Many things had indeed happened since that very first day I had stepped out my home to another for the next two years of my life. Physical activities, outfields, tests, regiments, and a great deal of discipline that accompanied all of it. And truthfully speaking it had been a rather painful transition. Things that I could once do back home in the civilian world I cannot repeat in this new world of mine. Things I thought I couldn't do in my old home I kept doing in my new home: Doing pull-ups were one of the things, spewing profanities was another.
Then, now I am back to my old home again. Suddenly this onslaught of change had rendered me completely lost momentarily. I had always thought that a civilian life was to be on in complete freedom and bliss in comparison of this monstrous life of confinement and conformity, and yet again I had been wrong on that. Actually, the responsibilities that came with the freedom in this world were unnerving. People still wake up at 5.45 in the morning, people still work mindlessly- people still have to lead other people, and people still have to scold other people. Suddenly I do not see a difference between this old life and new life; apart for the pull-ups and those profanities, life between the two worlds were actually much similar. Suddenly that utopia I anticipated all along did not exist the way I wanted it to be.
Then and again, what do I want in the first place? If it was the same all along, then why the radical change?
I am on block leave from 13-26 December. I had returned from a holiday trip to Taiwan 4 days ago to enjoin my class in a chalet for 3 days up till yesterday. I go on a scenic tour, I do shopping, I eat A LOT, take some cool photos, and enjoy the cool air for seven days before heading back to the congeniality and comfort of my home and old friends- to more adventure, more enjoyment, and much more good food. I got tired on the third day, so we call it a day and went back to sleep to wake up finding out that its my birthday- then my aunt came over and gave me a guitar- which was something I had wanted all along yet never told anyone. Basically, I liked my civilian life- I wish I was a civilian till I ORD.
Pause that notion for a moment. Whats wrong?
Elementary. This is not civilian life. This is enjoyment. A normal civilian lifestyle does not encompass a routine holiday overseas and class chalets every other weekend or a cool birthday present every other day.
We book out every weekend expecting some sort of enjoyment in our life as a temporal civilian. Due to the amount of pressure and stress encountered in the life within the camp and with the system itself, we conveniently associated book out as reward, and will not satisfy unless we somehow do something enjoyable to reward ourselves at the end of the week. Ask anyone from the camp- most of his weekends would either be spent playing games or going out with his friends or doing zany stuff. Who would toddle up to the chin-up bar in his neighbourhood park and train for his pull-ups? Who would spend his weekend studying mindlessly or picking up a third language? Who in the right state of mind would wake up at 5.45 in the morning to eat breakfast?
Doing chin up for NAPFA, studying for prelims, waking up at 5.45 to go to school. Actually, we did that all in our civilian lives. We basically forgot all about it.
Its okay for now trying to enjoy ourselves on a weekend or on a block leave for as much as we can. Crudely, we are still paid for slacking, we deserve the break ( more or less ) for the amount of madness we had to endure for five days of our lives, and we have to give ourselves a pat on the back for having to so successfully evade weekend confinement for those past 120 hours. But definitely, such a work-reward lifestyle cannot be carried-forward beyond ORD into university or work at this degree. It'll be madness to stone in-front of the computer all Saturday morning when everybody else is researching some 3-inch thick textbook down at the library. It'll be out of question to wake up at 10.30 in the morning and sleep at 5.45 the next day watching a late night movie. And it'll be definitely suicidal to mull around and waiting for things to happen.
Co-operation with co-eds and teachers just like fellow soldiers and superiors. that 5.45 22.30 routine, those mindless muggings for stuff we never stop questioning the need to do it in the first place. And that dogged determination to start, carry it through and end this highly exhaustive lifestyle just like enduring till ORD to come. This time all without the hope of enjoying every weekend or during offs or leaves. That is the real civilian life. Its little wonder how many guys could not adapt and keep up with their peers in university or in the workforce. Some still sit around and wait for things to happen when most of their peers had already overtaken them. Some keep rewarding themselves they never start working in first place. Many never had the will power to start working. Suddenly, freedom becomes a conformity, and conformity in turn becomes freedom.
...Then they go halcyon on the army days- and the vicious cycle goes on...
This be a gentle reminder to all including myself. That life is not a bed of roses, whether it be military or civilian. To distinguish reward and work, and to warn about the possible mind-traps that may arise out of anticipation and imagination. To those whom know it already- good for you. To those that are still waiting for things to happen, welcome to the real world.
24 December 2007
26 November 2007
Interlude #04 - Happiness
I read the last entry yesterday again, and I was actually quite horrified of the words I had uttered then, indeed it did sound really a little too emotional- afterall, it has been like eight months since I vowed to myself never to wallow back full-scale in the past again in such a pessimistic perspective. I didn't know what on earth got me so worked up then, I told myself again to live on positively again, I tried to live on.
Today is monday evening. Two hours before I leave my house for the week the last time, then I found out how on earth did I got so worked up last week again. Basically its still the same old story. Damn it I hate this kind of life, every sunday evening I would come back a full circle marking one more round of this vicious cycle.
What is there to be done? Try to smile again knowing that its none other but superficial procrastination? More words that would once more lie all but empty at the end of the day? I know I can't lie to myself anymore.
I would like to treat the last entry as a strategic countermeasure. after all-
Happiness is a virtue.
And all humans want to be happy.
Pitiful numbers of people are happy today.
Plentiful others are sad.
