Blog #2

Religion played a significant role in constructing our nation, and is a large part of every society. During the first and second great awakening, America reformed the way people thought about their faiths. Why is religion so important to people? Karl Marx once said, "Religion is the self-consciousness and self esteem of man who has either not found himself or has already lost himself. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world just as it is the spirit of spiritless conditions. It is the opium of people". I've always wondered how the phenomenon of religion became to be so diverse and why there are so many variations of religion. It is a sense of fulfillment to questions we cannot answer.  I feel that a basic understanding of concepts of religions other than our own can bring a little less prejudice and discrimination to the world. But as long as religion continues to thrive, so will conflict.

Blog #1

My definition of American identity and ideas have not been challenged. Most Americans are known to be driven by greed and materialistic items. We founded a country based on equality yet we failed to live up to those standards. America by all means is a great country with bountiful opportunities to live the American dream. Over the course of history and time, our country has beaten impossible odds and has proven to be the greatest nation in the world. Today, it seems as if we are being mocked. Americans today are portrayed as lazy, unmotivated and greedy. Basically the whole idea of patriotism and pride for our country has fallen. It is a free for all, and only the strongest will survive. In a generation where social networking and the latest episode of 'Jersey Shore' is far more important than the national debt crisis, I have lost hope in our country. It even seems as if American corporations and business want to suck every penny out of consumers of today, and the very few wealthy people of our nation are doing very little to support our economy in these desperate times of needs. We as a nation have lost our morals and what our founding fathers visioned this country to be.