Order And Chaos

Order and chaos are related to and dependent on each other. The clear cut distinction between them is man made and an illusion. Society uses order to regulate all aspects of the world from nature to personal lives, while chaos allows for open mindedness and also provides an explanation for certain aspects of the world. This can be seen in science, theology, music, language, and imaginative play.

Science is rational, logical, and orderly. It has the ability to break apart complex systems into simpler ones described by theories ad equations. This is seen in the description of the planets' orbits, evolution, and Newton's laws. Scientists have a thirst for knowledge and seek understanding about the world around them. Their methods are clear and proper ,such as the popular scientific method. Yet even with all their rules and equations they have come to realize the universe is not as predictable and orderly as it seems. The weather, planets, asteroids, organisms, populations, etc. do not always follow the rules that have been assimilated as truths in society . Such an example is the extinction of the dinosaurs, which allowed humans to exist and flourish described by Alvarez. Asteroids can move in unpredictable ways and one did 65 million years ago, and it can happen today. The concept is unimaginable to most ,due to their strong faith in science that is believed to be able to predict or prevent destructive phenomenon in the world. This belief that science is a universal and infallible truth began in the enlightenment and led to modernism. The goal of modernists, synonymous at times with scientists ,is to show that order leads to better functioning and is superior to disorder. To accomplish their goal they must make discoveries that lead to greater knowledge, which they believe leads to greater order, yet they also have to categorize multiple areas and thoughts as disorderly. What is categorized as disorderly becomes an outsider ,and is a deviant from the normal and the usual. Socially this leads to injustice and prejudices. The social disorder in the United States includes African Americans, women, homosexuals, and those who do not believe democracy is the greatest form of government in existence. Modernism gives one the freedom to be godless ,and essentially makes God unnecessary. In the United States this has led to secularism which Bernard suggests is a major component of it's overall success.

Theology is used like science to impose order on chaos. It provides rules and rituals for living ones life and explanations of the universe. It gives people hope in a chaotic world and gives them guidelines they must follow to block out the chaos. Islam is failing to progress as a culture and some argue that it is their strict adherence to their religion that is causing this. Humanism and Secularism which are the essence of western tradition are very much rejected. Lewis observes secularism is foreign in the east because there is one law, the law of God. Thus, there is no separation between the divine, society, and nature. Religion controls all aspects of society ,and the individual is submissive to God. Many of the ideas of science are dismissed as being atheistic observations and assumptions. Humanism is also rejected due to the freedom it allows individuals often understood as the freedom to go against morals and God.

Theology does not conflict with science, and the marriage of the two has been advocated from leading scientists to the pope. Yet, like in science some people take religion to its extreme called fundamentalism. Fundamentalism is in its traditional meaning, Christians' strict interpretation of the bible. A fundamentalist ,much like the followers of Islam, desire their religion to apply to the world ,and do not see it as just necessary for spiritual fulfillment. Though not opposed to science ,they are strict believers in the six day creation story ,and the belief that the world is only a few thousand years old. The scientific community has completely discredited this belief and has extensive research on the beginning of the universe ,as well as pre-human species such as the dinosaurs. Anthropology, fossils, and other material evidence provide proof of evolution by similarities between organisms of the past and present ,including the controversial belief that humans evolved from apes. All these discoveries discredit the belief that humans were created to posses dominion over the world, and all that was created has existed from the beginning. The five percent of fundamentalists that are radical and use violence and other unusual means to support their views have made fundamentalism seem extreme and crazy. They discriminate against other Christians, who do not have their same views, and deem them not real Christians. They are also completely intolerant of other religions, offering no salvation outside their faith. Throughout the ages these two groups have clashed as seen in the trial of Galileo. The common denominator in Galileo's trial ,and other controversies between the ideologies is each group's stubbornness and intolerance of other views. One view can not exist without the other ,and they are both impractical and incomplete. The joining of the two is essential for a human being and the world as a whole. This point is clearly illustrated in the Library of Babel where all was known ,yet chaos was rampant because no faith could exist.

Music can sometimes sound random, chaotic, and spontaneous but all music has a certain structure and fundamental elements. Though music has many benefits its main objective is to entertain. Throughout time arguments have arisen over which music is superior and truly art. This is clearly seen through the praise of classical music and the ridicule of popular music of any given era.

Musical elements such as tone, rhythm, and style are present in all genres of music from all around the world. Music is also a major part of everyone's life whether they actively pursue it or not. It is on the loudspeakers while you're waiting on line at the supermarket, it's in every commercial you watch on television, and it plays a role in movies. Fussilli describes how Star Wars music has become just as famous as the movie, and how each scene is enhanced by the music. The fundamental musical elements and the ability to enrich our lives is what binds all music together, no matter how different it sounds. Yet, inevitably the differences lead to prejudices toward a certain kind of music, era, and people. Unlike the modern era where music was meant to be an expression and provide great meaning; the postmodern era's music is supposed to be enjoyable and available for mass consumption.

Rea is suggesting the degradation and immorality of society supported by the decline in music. Nothing new or original is