In some cases some people like to make their lives miserable.
Not me.
Especially living today in this world of madness
So I try to remember I was happy
Such that I may thrive on for one more day...
Today is monday evening. Two hours before I leave my house for the week the last time, then I found out how on earth did I got so worked up last week again. Basically its still the same old story. Damn it I hate this kind of life, every sunday evening I would come back a full circle marking one more round of this vicious cycle.
What is there to be done? Try to smile again knowing that its none other but superficial procrastination? More words that would once more lie all but empty at the end of the day? I know I can't lie to myself anymore.
I would like to treat the last entry as a strategic countermeasure. after all-
Happiness is a virtue.
And all humans want to be happy.
Pitiful numbers of people are happy today.
Plentiful others are sad.
In some cases some people like to make their lives miserable.
Not me.
Especially living today in this world of madness
So I try to remember I was happy
Such that I may thrive on for one more day...
17 November 2007
Interlude #03 - Fear
There was once a traveller whom was making his way to a great city. One night he met two other travellers along the road. One was Fear and the other was Plague. Plague explained to the traveller that, once they arrive, they (Fear and Plague) are expected to kill 10,000 people in the city. The traveller asks Plague if Plague would do all the killing. "Oh no," says Plague." I'll kill only a few hundred. My friend Fear will kill all the rest..."
28 October 2007
Halcyon
Funny, if I should consider it this way: why do we always like to be wallowed within our past lifestyles and all those 'good old days' when we keep thinking our current life is one of utmost boredom and monotony? After all, if you were to consider this very thought, like say- five minutes from now, wouldn't your 'current trashy lifestyle' be one more memory to that 'glorious old days' you keep perceiving your past to be? Extrapolate this thought once more, and are we concluding that our present lifestyles are and will always be lesser than our past?
Sounds really deranged down here. But lets face it, many people are always entrapped within this vicious cycle of thoughts and memories, ( and whether they know it or not ) it seems always the hardest to even find the heart to appreciate the world and ourselves there and then at every point of our lives. Personally, I have yet to declare that I had been so open minded I had oversaw and gone beyond that mind-trap live that life of happiness and bliss in sacrosanct.
I'm very far from it, actually.
We had went out yesterday- for a little meal, and some catching up to do after that little physical split into our lives. The meal itself was superb: chunky pieces of chicken in some kind of green sauce that sinisterly resembled that soup of vegetation that was lying all around me while standing-two in a swamp during outfield. Tangy spaghetti in Bolognese sauce topped with mushrooms and coupled with salad ( freshly plucked vegetation from that swamp again ); a worthy bargain for twenty four bucks fifty, and definitely one more option open to hang out and eat in the future.
Yet there had been the catching up I had underestimated. After all, it had been nearly a year since the day we had last met and sat down for a decent meal together. A whopping twelve months, pushed back by those very hectic schedules of ours and phased out by much more pressing matters we had to settle for the past year: The military, the universities, the courses, the weekends burnt, and all the madness that had accompanied those regiments itself. Everybody had a story to tell that very night in that little restaurant, we did not leave the place until nearly midnight.
Thinking back today, I never expected all our lives to end up in such a situation.
In secondary school, they tell us to mug for our O levels, they told us that we are all going into Junior College and we are going to do whatever it takes to make sure that we enter that institution itself. People whom acquired anything short of a B3 were deemed losers. everybody had been tabulating and re-tabulating those little numbers that had accompanied their grades after every preliminary examination, praying that somehow those numbers would not exceed the number of fingers they had on their hands. In the end the O levels came and went, some people cried, some people died, some people went to JC and some people went nowhere at all. The exam hall looked like one great abattoir on the day of collection of results, life then could not have been any more terrible then.
Then in Junior College, they tell us to mug for our A levels ( which were actually something more like the revenge of the O levels ), they told us that only some would be going into the university and we have to do whatever it takes to make sure that we scramble into that institution itself. People whim acquired anything short of a B were deemed complete losers. Everybody didn't have numbers to tally for their prelims, so they tabulated the number of hours spent studying per day, praying somehow those numbers would exceed the number of fingers they had on their hands . In the end the A levels came and went, imposing even greater carnage than what its predecessor had inflicted. Some people cried, some people died, some people went into university and many more went nowhere at all. The exam hall looked like one great abattoir on the day of collection of results, life then could not have been any more terrible then.
Then even before we could enter the university, we were abducted by national security and had to do hard labour for minimal wages. They tell us to pass our SOC ( the A levels never seemed so laid back in comparison to this monster ), they told us that its nearly impossible to pass it and we have to do whatever it takes to make sure that we scramble behind the finishing line before the time's up. People whom acquired anything short of a 9.30 were just condemned. The number of hours tabulated on studying became the number of minutes on passing, and everybody had been praying somehow that those numbers would not ( again ) exceed the number of fingers they had on their hands. In the end SOC came and went, some people cried, many more died, pitiful numbers passed and had nights out and nearly everybody went nowhere at all. The SOC ground looked like one great abattoir on the day of the test, life then could not have been any more terrible then.
