Sunday, October 19, 2008

American Pie

1. God and the Universe
"the father, son, and holy ghost, They caught the last train for the coast"
"Oh, and while the king was looking down, The jester stole his thorny crown"
The power in control of the universe cannot be God because he left us and Satan is not described as having any control over the world in the song. Therefore the only option for a "god" would have to be found in ourselves.
2. Humanity and Identity
"A generation lost in space"
"Bad news on the doorstep"
The world is full of evil and bad news. Humanity has no control over the universe only over themselves to the point of choosing what they think is right. Man is nothing more than matter.
3. Conflict and Suffering
"the day the music died"
"this'll be the day that I die"
"I saw Satan laughing with delight the day the music died"
The conflict is the idea that the thing that gives people hope, music, has died and therefore so has their hope. When the music dies there is no point to life.
4. Hope and Redemption
"and do you have faith in God above...can music save your mortal soul"
"How that music used to make me smile"
The answer to the human struggle WAS music, however, once music died the answer has to be found in individuals. We are sadly failing in redeeming ourselves. Our hope for tomorrow must be found in yourself and the pleasures that the world has provided you with.
5. Values and Relationships
"I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride, But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died"
The ultimate value is found in music. These lines of the song agree with secular humanism accoring to the worldview chart for sociology when it says, "family, society, and culture are the source of man's failure" which explains why he is heartbroken over the loss of music yet the loss of a husband brings little sadness.
6. Truth and Relality
again... "...something touched me deep inside The day the music died"
Life holds no meaning without music.

Therefore, after answering the questions for the above topics, I think that the worldview is Secular Humanism.

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