Welcome to 5BF
1 – what I read and reread
The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis – despite God being all
merciful and almighty, why is there so much pain? In this book of lay Christian
theology, Lewis, a lay theologian, tries to thoroughly answer this question/problem
of pain. Almost naively religious yet brilliantly argumented, this book
provided me moments of absolute clarity, the reasons within which consoled my
own problematic relation with pain, but more often than not, it was too involved
with the concept of the Christian God, which created a kind of resistance in me,
as a Muslim, to completely adhere to its logic.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy – rereading this
impressionable debut novel by Roy was like a redemption for me: I redeemed
myself of the guilt of having read this novel too soon, and thereby not
understanding it as well enough as I should’ve. This time, not only was I able
to decode the rather simple and complexly structured plot, but I also dived
deeper into the subtle meanings that generously laid out throughout the book. Rereading
this masterful book, I was reminded of how powerful and well-crafted this story
of two twins and their mother from an indigenous Indian village is. Too good!
2 – this week’s articles
The morally unthinkable and internet @aeon – ‘Virtue is
insufficient temptation’ says the wit of GB Shaw, and in the age of internet,
it’s made sure that there’s plenty of it. What then, when the unthinkable
becomes thinkable through the possibilities of internet, becomes of our freedom
and virtues?
Pornography and our sexual pleasure @aeon – contrary to the
popular belief that pornography numbs our actual sexual pleasure, and that it
also causes more sexual violence and objectifies women, this article shows with
the evidence of research how this notion is untrue. Our lack of sexual education
is at the core of these problems, porn might only be a symptom.
3 – what I watched
Titane (2021) – a French movie about a girl with a titanium
plate inside her skull due to a childhood accident, who then becomes a serial
killer, has sex with a car and gets pregnant. Weird, thrilling, and brilliant
acted by the lead actress, this a really fun body horror movie to watch.
The Fallout (2021) – the story of two teenage girls, who
after a shoot-out takes place at their school, get scared of going to school. A
simple movie which explores the psychological effects of such novel and
traumatic experiences on the teenage minds. It also captures the current-day
obsessions of teenagers with fame, technology, and their emphasis on appearing
something they actually are not.
4 – a poem: Fragile by Nic Askew
We are fragile. You and me.
Though we act strong,
our lives are
held together with
thoughts of where
we might be tomorrow.
And of disappointed
yesterdays.
At any moment we might shatter.
We might fall to our knees
weighed down by the terror
of being so far from
our own control.
Dare we look up, we’d not know
where to go or what to do.
We are fragile. You and me.
If we were to turn to each other,
we might see the whole world
on their knees.
Hurting, and seemingly
alone.
But none of us are.
We are fragile together.
5 – this week’s quote
The pain I feel now is the joy I felt before, that is the deal.
C.S. Lewis