First the O levels, then the A levels, then SOC, each of which had made its predecessor so easy going and halcyon in comparison. It may seem light-hearted now, but definitely it had been something short of a laughing matter at that point of time. The uncertainty then, the fear of failing to get that desired result, the pain and the efforts evoked time after time to clear obstacle after obstacle, only to find oneself faced with another set of obstacles more menacing and challenging than ever. It would therefore be more than easy to just slip on that mindset to just live in denial over the past and wallow within events once past and may never return. Academically, physically, socially ( where relationships and acquaintances forged seemed ever more superficial and one-sided as time goes by ). I talked with them for three hours after dinner- laughing, smiling, concerning. It had turned out I had never talked that way to anybody for a very long time despite the fact that I had acquainted with so many people this entire year in comparison to those previous years...
What is going on? Aren't we supposed to appreciate each day as it comes? Each friend as we acquaint in our lives? Each obstacles which strengthens us more than ever to be that person we had always envisioned ourselves to be? Why is there now a feeling that our lives ( my life ) had seemed so much more complicated and yet paradoxically, empty in comparison with what we had been through?
University life is going to be tough- much more hectic than ever before, based upon those sketches we had drawn out yesterday. Much as I look forward to it right now as a NSF, I do not know whether this optimism would hold through that very day I stepped into those compounds itself. Perhaps, I would look back and find the military actually a rest haven from all these madness of this world ( and the vicious cycle goes on ), perhaps I might wallow in halcyon again, but much as I can do about it, I would definitely treasure these memories, past present or future; and attempt to live life pragmatically for the time being.
Sounds really deranged down here. But lets face it, many people are always entrapped within this vicious cycle of thoughts and memories, ( and whether they know it or not ) it seems always the hardest to even find the heart to appreciate the world and ourselves there and then at every point of our lives. Personally, I have yet to declare that I had been so open minded I had oversaw and gone beyond that mind-trap live that life of happiness and bliss in sacrosanct.
I'm very far from it, actually.
We had went out yesterday- for a little meal, and some catching up to do after that little physical split into our lives. The meal itself was superb: chunky pieces of chicken in some kind of green sauce that sinisterly resembled that soup of vegetation that was lying all around me while standing-two in a swamp during outfield. Tangy spaghetti in Bolognese sauce topped with mushrooms and coupled with salad ( freshly plucked vegetation from that swamp again ); a worthy bargain for twenty four bucks fifty, and definitely one more option open to hang out and eat in the future.
Yet there had been the catching up I had underestimated. After all, it had been nearly a year since the day we had last met and sat down for a decent meal together. A whopping twelve months, pushed back by those very hectic schedules of ours and phased out by much more pressing matters we had to settle for the past year: The military, the universities, the courses, the weekends burnt, and all the madness that had accompanied those regiments itself. Everybody had a story to tell that very night in that little restaurant, we did not leave the place until nearly midnight.
Thinking back today, I never expected all our lives to end up in such a situation.
In secondary school, they tell us to mug for our O levels, they told us that we are all going into Junior College and we are going to do whatever it takes to make sure that we enter that institution itself. People whom acquired anything short of a B3 were deemed losers. everybody had been tabulating and re-tabulating those little numbers that had accompanied their grades after every preliminary examination, praying that somehow those numbers would not exceed the number of fingers they had on their hands. In the end the O levels came and went, some people cried, some people died, some people went to JC and some people went nowhere at all. The exam hall looked like one great abattoir on the day of collection of results, life then could not have been any more terrible then.
Then in Junior College, they tell us to mug for our A levels ( which were actually something more like the revenge of the O levels ), they told us that only some would be going into the university and we have to do whatever it takes to make sure that we scramble into that institution itself. People whim acquired anything short of a B were deemed complete losers. Everybody didn't have numbers to tally for their prelims, so they tabulated the number of hours spent studying per day, praying somehow those numbers would exceed the number of fingers they had on their hands . In the end the A levels came and went, imposing even greater carnage than what its predecessor had inflicted. Some people cried, some people died, some people went into university and many more went nowhere at all. The exam hall looked like one great abattoir on the day of collection of results, life then could not have been any more terrible then.
Then even before we could enter the university, we were abducted by national security and had to do hard labour for minimal wages. They tell us to pass our SOC ( the A levels never seemed so laid back in comparison to this monster ), they told us that its nearly impossible to pass it and we have to do whatever it takes to make sure that we scramble behind the finishing line before the time's up. People whom acquired anything short of a 9.30 were just condemned. The number of hours tabulated on studying became the number of minutes on passing, and everybody had been praying somehow that those numbers would not ( again ) exceed the number of fingers they had on their hands. In the end SOC came and went, some people cried, many more died, pitiful numbers passed and had nights out and nearly everybody went nowhere at all. The SOC ground looked like one great abattoir on the day of the test, life then could not have been any more terrible then.
First the O levels, then the A levels, then SOC, each of which had made its predecessor so easy going and halcyon in comparison. It may seem light-hearted now, but definitely it had been something short of a laughing matter at that point of time. The uncertainty then, the fear of failing to get that desired result, the pain and the efforts evoked time after time to clear obstacle after obstacle, only to find oneself faced with another set of obstacles more menacing and challenging than ever. It would therefore be more than easy to just slip on that mindset to just live in denial over the past and wallow within events once past and may never return. Academically, physically, socially ( where relationships and acquaintances forged seemed ever more superficial and one-sided as time goes by ). I talked with them for three hours after dinner- laughing, smiling, concerning. It had turned out I had never talked that way to anybody for a very long time despite the fact that I had acquainted with so many people this entire year in comparison to those previous years...
