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Post by gillianlaird on Jul 11, 2024 19:20:58 GMT
I'm not sure how applicable this is or if I'm very poorly reaching, but the mother character has really stood out to me so far. Maria seems to heavily cherish her Christian faith and constantly brings up how she dreams of her son becoming a priest. However, she also seems to be a strong believer in Ultima and her healing abilities as a curandera. To me, these beliefs appear to go against her religion. Even Ultima herself is well-versed in the Catholic ways alongside her own spiritual practices. I'm not sure if this could be considered Anxiety of Choice. What does everyone else think?
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Post by jarelyrebollar on Jul 12, 2024 13:35:02 GMT
My mom is the same way. She's a practicing Catholic yet also partakes in these more spiritual practices. My mom (and the whole family) came from a tiny town in Mexico, and these spiritual practices are more accessible than any doctor or clinic.
Regarding the Anxiety of Choice, it's possible to interpret Maria’s situation through this lens. The Anxiety of Choice refers to the stress or uncertainty that arises from having to make decisions, especially when those choices seem to conflict with one another. Maria’s deep-rooted Catholic beliefs and her reliance on Ultima's non-Christian healing practices could create inner turmoil or anxiety as she navigates these seemingly opposing paths. Maria's character embodies the struggle to maintain traditional cultural beliefs while also adapting to new influences. Her reverence for Ultima's healing could stem from a pragmatic acceptance of the efficacy of Ultima's methods, even if they don't fully align with her religious doctrine. This complexity adds depth to her character and highlights the nuanced ways individuals reconcile different aspects of their identities and belief systems.
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Post by reluedders on Jul 12, 2024 14:25:46 GMT
I'm by no means an expert in the Bible or of Catholic faith, but I wonder whether the idea of a person like Ultima and Maria are really going against God's teachings, or is the idea of witches and alternative practices just an idea brought on by the church establishment. Or... can a person believe that there is room for both in their life? I guess I would equate it to a doctor vs. an herbalist... they both acknowledge that the other side does good and can heal ailments, but doesn't demonize one side or the other. Maybe Ulitma & Maria are looking at their religion and their spiritual ideas in a similar way?
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Post by gillianlaird on Jul 15, 2024 20:52:34 GMT
My mom is the same way. She's a practicing Catholic yet also partakes in these more spiritual practices. My mom (and the whole family) came from a tiny town in Mexico, and these spiritual practices are more accessible than any doctor or clinic. Regarding the Anxiety of Choice, it's possible to interpret Maria’s situation through this lens. The Anxiety of Choice refers to the stress or uncertainty that arises from having to make decisions, especially when those choices seem to conflict with one another. Maria’s deep-rooted Catholic beliefs and her reliance on Ultima's non-Christian healing practices could create inner turmoil or anxiety as she navigates these seemingly opposing paths. Maria's character embodies the struggle to maintain traditional cultural beliefs while also adapting to new influences. Her reverence for Ultima's healing could stem from a pragmatic acceptance of the efficacy of Ultima's methods, even if they don't fully align with her religious doctrine. This complexity adds depth to her character and highlights the nuanced ways individuals reconcile different aspects of their identities and belief systems. Thank you for this response, Jarely! When looking at Maria, I think there might be a lot that society can learn from her and her ability to accept two different belief systems as correct and valid. She appears to be a very devout Catholic, especially when it comes it her son's future as a priest and then when comparing her life and upbringing to that of her husband's. However, she is very appreciative of and respectful towards Ultima. The way she refers to her is almost godlike. You are absolutely correct in stating that Maria is an extremely nuanced character. In fact, she might be one of the most nuanced we have read in this class so far. |
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Post by gillianlaird on Jul 17, 2024 19:36:01 GMT
I'm by no means an expert in the Bible or of Catholic faith, but I wonder whether the idea of a person like Ultima and Maria are really going against God's teachings, or is the idea of witches and alternative practices just an idea brought on by the church establishment. Or... can a person believe that there is room for both in their life? I guess I would equate it to a doctor vs. an herbalist... they both acknowledge that the other side does good and can heal ailments, but doesn't demonize one side or the other. Maybe Ulitma & Maria are looking at their religion and their spiritual ideas in a similar way? I think you might be right. I think that I am so used to everything in our society being so divisive; it's one way or another, and there is no such thing as gray area. In reality, nothing is as black and white as we make it out to be. Maybe Ultima and Maria's beliefs aren't so much Anxiety of Choice as they are taking some kind of Leap of Faith. In this case, they are staking their faith in more than one thing, which might seem wrong or scary in the eyes of many existentialists. |
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Post by dianarmartinez on Jul 18, 2024 4:49:00 GMT
I'm not sure how applicable this is or if I'm very poorly reaching, but the mother character has really stood out to me so far. Maria seems to heavily cherish her Christian faith and constantly brings up how she dreams of her son becoming a priest. However, she also seems to be a strong believer in Ultima and her healing abilities as a curandera. To me, these beliefs appear to go against her religion. Even Ultima herself is well-versed in the Catholic ways alongside her own spiritual practices. I'm not sure if this could be considered Anxiety of Choice. What does everyone else think? Do you think that she becomes anxious to the uncertainty of her beliefs and the consideration that theses healing abilities are better? Because if that is the case, it makes sense for her to be anxious. This could make her second guess her behavior with her faith. It may cause a lot of internal conflict and could potentially bring impact to his son's future, which she already does. |
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