Week Two Journal Entry

In this week we were introduced to a primary theme about understanding our own view of reality – what we think it is, and how we should go about changing our view if necessary. The authors argued, some vehemently (like Nietzsche), against many of the prevailing customs and traditions of our Western beliefs. We also discovered that there are various methodologies that we can apply to refine or change our perspectives about thus topic.

In my own study of psychology I was able to identify most with Sigmund Freud’s contention that our mental processes are the result of the influences of our ego and superego. Our conscious mind (ego) is often times dominated or regulated by our subconscious mind (superego; that little voice in our head or that feeling we get about our assurances and doubts when we make decisions or engage in activities). Our subconscious mental processes are directly tied to our beliefs, and as Freud suggested, when our beliefs are obscured from reality, we behave accordingly, which is normally in an irrational manner.

I particularly enjoyed reading Nietzsche’s excerpt from The Antichrist (1895). This was certainly the most discussed topic for the week, and it brought out some interesting opinions. Nietzsche believed that the true source of power was in mankind’s own naturally way of surviving and dominating the species, and that the Christian faith was harmful to this natural state of being because it taught compassion, pity, and forgiveness for our lowliest humans. He saw this as weak. I would like to make a point about what I believe power really is:

We say that power is normally attributed to persons in leadership roles; and we also say that leaders possess the ability to influence behaviors and actions in other people (many a man has done some extraordinary things in combat because the power to control their impulses and actions by the military commanders dominated their thinking). Therefore, can we also say then, that the Christian faith has a great deal of power – since it is obvious that the faith has the ability to influence people’s actions and behaviors?

As I mentioned in one of my posts much of the readings are composed in a manner of words and phrases that we are not typically accustomed to in this day in age. I find myself straining through some of the material on the first go-around, but I am surprised to see how I am much better able to understand it the second time around once I have determined the underlying point. I am grateful to be armed with a good thesaurus.