What is going on? Aren't we supposed to appreciate each day as it comes? Each friend as we acquaint in our lives? Each obstacles which strengthens us more than ever to be that person we had always envisioned ourselves to be? Why is there now a feeling that our lives ( my life ) had seemed so much more complicated and yet paradoxically, empty in comparison with what we had been through?
University life is going to be tough- much more hectic than ever before, based upon those sketches we had drawn out yesterday. Much as I look forward to it right now as a NSF, I do not know whether this optimism would hold through that very day I stepped into those compounds itself. Perhaps, I would look back and find the military actually a rest haven from all these madness of this world ( and the vicious cycle goes on ), perhaps I might wallow in halcyon again, but much as I can do about it, I would definitely treasure these memories, past present or future; and attempt to live life pragmatically for the time being.
19 October 2007
GP again
Note: people of T31, the following excerpt may sound very nostalgic. Please do bear with me...
*
General Paper-
Essay
Science and religion.
Qn 7: There is a conflict between science and religion. Discuss.
____________________________________________
Science and religion may very well be considered at the two functioning lungs of the present day human race. We use both science and religion to attempt to give ourselves an explanation about various natural phenomenon that is occurring in and around us, we try to seek answers to our fundamental questions of life, of our existence, and to give a sort of justification to our morality. Yet, while it is almost absolute that everybody on this world subscribes to at least either of these two philosophical derivations, and upon either of these two philosophies live their lifestyles, somehow, it is evident that there is a great conflict between science and religion. Pose a simple question on how are we humans are created and both may give us two very different, if not contradictory set of explanations. Ask a little more critical-minded question like “what is morality?” and we may get a full spectrum of conflicting answers. Fundamentally, both science and religion even gives us very contrasting philosophies on each other‘s philosophy.
In this essay, I would attempt to raise various issues where science and religion may conflict and contradict each other to prove that there is indeed a great discrepancy in either of these two set of views to the other either of the two, to other issues in life, and perhaps try to seek the reasons why do they differ- in terms of their very different philosophy they are based upon, their morality, and their set of contrasting views to basic question, all of which I have introduced just now, but will now consider to look into them in greater detail.
Fundamentally, Science is knowledge, and it’s full name being known as Natural science. Natural Science is a set of practices and way of thinking of processing knowledge with Naturalism as it’s fundamental philosophy. While naturalism holds that “the natural world is the whole of reality and there are no supernatural or spiritual entities, realities, or values and that there is no need to appeal to such illusory matters to find significance in our lives.”, Religion, meanwhile is based on the fundamental belief that there is a supernatural entity, or God. Note that we can logically infer that science would be based on a set of values and philosophies that does not regard any spiritual entity in any context. Putting it simply, science disregards religion.
On the other hand, religious theologians and philosophers constantly argue the fact that Natural Science may never explain fully the significance of nature, and to understand the “Why” or creation and nature, though it may very well be able to describe it and explain how it works. Science being knowledge- mere human knowledge, may never be able to seek an explanation of a God, or challenge his existence, and creation. For the philosophy of religion holds that the presence of God, or the supernatural entity, would mean a subject that we would never be able to appreciate or understand by pure logic on our part “for his time is not ours, and his works beyond us.”. Thus it would be foolish to integrate either of the two and seek a sort of explanation in-between in an attempt to argue that there is no conflict. For the fundamental fact that either of the two are built up on completely different philosophies that contradict each other, we can see how there would be a conflict between science and religion.
Science adopts a critical and logical form of thinking as it’s basis of thought and beliefs: Evidence therefore would be essential, if not the crux for scientific beliefs to be built upon. Every scientific fact we learn in our textbooks, or scientific based argument we read and learn in a General Paper lesson is based on pure logical reasoning on the evidence that is presented to us. We can hardly say that there are aliens on Mars and ever expect that to become a scientific claim unless we could somehow prove that it is so. The primary idea behind Science is that it only regards evidential belief. While religion turns to fideistic belief, they believe that that there is a God, and spirits, and miracles, even though they may not have even a single “scientific evidence” to prove these existences. In this aspect, there comes to a discrepancy between how different the Scientific and Religious organization operates in thought and system.
While this in itself may not cause and true conflict to each other, however when we apply either of these concepts to attempt to explain our fundamental questions in life and into our education, we would be able to see very contradicting answers. Take for example the creation of our universe and ourselves- when posed to a scientific minded person from a secular institution, he answers by referring to a purely physical theory of a dramatic nuclear explosion otherwise known as the Big bang and then a biological theory of Charles Darwin of how we came from the apes billion of years later- proved by fossil records and meteorite studies done and proven by many great scientists before his time. But yet when posed to a devout Christian brought up in a religious school, he would perhaps answer that it was by the creation of God, on the first and sixth day of Genesis respectively, in which he merely believes in by the bible without a single evidence to back up his findings, and in which the scientific minded man in the first case may feel as nonsense. But yet these conflicting answers incidentally are the two answers we have been imparted, and are imparting on to our next generation- and both of which are as ‘obsolete’ as the other. These unsolvable questions have hence led great conflict between science and religion: Conflict in terms of our education, conflict in the basic knowledge of our human race.
Many, on the other hand, may believe that there is actually no conflict between science and religion. Some even feel that science and religion is actually complementary. Just as what Gerald S. has stated and proven scientifically (mathematically) in his book “The Science of God.”, when he has made a successful attempt to converge the concept that our creation of 15 billion years is actually six days as our “15 billion years” of time is ultimately a time that is relative only to us- and if we were to take a uniform “universal” standard of time, out creation would actually be squeezed all into 6 mere 24 hour days, homogeneous to the biblical concept that God had created the universe and us in 6 days; Many may feel that scientific manipulation can actually be used to explain religious ’riddles’ and actually be able to substantiate religion, thus coming up with a possibility of a “convergence” between science and religion.
