SO

So...i moved to Tumblr. Because it is cooler. And funner. So you should join me there. convocationred.tumblr.com. See you there!

This is really about Mormons, I swear.

Fact: I am anti-social. But its ok. Because I just admitted it. And admission is the first step to recovery, or at least, that's what 'they' say. Who are these ubiquitous 'They' anyway? And why do we consistently quote them even though we have no idea as to their true identity?

I should preface this post by saying that I plan to make this entry a tad bit less... vaguely controversial (?) than the previous. But bygones are bygones, (there 'they' go again), and we move forward.

Today was the Activities fair at university and the residential quad and square was packed to the gills with people of every club and persuasion attempting to draw unsuspecting freshman to their booths. I had to go chat with a friend quickly for a class and make my way to the lunch hall, which required me to pass through throng of people, only aggravating my hermitic tendencies. I having nothing against humanity, I really don't. We are a lovely group over all, and I say that rather broadly. But a large mass of people very close together, all speaking loudly, blasting music, activity on all sides....its a bit distressing. I suppose because I can't keep tabs on everything? Well, suffice it to say I was surrounded, and unhappily so. I could possibly be labeled a conscientious surround-ee...maybe. Anyway, I was moving along in my trek through a modern re-creation of Vanity fair ( read your Bunyan!), when I was accosted by a member of the Mormon church, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, even though I rather disagree with that title. I must be honest. Mormons make me laugh, they really do. I don't mean to disrespect people and their beliefs, but they ride bicycles, peddle leaflets and have name-tags beginning with the title 'Elder' or 'Sister'! It's kind of a comical mix between vacuum sales-people and the Monastery. And they always wear neck ties! You must admit it is rather comical. I mean, I love neck-ties, but not as religious garb! Wear a cassock or a robe or a miter or something. Not a neck tie! It seems as if Mormonism is the quintessentially american religion. Yes, I know it originated in Illinois...but I mean, neckties and lots of babies and they all have really mid-western names like Hawthorne or Jessup. I've never met an 'Elder Wong' or an 'Elder Lazigvonetti'. You see my point by now, I'm sure. So all that to say, I find mormons comical. In a good, dignified....american way? Three cheers for...polygamy and tolerance!

That was not a possibility that struck me.

It has taken multiple tries to get this very first blog published.
To be honest, I do not know if this will be the draft that I publish,
but just in case it is, I will begin it as such. The first term of
university has begun, and I am uncertain as to how I feel the
term will end. I hope it ends well, but who but a fool or a masochist
wouldn't, eh? Today, as I said, was the start of the new term, and
thereby, the first day of classes. The second class of the day was
Mechanics of International Relations, dealing a tad bit too much
with Game Theory, which, may I say, I know absolutely
NOTHING about. But halfway through the Professor, who
happened to be from the Netherlands, which gives him that
much more credibility, made a comment about the need to make
certain that all of our beliefs are falsifiable, e.g. able to be proven
false, thereby being based upon logical reasoning. And
it made me realize something.

My worldview is in desperate need of revision. If it were a
draft of a novel, my english professor would fling it back at me
with an expression of disgust, and the crinkled, worn, and
what I thought were much thought over pages of my world-view's
draft would be scarred with the fatal word "Flawed Premise".
Translation: Everything you based this all on is B-U-N-K. Now
kill it and start again. Perhaps I need to preface this all with a
definition of what my worldview looks like. I am a political 

moderate with conservative tendencies. I am an Anglican
devoted to Biblical orthodoxy, yet also an honest inquirer 

with an open mind. I am a proud American, yet see the 

necessity to work with our global partners. All sounds
just fine right? Yet, I have to ask myself that fatal question, 

WHY? Why do I believe it all? That is where this whole flawed 

premise part comes in. I ascribe to the major
tenets of what I just outlined, mainly due to the fact that I was

raised in that environment. I have recently re-evaluated these 

beliefs, and I still hold to them, but the shocking,
and rather terrifying knowledge that I am a believer simply 

due to environment is troubling.
Acceptance should never be placed before intellectual honesty. 

Reason and Rationality are not the all in all, but they are pretty 

close. If we don't have reasoning behind our
beliefs, then what do we have? Our beliefs mold our actions, and 

thereby us. Question everything you hold so tightly to, not for 

questioning's sake, but simply to make sure
that it is truly yours. Seek truth and Find it. Do not be afraid of 

doubt, because, honestly, doubt leads to certainty. 

Paradoxical, I know. But so is life.