SCHOLARS JOURNAL. MARCH 2017 Editor: Laura Phillipp ANCIENT RUINS NEW BEGINNINGS

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1 SCHOLARS JOURNAL MARCH 2017 Editor: Laura Phillipp ANCIENT RUINS NEW BEGINNINGS Mar. 31 St. Mark s Fish Fry Service Event 3:00-9:00 Apr. 4 Bowling in ASC evening Apr. 8 Habitat for Humanity (8:30 4:00) Apr. 13 Pizza w/ the Prof Dr. Bouwman Apr. 22 Art Museum early afternoon (2 points for off campus event) Apr. 27 Second Harvest Heartland (3:30-6:30) Rose Misey is currently studying abroad in Scotland. She sent this photo of the ruins of the original Cathedral of St Andrews. The university was founded in 1413 by the papacy, but eventually when Protestantism came to Scotland much of the Catholic heritage was destroyed. Dr. Heather Bouwman: Author and Professor For those of you who could not join the Aquinas Scholars Book Club, I interviewed Dr. Bouwman who just published her second book titled A Crack in the Sea. I thought it would be interesting to gain insight on what it takes to be an author. She will also speak at our next Pizza with the Prof on April 13 th over Convo hour. What inspires you to write? I'm not sure I'm generally "inspired" to write. I sit down anyway and do it. And while I'm writing, the inspiration arrives. It definitely helps if I'm excited about the story I'm working on.

2 How many books have you published? Two--both middle grade historical fantasy. (You can find a description of the first book on my website: When did you know you wanted to be an author? I've always written stories and poems, even as a kid. And I always knew I wanted to be an author--i can't remember not thinking of myself as someone who reads and writes. What would you tell someone aspiring to be a writer? Read a lot and write a lot, both things that are comfortable and familiar to you and things that force you to stretch. Just like you can't run a marathon without regular training, you won't become a good writer without regular writing sessions. What do you think is most valuable about being a skilled writer? Endurance. Talent is worth very little if you don't keep practicing and lack of great talent means very little if you DO keep practicing. Who encouraged you to get into novel writing? I'm not sure...i didn't know any authors when I was growing up, and I don't remember anyone saying, "You should be a novelist." But certainly, I've had some really supportive family and friends along the way. What is your favorite English word? Ohhhh, that's like asking, "Which of your children is your favorite?" Seriously, they're all my favorite, even the little words like "BE." Is there anything else we would be interested to know about you? I practice a traditional Korean martial art--i'm currently testing for my fifth-degree black belt, and I've studied this art for 20+ years. Student Perspectives: In the Footsteps of St. Ignatius By Katie Ray I woke up on the bus from the popping in my ears due to the elevation changes. Raindrops ran down the bus windows and dark green mountains surrounded us. Upon arrival to the northern region of Spain, called the Basque country, we pulled up to the Loyola Sanctuary and retreat center. The nuns who live at the retreat center greeted us, and we placed our belongings in our rooms. Upon entering my room, I opened my windows and saw the home of St. Ignatius just a stone s throw away. I and 43 other students from Saint Louis University-Madrid went to the Loyola Retreat Center for one purpose: to walk in the footsteps of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit Order. During the tour of his home, we were told the story of St. Ignatius s life. St. Ignatius became a soldier at the age of 18 and gained respect in the military, quickly becoming an officer. At the age of 30, a cannonball badly damaged Ignatius s legs. One of his legs needed many surgeries and months of recovery. During his time stuck in bed resting, Ignatius began to read the only two books that were in his home, The Lives of the Saints and The Life of Christ.

3 The stories in these books had a profound impact on him, and in his bed in the Loyola home, he gave his life to God. After he healed, Ignatius received an education, wrote spiritual exercises and founded the Jesuit Order with St. Peter Faber and St. Francis Xavier. This order went on to found schools and universities around the world, including Saint Louis University, the host institution of our trip. Just as we finished hearing this story, we reached the top floor of the Loyola home, which contains Ignatius s room and is now called Conversion Chapel. Standing in the place where Ignatius s bed stood was a golden statue of Ignatius reading from his books and dedicating his life to God. I was awestruck as we took time to pray and reflect in this incredible chapel. Ignatius dropped everything: his military fame, his wealth and his comfortable lifestyle in order to follow Jesus. He faced persecution for preaching without a formal education in theology and had to switch schools multiple times. Yet, after each setback, Ignatius did not give up. Ignatius s brave conversion impacted so many people around the world. The Jesuit Order, which would not have been formed without Ignatius, has established more than 500 secondary schools and universities around the world. His spiritual exercises are known worldwide and are still used today. While kneeling in prayer at this Spanish chapel, it struck me that God doesn t only call Ignatius to courageously follow him. He calls me, my classmates and all of us to boldly follow him. Perhaps we will not all organize religious orders and develop spiritual exercises, but that s OK! God calls each of us in a personal and individual way. I left Loyola that weekend with a newfound determination to follow God s plan for my life. I am confident that Ignatius had no idea what dedicating his life to God would lead him to do, but it s hard to imagine what the world would look like had Ignatius said no. Dear White People By Emma Smith As a white person, I am calling for my race to acknowledge that racism STILL affects people today. Yes, there is no slavery. Yes, the Civil Rights Act happened. The average white person then concludes that race no longer affects American society, saying something along the lines of I don t see color - everyone is equal in my eyes, which results in the white person ignoring the problem. Well, sorry white people, but that is not the way American society works. George Lipsitz explains this reality in his book How Racism Takes Place, providing enough significant evidence for any white person to begin considering that racism is quite alive and that it has much to do with various American social, economic, and political structures. White people need to realize that we are benefiting from a racist system. This is quite apparent when regarding history and inheritance. White people s ancestors who lived in the early-to-mid 1900s benefited from racist policies that favored white people over black people. These policies wove racism into social systems, including urban planning, education, employment, transportation, taxes, housing, and healthcare (Lipsitz np). White ancestors put