I seek not to try to disprove this claim. There may be a possibility that ‘science’, or more correctly-”knowledge” in itself can actually be able to prove the credibility of the bible, and the existence of God, after all, there may be a possibility that God may exist in the first place, and that since He “has created us in his image” we may be able to use our human knowledge to one day prove his existence. But that will be beyond the point.
However, before we set forth to try to counter-argue this argument, we must bear in our minds constantly that the aim of this essay is to show that there is a conflict between science and religion- on this earth, at this present day. And not whether there may actually be no conflict in ‘science’ and religion. As what I have defined earlier, current day Science is actually known as Natural Science, and all branches of Science under Natural Science. All philosophies of science henceforth are subjected to the philosophies of Natural Science, with no exception at all. Therefore, fundamentally science, and all it’s fundamental philosophies- as what Naturalists have thought of, will always be naturalism, and be in conflict to the philosophy of religion- that there is no spiritual entity. Just like a person being taught and claiming that a ball is black will always be in a conflict with another person claiming that the ball is white. And unless either of these two philosophies ever would change for the other, we would see an eternal conflict between science and religion that would never be able to solve, or converge in any way.
Then, what about Abortion? Or Cloning? Is it justified to kill an unborn baby because he would be born mentally retarded and would suffer even more if he is let to live? Similarly, is it Justified to sacrifice a life to save other lives? If we were to take a closer look at today’s taboos, there seems to be a great conflict between science and religion again, this time in terms of morality. We have already come to a state of agreement that a human life starts at conception, yet some Scientists and governments believe that it is justified to take a life in exceptional cases such as these, a small sacrifice is justified for the sake of the bigger good . However, religious theologians firmly believe that the taking of human life in any form is unjustified in any case. This example is just a classic example on my last point that there is a conflict between science and religion, this time in terms of morality, evidently, form the above example, we can see that the morality of science is actually relatively relative, and though we know taking a human life is wrong, yet it still may be right in ‘exceptional cases’, this conflicts with the absolute religious moral that taking of any life is always wrong at any point of time. Henceforth, through these social taboos, generated by the discrepancy between the morality of science and religion, that we can see a conflict of science and religion in this very day. If so, how then can we ever address these problem without thinking that there is no conflict between science and religion?
Therefore, throughout this essay, it has became evident that there is a conflict between current day science and religion. In which either side would never be able to converge with the other, judging from their very different nature and fundamental philosophies, their approach and explanation towards life, as well as their differing moral values. Henceforth, unless one day either of the two is able to change their philosophy and viewpoints, and is willing to adopt a different moral value and mindset, we will see no convergence between the two.
*
General Paper-
Essay
Science and religion.
Qn 7: There is a conflict between science and religion. Discuss.
____________________________________________
Science and religion may very well be considered at the two functioning lungs of the present day human race. We use both science and religion to attempt to give ourselves an explanation about various natural phenomenon that is occurring in and around us, we try to seek answers to our fundamental questions of life, of our existence, and to give a sort of justification to our morality. Yet, while it is almost absolute that everybody on this world subscribes to at least either of these two philosophical derivations, and upon either of these two philosophies live their lifestyles, somehow, it is evident that there is a great conflict between science and religion. Pose a simple question on how are we humans are created and both may give us two very different, if not contradictory set of explanations. Ask a little more critical-minded question like “what is morality?” and we may get a full spectrum of conflicting answers. Fundamentally, both science and religion even gives us very contrasting philosophies on each other‘s philosophy.
In this essay, I would attempt to raise various issues where science and religion may conflict and contradict each other to prove that there is indeed a great discrepancy in either of these two set of views to the other either of the two, to other issues in life, and perhaps try to seek the reasons why do they differ- in terms of their very different philosophy they are based upon, their morality, and their set of contrasting views to basic question, all of which I have introduced just now, but will now consider to look into them in greater detail.
Fundamentally, Science is knowledge, and it’s full name being known as Natural science. Natural Science is a set of practices and way of thinking of processing knowledge with Naturalism as it’s fundamental philosophy. While naturalism holds that “the natural world is the whole of reality and there are no supernatural or spiritual entities, realities, or values and that there is no need to appeal to such illusory matters to find significance in our lives.”, Religion, meanwhile is based on the fundamental belief that there is a supernatural entity, or God. Note that we can logically infer that science would be based on a set of values and philosophies that does not regard any spiritual entity in any context. Putting it simply, science disregards religion.
On the other hand, religious theologians and philosophers constantly argue the fact that Natural Science may never explain fully the significance of nature, and to understand the “Why” or creation and nature, though it may very well be able to describe it and explain how it works. Science being knowledge- mere human knowledge, may never be able to seek an explanation of a God, or challenge his existence, and creation. For the philosophy of religion holds that the presence of God, or the supernatural entity, would mean a subject that we would never be able to appreciate or understand by pure logic on our part “for his time is not ours, and his works beyond us.”. Thus it would be foolish to integrate either of the two and seek a sort of explanation in-between in an attempt to argue that there is no conflict. For the fundamental fact that either of the two are built up on completely different philosophies that contradict each other, we can see how there would be a conflict between science and religion.
