Pilgrims on the Journey

This course has really made me think about college.  One of my favorite topics was the steps of dating. Dating is never romantic anymore and it is always rushed.  People don't normally ask others on dates because of technology and others just have trouble communicating in person because of texting.  The steps make sense and seem to be more logical than how it is done today.  You should gather information about the person and make sure you want to continue seeing them before you lead them on.  It just makes so much more sense than how it happens now and it really makes you think about the loss of communication in today's society.
Another topic that stuck with me was same-sex marriage.  Because it is so prevalent in the media these days it was nice to talk about it in class and make daily connections.  Also with more states making gay marriage legal talking about it in class has made it truly real for me in our changing world.  It was also good to share my feelings toward the subject that love is love no matter who it is between.  And two people should be able to love each other freely no matter their gender.  If two people promise to love each other unconditionally then why can't we let them?
Having this class right before going off to college has been a great experience and has taught me to not lose myself in the whole college experience.  It also helps with listening for our calling in life as we start the next portion of our lives.

IVF?

IVF can be good or bad.  It can give a couple a chance to start a family.  But it can lead to some complications: a mix up with eggs or even too many babies at once, like octo-mom.  I agree and disagree with the Church on some of their points.  I think IVF is a good thing to a certain extent.  I don't like how some of the created embryos can be destroyed because that is a destruction of human life.  I do like how it gives couples a chance to have their very own child, which is a very special thing.  It is very expensive and I do not agree with couples continually trying and spending so much money on having a child, when it doesn't take the first couple of times, they just seem greedy about having a child at that point.  I think if it was cheaper it would not be as bad and would serve as a great way for couples to start a family and share joy in their child

Abortion: Why isn't this a national outrage?

I think what Gosnell did is absolutely foul! Who even thinks to do that kind of thing? And who would be able to consciously live with that kind of decision? I knew a little about the Gosnell trial, but only that a man was doing illegal abortions and his case was being sent to a trial.  I never knew the extent of his crime and the gruesome acts that he and other people were involved.  I think because of the area it was in and the people who were involved it was swept under the radar, even though it is a devastating event.  People are not that concerned because it affected mostly lower and middle class women.  It is so horrifying to think about what was going on at that clinic and people should be informed that this kind of things can happen.

The Changing Face of Marriage

In my family, there has indeed been a domestic Church.  My parents encourage my sisters and I to practicing Catholics and go to church every week.  But they know that we cannot be forced that we have to return on own when we know we are ready.  My parents when raising us have taught us the ways of Christ in everything we do.  They have taught us to be kind and respectful and true in all of our endeavors.  The domestic Church that is present in my family has definitely made me into the kind of person I am today and I am so thankful my parents stuck by their faith to teach us the ways of the Lord. Pros for domestic Church is children get a basis of the Church at home where everything starts.  They get to experience the teachings of God in everyday life and it can easily be very common to them. 

In my life I hope to someday get married and have children that I can raise in the Catholic Church.  I think the way my parents have raised my sisters and me has turned out to be successful and would want to raise my children the same.  Have a basis of Jesus' teachings for my kids is very important in growing up and it will be beneficial for them. 

Dating: What's the Point?

I do agree that dating is essentially practice for divorce because it is "breaking up" with someone you care about.  But I don't think we should look at dating like that.  We should not date someone just to break up with them.  A lot of people do not date and have exclusive boyfriends.  I feel like that a lot of people at this age do not want to be held back from a significant other.  They don't want the responsibility of having a boyfriend.  We should date to get to know someone and see if this person is the one you want to spend the rest of your life with them.  
I think people should take the dating challenge in the videos.  As the hook-up culture increase, young people are skipping the first stage of dating.  Not having physical contact on the first 3 dates could be hard for some people especially because some people hook-up upon meeting.  But practicing the three stages of dating will help decide if this person is the right person to keep seeing, instead of jumping into something and end up wasting 2 years of your life.  
When thinking about what the words hooking up actually mean it varies so much.  As the age group changes the definition changes.  It means different things for different people and as sexual experience increases the definition goes from kissing to physical sex. 

The New Pope

The new pope should focus mainly on changing some of the guidelines to fit the modern church.  The guidelines/rules/laws have been around for thousands of years and should be tweaked to fit our different society.
It needs to think about really modernizing itself and looking toward accepting same sex marriage and bio-medical research to advance discoveries.
Some women want to be allowed to become priests and I think that the Church should move toward allowing women to do so.  All people are created equal and everyone should be given the same opportunities.
I would change the right for same sex marriage.  These people should be given the same rights under the Church and should not be/feel exploited.  God loves everyone for who they are and it is hard for some people to see that.
There is room for democracy in the Church.  The people make up the Church and should be able to give their input about it.  The Holy Spirit does work through the hierarchy by guiding the pope to make the right decisions that would be best for the people of the Church

Becoming Who You Are

Vocation to me has also been about listening to the call from Jesus to live out what you are called to be.  We need to really listen with our hearts to understand what God has intended us to be because he knows who we are.  God has a plan for us and it is our job to live out the plan through our vocation.  Success can be different for everyone.  My success is being happy in my life and accomplishing the goals I have set for myself along the way.  Success is also figuring out and actually become the person God intended me to be.

I do agree with Parker Palmer and his insertions of becoming who you are instead of striving to be who you think you should be.  We can't change God's plan so we should spend the time we have talking and listening to him and finding out who we are.  God would not lead us astray so following him is the best route.  When it comes down to it, we are never happy trying to be someone else; it truly is just a hassle.  Finding who we are will be true success and no one can take that away from us.