sessions to complete both your individual and group requirements.
(SGD)Prof. Lizette G. Tapia-Raquel (SGD) Prof. Revelation E. Velunta
1 comment:
EMMANUEL D. BANG-ASAN
MDIV II
I BELIEVE
I believe in God that is above all things and creator of everything for good purposes within us. And I believe in God’s providence that God rules over all things by guiding creation to its goal, but accomplishes thus by God’s Word and Spirit and not by unilateral and coercive power. Heidelberg Cathechism; Providence is “ the almighty and ever present power of God whereby still upholds, as it were by his own hand, heavens and earth together with all creatures, and rules in such a way that leaves and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and unfruitful years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, and everything else, come to us not by chance but by Godly hand. Jeremiah 29:11 The Lord declares; “ For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future.” In John 10:10 Jesus said; “ The thief comes only to steal and kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
believe in trinity that God’s Special revelation and one way of God’s revelation to express God’s love to humanity through all generation. Being a Father, Son and Holy Spirit is a condition and revelation of God’s overflowing love. Being God is God. The Doctrine of Trinity is a mystery that God alone can explain completely and exactly. The Doctrine of Trinity for me is one as GODHEAD and three in REVELATION.
I believe in the SCRIPTURE as the basic foundation of my faith. I myself accept that the Scripture is the primary spiritual authority of my life.
The Scripture for me I look it as one way of God’s revelation. A special revelation in where God’s love be proven trough humankind. To teach the truth and condemned the false teaching, to put everything in order and make proper those in improper, to prepare us in good actions, a reference of life of God’s revelation.
The Scripture as a special book from those experiences of the past that prove and tells great power of God. A proof that there is a great and faithful God, an ALPHA AND OMEGA and especially it involves the proof of God’s love to all creation. In where in is a record of human witness to the presence of God in people’s lives.
The Scripture as filled of the Holy Spirit, for me it is true. The Scripture is from an old script or wittings. There’s a lot of historical event in this world but the story of God’s presence remain. With the help of the Holy Spirit, God’s love remain in us through Scripture and continually moving in our days, a word that can change lives, and even life situation. That’s how Scripture is powerful because of the Holy Spirit that helps to convict human hearts.
The Scripture as God’s will. It is the will of the Lord to publish and spread all over the earth. Through Scripture God can be known on God’s redeeming love through all nation, tribes, and people. It is a channel to spread God’s greatness and faithfulness upon us all. By God’s grace we can discover the unending love of God through all generation.
Yet, I do believe even scripture does not exist the love of God still moving and we don’t know how God’s way upon us all. We can not reach God’s wisdom, never ever. I myself was so thankful that I have the Scripture as a guide of my life. I do believe that our God is not as small as the Bible. God can reveal in so many ways. But Bible is here now as our guide, a spiritual authority of my life, thank you God for having the Scripture that you revealed to me your great and unending love. Yes truly, nothing will change if we don’t believe the Scripture, but many can change if we believe the Scripture for better and for best than we can feel the grace and love of God.
I believe to Jesus Christ as pardon to my sin. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
I believe in the church as a community of believers that nurture our faith to God.
I believe to myself as God’s image and special creation.
EMMANUEL D. BANG-ASAN
MDIV II
1. How did you find the movie?
AMUSING and ETERTAINING. Amusing in the sense that I’m not bored with the entire length of the film. I was so amaze in the new presentation of Jesus story a comedy story, then I imagine DOLPHY can portray the character of Brian in a Fililino context of Jesus. Entertaining, because I kept my interest with in the whole length of the film. I can watch it very often and I will not be bored, because I was so entertained.
2. Many people find the movie disturbing. Would you agree and why?
Yes, in the sense of those who are not yet deepen their faith to Jesus Christ. It can mislead them and they felt that the movie is blasphemous to Jesus.
3. Many film critics call the movie a "masterpiece." Would you agree and why?
I’m very much agreed. To write a movie and direct movie like this is much unique. It is a great success for the film maker and an amazing accomplishment for this job well done in this kind of a movie. It is a masterpiece because of its specialty. This is a special a one of kind that mirrored the culture of their time.
4. Is laughter really the best medicine in the case of this film? Why?
Yes, I myself healed, healed in boredom and stress. It brings relaxation in mind and heart. It’s nice to laugh and smile. You can laugh and you can smile at the same time automatically. Even they say you like an insane person, its okey because insanity is the best relaxation. To laugh freely is a great privilege in our time in where a lot of struggle that is happening in our today’s generation.
5. How can this movie help in the education programs of the church? Please provide concrete examples.
Our churches today are bored in redundancy of presentations and styles of Bible study we made. I will use this as a film as a new approaches of Bible study method. I used it already in a group of young people. Most of the time in our fellowship we need in crying and confession of sins and after they relax too, but in terms of they need to cry first and feel sad in their situation. This film we kept on laughing and smiling all the way and after the fellowship we felt so relax and free to enjoy life. The message that we recognize is we can look on the bright side of life despite what is happening in the world today.