Science adopts a critical and logical form of thinking as it’s basis of thought and beliefs: Evidence therefore would be essential, if not the crux for scientific beliefs to be built upon. Every scientific fact we learn in our textbooks, or scientific based argument we read and learn in a General Paper lesson is based on pure logical reasoning on the evidence that is presented to us. We can hardly say that there are aliens on Mars and ever expect that to become a scientific claim unless we could somehow prove that it is so. The primary idea behind Science is that it only regards evidential belief. While religion turns to fideistic belief, they believe that that there is a God, and spirits, and miracles, even though they may not have even a single “scientific evidence” to prove these existences. In this aspect, there comes to a discrepancy between how different the Scientific and Religious organization operates in thought and system.
While this in itself may not cause and true conflict to each other, however when we apply either of these concepts to attempt to explain our fundamental questions in life and into our education, we would be able to see very contradicting answers. Take for example the creation of our universe and ourselves- when posed to a scientific minded person from a secular institution, he answers by referring to a purely physical theory of a dramatic nuclear explosion otherwise known as the Big bang and then a biological theory of Charles Darwin of how we came from the apes billion of years later- proved by fossil records and meteorite studies done and proven by many great scientists before his time. But yet when posed to a devout Christian brought up in a religious school, he would perhaps answer that it was by the creation of God, on the first and sixth day of Genesis respectively, in which he merely believes in by the bible without a single evidence to back up his findings, and in which the scientific minded man in the first case may feel as nonsense. But yet these conflicting answers incidentally are the two answers we have been imparted, and are imparting on to our next generation- and both of which are as ‘obsolete’ as the other. These unsolvable questions have hence led great conflict between science and religion: Conflict in terms of our education, conflict in the basic knowledge of our human race.
Many, on the other hand, may believe that there is actually no conflict between science and religion. Some even feel that science and religion is actually complementary. Just as what Gerald S. has stated and proven scientifically (mathematically) in his book “The Science of God.”, when he has made a successful attempt to converge the concept that our creation of 15 billion years is actually six days as our “15 billion years” of time is ultimately a time that is relative only to us- and if we were to take a uniform “universal” standard of time, out creation would actually be squeezed all into 6 mere 24 hour days, homogeneous to the biblical concept that God had created the universe and us in 6 days; Many may feel that scientific manipulation can actually be used to explain religious ’riddles’ and actually be able to substantiate religion, thus coming up with a possibility of a “convergence” between science and religion.
I seek not to try to disprove this claim. There may be a possibility that ‘science’, or more correctly-”knowledge” in itself can actually be able to prove the credibility of the bible, and the existence of God, after all, there may be a possibility that God may exist in the first place, and that since He “has created us in his image” we may be able to use our human knowledge to one day prove his existence. But that will be beyond the point.
However, before we set forth to try to counter-argue this argument, we must bear in our minds constantly that the aim of this essay is to show that there is a conflict between science and religion- on this earth, at this present day. And not whether there may actually be no conflict in ‘science’ and religion. As what I have defined earlier, current day Science is actually known as Natural Science, and all branches of Science under Natural Science. All philosophies of science henceforth are subjected to the philosophies of Natural Science, with no exception at all. Therefore, fundamentally science, and all it’s fundamental philosophies- as what Naturalists have thought of, will always be naturalism, and be in conflict to the philosophy of religion- that there is no spiritual entity. Just like a person being taught and claiming that a ball is black will always be in a conflict with another person claiming that the ball is white. And unless either of these two philosophies ever would change for the other, we would see an eternal conflict between science and religion that would never be able to solve, or converge in any way.
Then, what about Abortion? Or Cloning? Is it justified to kill an unborn baby because he would be born mentally retarded and would suffer even more if he is let to live? Similarly, is it Justified to sacrifice a life to save other lives? If we were to take a closer look at today’s taboos, there seems to be a great conflict between science and religion again, this time in terms of morality. We have already come to a state of agreement that a human life starts at conception, yet some Scientists and governments believe that it is justified to take a life in exceptional cases such as these, a small sacrifice is justified for the sake of the bigger good . However, religious theologians firmly believe that the taking of human life in any form is unjustified in any case. This example is just a classic example on my last point that there is a conflict between science and religion, this time in terms of morality, evidently, form the above example, we can see that the morality of science is actually relatively relative, and though we know taking a human life is wrong, yet it still may be right in ‘exceptional cases’, this conflicts with the absolute religious moral that taking of any life is always wrong at any point of time. Henceforth, through these social taboos, generated by the discrepancy between the morality of science and religion, that we can see a conflict of science and religion in this very day. If so, how then can we ever address these problem without thinking that there is no conflict between science and religion?
Therefore, throughout this essay, it has became evident that there is a conflict between current day science and religion. In which either side would never be able to converge with the other, judging from their very different nature and fundamental philosophies, their approach and explanation towards life, as well as their differing moral values. Henceforth, unless one day either of the two is able to change their philosophy and viewpoints, and is willing to adopt a different moral value and mindset, we will see no convergence between the two.
30 September 2007
Story #04
Classification: short story
Title: Transition (inspired from actual O Level examination question: the day you left school for the very last time)
Yesterday was Monday. I am not mad to say this. Yesterday was Monday.
