Waking up in the cosmos at 22

parallelepipeds
Rank: Talc

Joined: 08/06/2007
Points: 2

Hello all,

 I've run into a 'dilemma' of sorts and would like to gather some advice here.  Here's a bit of my story:

 I attended a strict, fundamentalist christian school from kindergarten to 12th grade.  Strict creationism was the rule of thumb.  This resulted in a significant lack of interest in the earth and the cosmos.  Partly because, if the earth was just a suffering cage, why care about it? 

Apart from the teachers who actively suppressed interest in the cosmos, my decreased visualization skills made it all but impossible to grasp that I was living on a sphere.  This was thanks in part to the endless barrage of entertainment media (videogames, movies, television) I and countless others were 'subjected' to after school.   Needless to say, I found myself in art school, working to become a comic book artist and animator.  Something peculiar happened though. 

 The decision to become a comic book artist was a strange one indeed.  Quite frankly, I was too dumb at the time to realize how difficult it would actually be.  After the first year of school, I found myself back at home desperately studying perspective theory to make my dreams a reality. 

 This resulted in 2 entire years spent inside my room at home, every day consisting of nothing more than projective geometry and linear perspective studies.  1,500 pages of notes and one tired mind later, I finally made the connection.  I realized that the perspectives I attain when walking about outside during my 'everyday life' are perspectives of the sphere of the earth commonly viewed in 'globe' and photograph form.  Finally.... the connection.

 Combined with a few watching of Sagan's Cosmos, I found myself filled with wonder, interest and anger.  I was angry that I had been assaulted by television, videogames and movies during the tender development years of my life.  I was angry that they almost took away my ability to grasp the cosmos and the fact that I live on a ball. 

This has led me to a terrible dilemma.  The perspective skills I've developed make it impossible to ignore the cosmos.  I've raised my consciousness-level far too high.  Currently, I'm signed up to start Geology at college this upcoming fall.  I struggle though.  I've really come far as an artist, but I nearly despise the consciousness-lowering effect that popular entertainment media has on the mind. 

 I'm wondering if anyone else here has converted to the sciences in a similar way.  I don't expect too many responses.  This forum seems hardly noticeable amidst the vast ocean of activities which put us back to sleep, incapable of grasping reality and the cosmos. 

 Thanks. 

User info:
Submitted by parallelepipeds on Fri, 06/08/2007 - 06:29.
theape
Rank: Fluorite

Joined: 14/09/2006
Points: 292

Hi, welcome to Geology Rocks! 

I have always been into the sciences, so i have no story like yours to tell.

I wish you luck doing your course!

 

 

User info:
Fri, 06/08/2007 - 08:47
Benauld
Rank: Apatite

Joined: 31/12/2004
Points: 606

Hi and welcome to GR!

I'm afraid I have never been "converted" to the sciences, in fact - pretty much the opposite! My parents just sent me out into the world and let me make my own mind up about things.

Not wanting to sound condescending, but there are probably people out there that could help you come to terms with this change in perception. It sounds as if you've undergone your own personal "paradigm shift", essentially, interpreting the same information in a completely different way from that used previously:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradigm_shift

If I were you, and could afford it I'd probably consider consulting a psychologist or psychotherapist. (No offence intended there at all, I know that some people still attach a lot of social stigma to this particular act of, what is, in effect helping yourself.)

I regard the teaching of any Creation "Science" as tantamount to brainwashing. It is not science at all, it is theology, and as such belongs firmly within the realms of religious education.

By way of illustration, science can be, (and is often) defined as:

"Systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation." www.dictionary.com <accessed 08/06/07, 19:11>

How can one "observe" a creator, much less experiment upon it to eliminate one's hypotheses concerning it?!

Anyway, I seem to have gotten a bee in my bonnet, and am diverging from your original post.

Good luck & best wishes for the Geology course, and of course, the comic book art/animation!

 P.S. I only hope that this recent revival of Ultra Chrisitan Fundementalism (UCF), that appears to be sweeping much of America, (and other countries too) is short lived, and is in fact a "last gasp" of a dying religion!

----------------

Ben.

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Fri, 06/08/2007 - 18:30
canadarocks
Rank: Gypsum

Joined: 02/07/2006
Points: 61

Again, welcome to Geologyrocks.  I know that it might seem that there is not a lot of activity here compared to some other boards.  However, there are some regular posters that will work to answer any of your questions.  Geology is a great subject to help develop your visual skills and being an artist helps as well!  Don't get too frustrated.  Creationism can be cured!!!

User info:
Sat, 06/09/2007 - 00:21
DuncanHill
Rank: Talc

Joined: 10/05/2007
Points: 46

Welcome to the forums, I do hope you find them useful and interesting - I certainly do. Take a good look around, try some of the tutorials and check out the links section too.

Science can be described as an organized way of asking questions - so ask as many as you like, both here and on your geology course. Read all you can, sketch all you can (your artistic skills could be a real help in geology - both in field sketches and in diagrams for essays etc, I've always found it hard to draw what I mean). Don't be afraid of making mistakes - all science, all knowledge only progresses by trying new ideas.

Try to find a local amateur geology society - there are a lot about, and meeting with others who share your interests will stimulate your mind and soul.

 Best wishes!

 

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Sat, 06/09/2007 - 11:00
parallelepipeds
Rank: Talc

Joined: 08/06/2007
Points: 2

Thank you for the warm welcome all. 

User info:
Sat, 06/09/2007 - 20:14
Jon
Rank: Corundum

Joined: 18/12/2006
Points: 3524

Hi,

Just ad d my welcome to the site and to reiterate that if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

----------------

Geologists are gneiss!!

User info:
Sun, 06/10/2007 - 08:23

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