EMMANUEL D. BANG-ASAN
MDiv II
1. Who among the characters did you identify with and why?
William Munny.
In my life I’d experienced the popular Filipino sayings.
“ ANG TAONG NAGIGIPIT KAHIT SA PATALIM KUMAKAPIT”
I will not be hypocrite in this matter. I myself is identified to such behavior because, I am really sure to myself of letting or understand or tolerate things happens to me although sometimes it is not favorable, especially in terms of money. Well. I myself maybe called it I’m MUKHANG PERA, because I grew up in the poverty line life style. It is really my dreams to become rich and prosperous in my life. There are times I told it to my self, I will gain money trough all I can.
Like William even assassinating people he can do it just for money sake.
So for this reason I can identify more to Will. Will was engaged in assassin practically because of his need for money. He got the nerve too because of his past experience, though it was not clarified much in the movie. Once there, I can see that he was a good person, for he was driven more to the fact that his targets did some gross acts to a whore, Delilah buy cutting her face. I can see that in between our sinning, an innate righteousness is still manifested.
2. In what ways does the film mirror reality? Be specific
It mirrors the reality of this world, NO PEACE, NO JUSTICE, NO MERCY, and the world that full of lies and tragedies.
In this facts no one are exempted to experience this world system.
The experienced of Bill and Munny William mirrored this reality. For in the condition of government or shall we say a town, there is always holding the governmental power for his territorial area that unfortunately possibly can abuse it to the fact that he (like Bill) use the power to oppress and take advantage to the community. From the movie, Bill (the police officer) is the power and the authority therefore they control the community. On the other hands, William Munny is also the enlightened the mirror of the reality. Such attachment to one another is more than choice or freedom that is how nature or the natural time (the succession of contrast) touches, molds and blooms our lives. The laxity of it and its unfavorable decisions and implementation make it parallel to the story. Thus, extortion, bribery, black male arose both in the films and in reality.
The thing is that, poverty or dire needs could push any of us to commit sin.
3. The film has been called a parable. Why? How does it subvert
The parable is an excellent material of demonstrating, redefining and understanding the reality, nevertheless, in the very meaningful movie "unforgiven". A Parable is meant to give meaning, reveal truths to picture life and the message of the Reign of God. In our norms, killing is a crime except for those armed people of the government like police and soldiers. The film was subversive because the murderers are the protagonists while the sheriff and his people were the villains. It is not the other way around.
The police brutalities that happen in our today’s society are showed in the movie. In this film, it portrays the injustice or impassive conduct of the police officers who should have dealt the crime with utmost regard but just fined the perpetrators with some ponies.
This realities subverts the idea that a criminal is always a bad one, a criminal is not capable in doing good, Bill is a criminal before but he manages to change, this means changes happens to everyone, it is only our prejudices never change, it was fixated, we tend to believe the saying, first impression last. It becomes subversive in the sense that the ugly behavior was done by the supposed good men, men who were supposed to carry out justice and peace of the community but to this movie, even hindered them. Another one is the assassination plot. In this movie, it was something that is not concealed. It was like a job opening that any interested party may just take in.
4. What key themes resonate in the film?
UNFORGIVEN – revenge is the main focus of the film
Towards Munny remain unresolved, the mother-in-law looks at Munny in one area or one angle, she never tried to discover who William Munny is as a person, as a known criminal, as a man, friend, mentor, as a partner etc. We most of the times judges people from a single area or one angle point of view. We should learn the Christ way of accepting and accommodating people, let us accept them as person, person with a lots of masks, Jesus offered first acceptance not judgment. There is no condemnation we are more on redemption.
5.What theological/religious/biblical images/metaphors does the film conjure up for you?
“TO ERR IS HUMAN,TO FORGIVE IS DIVINE” I was convicted with this saying upon watching the movie. I reminisced the story of Joseph the dreamer that o can relate as my biblical image on the movie. Despite of everything that his brothers did to him, he expressed forgiveness and he showed love. Yes, the very most difficult things to do is to forgive, but we remember that we are forgiven first before we forgive, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
EMMANUEL D. BANG-ASAN
MDIV II
REACTION PAPER on
The controversial GRP-MILF MOA
GRP-MILF-MOA on Ancestral Domain has now been the subject of much discussion. I myself have been saying that the MOA in its present state is not much more than a piece of paper.
The MOA has a legal, psychological and political implications. In fact, I am not even sure that, in terms of constitutionally , the MOA is “ripe” for JUDICIAL REVIEW. It is clear that these objectives cannot be achieved by a mere memorandum of agreement. Even if the MOA were signed today, none of the goals enumerated in the MOA would be ripe for implementation. For this reason I am surprised that the documents enumeration of terms of reference the Philippine Constitution is not mentioned. And it is also for this reason that in my view the controversy is not yet “RIPE” for judicial review. The controversial MOA product of innumerable GRP-MILF dialogues, did not go through a broad consultation. The lack of consultation is now being defended by government as a matter of “EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE.” A “MONOTONY” not “AUTONOMY”. An “AUTO-MONEY” for the Arroyo’s administration and not an “AUTONOMY” for peace in Mindanao or even for the entire country.