I still had mixed feelings even as I had entered the school compounds- I did not want to be too early to school today, actually, and I definitely did not want to meet up with my teachers at the corridors or the school porch. But it was mum whom forced me to come extra early today- she had been nagging at me to retrieve some of my textbooks which I had left under my desk over the weekend…; Even as I slowly walked up the stairs to the fifth corridor, I still did not want to come back.
I slowly shuffled down that corridor and into my classroom, feeling all the while extremely hesitant and anticipative. I could very vividly picture what I might see when I had stepped through the doors of my classroom. Josh would surely be there, his head buried deep in the contents of some profound chemistry book, studying Organic Chemistry or about Avogardo’s number or Van-Da-Waals forces. Chris would be there too, tapping frantically at his hand phone as he usually sends his morning love messages to his twenty-seven girlfriends manually; the two of them are always early, I’m usually the third person to reach class…
And yet, there was no sign of them at all today.
I entered class, admiring the gloom of those tables and chairs, still very neatly arranged as though they had never been touched before. That had been a good reason why I liked my class very much. Everybody was very responsible and spontaneous, including Tan, whom we christened as the “Can’t-be-bothered” boy. Tables and chairs were usually very neatly arranged by our class monitor Stan after school everyday. Other classes required a duty roster to prevent their classroom from decaying; ours needed nothing but our initiatives.
I checked my watch. It read six thirty-five in the morning- perhaps I had been too early today. I usually enter class at about six forty-five.
I slowly switched on the lights and fans, pressing each switch very deliberately and carefully and listening to the little buzz of electricity emitting from within the PVC casing. Fans begin to whirl in a soft tone, bringing forth cool air into the little room; Josh would be coming in half an hour later, lessons would soon follow in about an hours time.
I walked nonchalantly towards my seat and sat down. It was located at the second row from the right. I stared at the empty whiteboard: Mr Leong, our form teacher, would usually come into class after morning assembly for his morning maths lesson, and he would be scribbling down some complex formulae on the board about the three rules of Differentiation. Soon I would have to take out my school’s foolscap pad and copy down those formulas, and revise them every night until the day of my Mathematics O level examination.
I slowly reached for a pile of books and worksheets from under my table. Mum had wanted me to extra early to school today so that I would have enough time to pack and tie up my books and loose worksheets. There was that familiar Physics Ten-Years-Series, that dingy copy of Chinese textbook I had flipped everyday when I studied… And that dreaded pink and green book with the words Additional mathematics stamped at the side.
I flipped open my additional mathematics textbook silently, listening to the soft flip-flap of its pages as I glanced through those wordy explanations on Permutation and Combination. Then, right at the heart of the book was a small photo- on it showed a rather large class of thirty two students, all smiling broadly then and oblivious to the fact that they were about to take O Levels in a months time. It reminded me about World War two I had read from my history textbook when Japanese soldiers had taken a photo with their comrade-in-arms before they were assigned to suicidal missions. Their faces expressed a feeling of deliriousness yet innocence as they peeked intently at the camera, some posing, some looking blur.
They were all my classmates: we had grown up together for two years; we had assisted each other for seven hundred and thirty days straight-
I could still remember those anticipative yet eager faces at the first day of secondary three. We had not known each other well then, and were even afraid to talk to each other. But these meaningful two years had brought us together somehow or the other. We communicate with each other now as if we had spent our entire lives together, we made new friends, and we never fail to support and help each other out no matter how difficult a problem may be.
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. That was the spirit.
I carefully placed each textbook into a small duffel bag I had brought along with me and glanced at my watch again. Josh and Chris would be arriving any time now. I had thought of staying awhile longer in class and wait up for them before going down for food; perhaps Chris would follow me. Josh never does, he’s bent for an A1 for all his subjects; but I should have known better-
I waited for five minutes, there was no sign of them at all- I waited for ten more minutes, perhaps they were late today, I kept telling myself then. I waited for another fifteen minutes; assembly should be starting any moment now- I waited for three hours- nothing came...
*
Today is Tuesday. There is no ambiguity in this statement with the previous one. Today is Tuesday.
Four days ago, I had received my O level Results from school. There had been much celebration and grieving at that particular moment when they had handed us our result slips. Josh that chemistry mugger had attained six points and was going to the National Junior College. Chris, with his twenty-seven love messages, was only liable for ITE (Institute of Technical Institution) with his thirty-two points. I had achieved fourteen points, I did not know whether I should laugh or cry then.
I slowly packed up my bag and got ready to leave the class. I stuffed in my additional mathematics textbook and in the process, my class photo had fluttered out of my book and landed neatly on my table. I did not bother to pick it up and put it in my bag… I couldn’t bear to-
Perhaps some secondary three boy would utilize this very classroom the next year and chance upon this little photo of his ex-seniors class. Perhaps he would pick it up and listen to its silent yet distinct message of: hey here! Do you know your present class was once occupied by a rather helpful and jolly bunch of secondary four students? Remember of a hardworking student of Joshua Tan, and a boy of Christopher with his twenty-seven girlfriends! And don’t forget to check out on a quiet and slightly autistic boy by the name of Bobby Yeo! Learn from their mistakes! Follow their good examples! Study harder!
*
Tomorrow will be Wednesday. That’s the norm. Wednesday comes after Tuesday, just like the future coming after the past…
Soon, I would be going to a neighbourhood Junior College located somewhere in Ang Mo Kio. I’m still not sure what’s it’s name is, but a definitely know that there is a whole new life waiting for me outside- a whole new two years of joy and sorrow, of meeting and parting, of coming to school on the very first day and leaving it for the very last time on this fateful day to retrieve my textbooks.