4 their children in better schools, they lived in better neighborhoods, and they had financial stability based on the racist policies that limited blacks. Therefore, white people accumulated more wealth that was then passed on from generation to generation, wealth that was born out of a racist system. This resulted in whites hav[ing] between 3 and 5 times as much wealth as equally achieving blacks (Lipsitz np). This fact is vital to the reality of race. Wealth and race depend upon one another to maintain the status quo of our racist society. Race equates in people not having opportunity or financial stability, resulting in families not having financial stability, even if they are making the same amount of money as some whites. Wealth inequality based on race has doomed blacks from the start. This is one of the many ways that explains why racism still affects America today. Racism is not just black and white, even though that is what many white people want to believe. Racism consists of years of slavery, humiliation, oppression, and Jim Crow. It entails mass incarceration, redlining, thousands of unfair court rulings, tears, blood, and Don t shoot! signs. So yeah, white people - you are benefiting from a racist system. You also have the power to change that racist system. You can acknowledge this unjust situation and use your whiteness to change policies, acknowledge the black presence in America, and legitimize it. Acknowledge what these humans have suffered through, apologize, and take action. White people need to want this change as much as blacks for anything life-changing to happen. Sin and Grace a Children s Story By Blake Loxtercamp Humans unintentionally fall into sin, and to be freed from their enslavement, God s love and the death of Jesus are needed. Explaining sin and grace can be confusing; however, in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis uses the degeneration and transformation of an 8- year-old boy to explain them. In the beginning of the story, Edmund becomes increasingly wicked. He is initially rude and mischievous, laughing at the funny-looking professor (Ch 1, p. 4) and teasing Lucy when she claims to have visited a magical world (Ch 3, p. 24). While in the human world, Edmund s negative character traits are not a large problem; however, when he enters Narnia, his inclination towards unkind behavior makes him vulnerable. The White Witch easily sways Edmund to help her by tempting him with sweets and the possibility of ruling Narnia and his siblings (Ch 4, pp ). After his meeting with the Witch, Edmund quickly falls down the path of sin. He intentionally hurts Lucy by lying about the existence of Narnia (Ch 5, p. 44), and upon returning to Narnia, he puts his siblings in danger by revealing their location to the Witch (Ch 9, p. 99). This decline portrays Edmund s transition from a mean-spirited boy to a premeditated sinner. Lewis portrayal of a young boy falling into sin demonstrates how Satan can use human flaws to draw people farther away from God. Edmund struggles with a mischievous approach to life, and he believes he should be placed above his siblings; the child s flaws stem from underlying issues of pride, ambition, selfishness, and a longing for worldly possessions. These

5 character traits are commonly found in humanity and are not inherently evil. However, as Edmund s fall illustrates, Satan can take advantage of these characteristics to lead people down the path of sin. Lewis also uses Edmund s character arc to show why humans need God to free them from their sin. Seeing her spell over Narnia fading, the Witch decides to kill Edmund (Ch 13, p. 136). The ten-year-old boy has no hope of overpowering the sorceress, and he only survives because Aslan sends a rescue party (Ch 13, p. 137). Edmund s helplessness in the face of the White Witch represents the hopeless state of habitual sin. Like a ten-year-old boy in need of rescue, humans need God s help to conquer habitual sin; without a change of heart brought about by God, sinners will hide their wrongdoing in the darkness and remain separated from the Lord (John 3:20). Even though Edmund is on a path to become a better person, the necessity of payment for his wrongdoings is not eliminated. When Edmund lies, and betrays his siblings, he becomes a traitor who has violated the deep magic (Ch 13, p. 142). Because of this treachery, the White Witch owns his life. Edmund s life will be the recompense for his sins, and the only way to avoid this outcome is for Aslan to take his place. Similarly, a debt is created by sins from individuals lives and by the Fall of mankind. When humans accept Jesus as savior, his death settles this debt. The theology of the Devil s role in damaging humans relationship with God, as well as God s role in redeeming sinful humans, can be conceptually confusing. C.S Lewis uses the story of a ten-year-old boy s struggles to present these complex ideas as a relatable and easily understood children s story.