I find that this is to be ridiculous. It is an embodiment of the will of the sovereign people of Mindanao. It is ridiculous to exclude the people from the formulation of what is supposed to be the expression of their will. However it is not hopeless situation, it is not too late for the people to get involved, as in fact they are already being involved. Unfortunately the circumstances have made the matter highly explosive. In the end, those who are pushing for achievement of the goals of the MOA will have no choice but to feed it into the legislative process. And the legislature will have the opportunity to conduct all the needed hearings in aid of legislation.
I just hope that the executive department will not once again wave its signature flag of “EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE” Indeed, when the documents begin to be subjected to scrutiny, there will be a lot to debate about. There is also the matter of expanding the territory of the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity. There is now loud weeping and gnashing of teeth about this. It is also obvious that the wish of the MILF is to have a stronger say about the natural resources within the territory they desire to control. Crafting the final law on the subject will very likely necessitate constitutional amendment.
And what about governance? The MOA speaks of a relationship with the national government which is “associative characterized by shared authority.”
The language is GREEK or maybe HEBREW that needs for translation. Toward the end of the document I find this passage: “Any provisions of the MOA on Ancestral Domain requiring amendments to the existing legal framework shall come into force upon the signing of a comprehensive compact and upon effecting the necessary changes to the legal framework with due regard to non derogation of prior agreements and within the stipulated timeframe contained in the comprehensive compact.” The paragraph is HIGHLY LOADED AND WILL NEED A LOT OF EXEGESIS. Finally if and when the government representatives sign the MOA, what will they be agreeing to and of what binding force will their agreement be? Will these and other questions be clarified in the scheduled oral arguments? And now they say; the solution is ALL OUT WAR…Oh come on GMA.???
ALL OUT WAR???? Absolutely NEVER. In the United Methodist Church BOOK OF DISCIPLINE 2004, sighted that, we believe war is incompatible with the teaching and example of Christ. We therefore reject war as an instrument of national foreign policy, to be employed only as a last resort in the prevention of such evils as genocide, brutal suppression of human rights, and unprovoked international aggression. We insist that the first moral duty of all nations is to resolve by peaceful means every dispute that arises between or among them; that human values must outweigh military claims as governments determine their priorities; that the militarization of society must be challenged and stopped; that the manufacture, sale, and deployment of armaments must be reduced and controlled; and that the production, possession, or use of nuclear weapons be condemned. Consequently, we endorse general and complete disbarment under strict and effective international control.
In this statement I myself strongly oppose the GRP-MILF Peace Panel Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain ("GRP-MILF MOA") because it is flawed in the process just as it is flawed in its provisions. What was lost in the process was any appreciation for legitimacy in a democracy that stems from winning consensus, including the consent of the governed. Many, if not all, of its provisions violate the Constitution, which strangely enough the Memorandum never mentions by name.
The GRP-MILF MOA is a proposal (crafted in private and sprung on the public) to dismember the Republic of the Philippines, a prelude to creating a state within a state, if not to create an independent and sovereign one, and a provocation to a bitter struggle of brother against brother. Just as reprehensible, it is a TROJAN HORSE VIRUS signed to be foisted on our unwitting people to perpetuate the incumbent’s power and her abuse of it.
The Memorandum of Agreement will result in a diminution of Philippine sovereignty as it empowers its juridical creation to enter into economic agreements and trade relations with foreign countries, to open trade missions abroad, and to participate in meetings of the ASEAN and UN specialized agencies where only sovereign states take part.
Without prior and adequate discussion and debate of the significant consequences of the proposed modifications, we are being committed to alter the Constitution, to change the civil service, electoral, financial and banking, education, legislation, legal, economic, and political systems.
It sets aside the time-honored principles of sanctity of contract and inviolability of vested rights to grant the Bangsamoro juridical entity the power to modify, revise, and even supersede significant long-term contracts and agreements duly entered into by relevant government authorities and private parties.
Accordingly, we join our voices with those who have gone to the Supreme Court to prohibit permanently the formal signing of the GRP-MILF MOA as presently worded. We ask, together with our countrymen in the South and in the North, for a peace that is the fruit of an open covenant, openly arrived at through frank negotiations in full public view, consistent with our nationwide aspiration for a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace.
GRP-MILF-MOA is a front for larger ridiculous plan of Arroyo administration, its scrap. That plan for Charter Change. We need a real peace not the fake. We don’t need peace temporarily, we need permanently. We are for peace in the entire Philippines, in Mindanao, in Visayas, and in Luzon. We are for a peace process that consults all and involves all. We are for transparency at every step of the process, from negotiation of the terms, through to the articulation of the agreement and the implementation of its provisions. We are for a permanent peace by all, for all, for all time.
.....SIR MADAM,,HERE ARE ALL MY FOUR REACTIONS AS MY JOURNAL IN OUR STUDIES IN BIBLE METHODS AND CURR.DEVELEPMENT....THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LEARNING I'VE LEARNED,,,GOD BLESS AND MORE POWER
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