Today would mark the very day I had left my secondary school for the very last time. I would never forget this very day- of transition of my life from an ignorant secondary student who tends to cling too much on past memories, to a much matured and pragmatic JC student with much to look forward to in his future-
By the way, I’m Bob.
Interlude #02 - To an old acquaintance
Let this not be a time to say goodbye,
But of hello, and of new opportunities-
A new opportunity awaits in your life,
to do better and greater things.
But before you go forth ahead in your life,
Let me have a few words,
To spur you on, to empower you,
in all your future endeavours.
In my truest opinion, you exuberate-
Your characters, very different they may be.
Yet all of them, as I very well know,
Reveal the real you; paradoxically.
While many will find the need,
To hide their true nature and self,
For the fear of rejection, and opposition,
And for the ultimate fear of themselves.
But, my friend-
you need not stoop down to such levels.
Funny, inspiring, helpful or completely berserk,
all of them speaks of your nature.
Funny, I shall start, is the first aspect of your nature-
Quick, witty, the list goes on, perfectly describes your character.
That careless joke you leave behind you always in a conversation,
never once fail to brighten others.
Inspiring person, hard worker, good friend
you may also be.
While thriving amongst a world of lies, deception and hypocrisy,
Yet never once failed your honesty.
That attentive ear you possess, only made it better;
Made you a much more understanding and matured partner.
Listening to other’s woes, pain and intimate fears,
Giving comfort, ever readily, you never failed.
While many may look up to your endearing persona,
Others even warped in jealousy
Don’t ever let that hinder your outgoing nature,
Never discontinue this nature of yours… never let it be.
Will miss you, great friend, understanding companion,
When the time comes for us to part.
For never came along a better friend,
Ever-giving, ever-friendly, never once, hard.
Our time together is nearly over,
This is where our lives begins to transit.
From ignorance, to perhaps a more matured person,
But yet, let us always be filled with these best memories.
Before I leave you here with these final words,
Please allow me to say:
To the best of all your future endeavours- and by God’s grace,
Go forth and seize the day.
But of hello, and of new opportunities-
A new opportunity awaits in your life,
to do better and greater things.
But before you go forth ahead in your life,
Let me have a few words,
To spur you on, to empower you,
in all your future endeavours.
In my truest opinion, you exuberate-
Your characters, very different they may be.
Yet all of them, as I very well know,
Reveal the real you; paradoxically.
While many will find the need,
To hide their true nature and self,
For the fear of rejection, and opposition,
And for the ultimate fear of themselves.
But, my friend-
you need not stoop down to such levels.
Funny, inspiring, helpful or completely berserk,
all of them speaks of your nature.
Funny, I shall start, is the first aspect of your nature-
Quick, witty, the list goes on, perfectly describes your character.
That careless joke you leave behind you always in a conversation,
never once fail to brighten others.
Inspiring person, hard worker, good friend
you may also be.
While thriving amongst a world of lies, deception and hypocrisy,
Yet never once failed your honesty.
That attentive ear you possess, only made it better;
Made you a much more understanding and matured partner.
Listening to other’s woes, pain and intimate fears,
Giving comfort, ever readily, you never failed.
While many may look up to your endearing persona,
Others even warped in jealousy
Don’t ever let that hinder your outgoing nature,
Never discontinue this nature of yours… never let it be.
Will miss you, great friend, understanding companion,
When the time comes for us to part.
For never came along a better friend,
Ever-giving, ever-friendly, never once, hard.
Our time together is nearly over,
This is where our lives begins to transit.
From ignorance, to perhaps a more matured person,
But yet, let us always be filled with these best memories.
Before I leave you here with these final words,
Please allow me to say:
To the best of all your future endeavours- and by God’s grace,
Go forth and seize the day.
29 September 2007
Interlude #01 - The beginnings
After much hesitation on my part, Thoughts of a deranged mind is finally now the world wide web.
I don't really call this a blog. Many people create blogs to articulate their opinions to the many events that had happened in their daily lives, how it impacted them, and end up making a big commercial hullabaloo over it. Many people too used their blogs as a photo, if not downloading gallery. I tried surfing some of them before; in the end I was staring at a flowery page filled with pictures and three sentences lamenting the amount of homework her teacher had given her for that day.
Instead, as what the title suggests, I would like to keep this little space more as a rest haven- to pen down personal thoughts, and deranged ideas ( not too much I hope ); all within the comfort and security of my mind, and the ability to share them via this avenue of expression. I do not intend to commercialize or overrate it too- all but a simple avenue to express myself as who I truly am....
Once more.
I don't really call this a blog. Many people create blogs to articulate their opinions to the many events that had happened in their daily lives, how it impacted them, and end up making a big commercial hullabaloo over it. Many people too used their blogs as a photo, if not downloading gallery. I tried surfing some of them before; in the end I was staring at a flowery page filled with pictures and three sentences lamenting the amount of homework her teacher had given her for that day.
Instead, as what the title suggests, I would like to keep this little space more as a rest haven- to pen down personal thoughts, and deranged ideas ( not too much I hope ); all within the comfort and security of my mind, and the ability to share them via this avenue of expression. I do not intend to commercialize or overrate it too- all but a simple avenue to express myself as who I truly am....
Once more.
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