Root Belief: I believe that humans should accept their fragility
Why do you believe this? : I think humans should accept and expose their fragility because it is the first step towards creating meaningful relationships. All humans are fragile to an extent; we all have flaws, vices, and things we could be embarrassed about. By exposing your fragility, you show yourself as someone whom people can relate to. Paradoxically, when someone reveals their fragility, that person becomes more robust.

How have you come to believe this? : I reached this conclusion because shame originates when someone perceives that they are not as socialized as their peers, that they are not part of the in-group, and are thus subject to potential violence (be it physical or psychological). This fear of being potentially assaulted causes an anxiety that can only be overcome by fragility because it allows people to relate to one another and thus build trust.		

How has this belief been challenged? : This belief has been challenged by the fact that not everyone is willing to reveal their fragility out of fear. 

How does this belief influence your actions? : Because of this belief, I try to be as open as possible about my thoughts and feelings. I do it so that others around me can be more accepting of their own internal characteristics. I believe that through this, I'm helping create a moral, genuine society where there is no reason to lie or mask one's true self.

QUOTE from MOREAU MATERIAL: "Shame is easily understood as the fear of disconnection. Is there something about me that if other people know it or see it, that I won't be worthy of connection?" ("The Power of Vulnerability" by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week One)


Root Belief: One who searches for self-knowledge cannot be distracted by the opinions of others.
Why do you believe this? : I believe in this because a search for self-knowledge is an activity done by oneself, with oneself, for oneself.  If society wishes to impose a framework on you, you need not accept their demand. The opinion of others – therefore – is not essential. The people around you won't accompany you wherever you go, but you will always have your conscience as your companion. 

How have you come to believe this? : This belief came as a reaction to Heidegger's idea of Eigentlichkeit (a neologism roughly translated as authenticity). Eigentlichkeit is the quality of "owning oneself." Heidegger says that, as modern men and women, our idea of self is constantly at issue because we are always trying to fit into specific roles, like actors in a play. An authentic man doesn't wear "masks" so as to interact with others. He does so authentically, not expressing judgment upon others nor being affected by others' judgments. In this sense, a person with Eigentlichkeit is one who "owns" himself. In the search for one's origin and purpose in life, authenticity is crucial.


How has this belief been challenged? :  Eigentlichkeit could be wrongly understood as a desire to be unique, to stand out from others. This, however, does not correspond to the real meaning of the word because it is too artificial. Eigentlichkeit is by its very nature something that is done naturally, without stress. It is not something that one should strive or fight for, but something received as a gift from years of self-reflection.

How does this belief influence your actions? : This belief has influenced me to do what is right independently of what others think. It has allowed me to take a path I believe is right instead of being led astray by social anxiety and peer pressure.

QUOTE from MOREAU MATERIAL: "We happen to live in a society that favors Adam I, and often neglects Adam II." ("Should You Live for your Resume or Your Eulogy?" by David Brooks - Moreau FYE Week Two)



Root Belief: Having a spiritual life imbues the world with beauty.

Why do you believe this? : I hold this opinion because spirituality adds another layer to our perception of the world, therefore making it more profound. Through religion, we become attuned to a more subtle and exuberant world. 

How have you come to believe this? : I came to this conclusion through my own experience with God. The word religion is derived from Latin Religare: re (again) + ligare (bind or connect). I believe that spirituality allows us to reconnect with the Divine. Indeed, Christ calls us to imitate him and, in so doing, understand that everything in the universe was created with a purpose. As transcribed in Genesis 1:31, "God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was good." As Christians, we are invited to marvel in the exuberance of God's work, much like He did upon its completion.

How has this belief been challenged? : This belief is constantly challenged by the existence of evil. Illnesses, natural disasters, and the perversion of humankind (myself included) often make me doubt the beauty of God's creation. However, these moments of disbelief are countered by the idea that evil came to the world not as a product of God's will but as a product of Men's misuse of his free will. Thus, like a disobedient child, we should seek reconciliation with our Father through the figure of Christ in order to heal the Edenic Schism.






How does this belief influence your actions? : TVs shows often portray Christian spiritual life as one where all pleasure is continuously restrained, an unending mortification of the flesh. My belief that beauty is a gift from God allows me to surpass this cartoonish view of Christianity and to instead appreciate the riches of my surroundings. 
A burning blue sky, a blossoming tree, a blissful family; These and many other things create in my heart an undeniable urge me to thank God for the life I have.

QUOTE from MOREAU MATERIAL: "The Christian spiritual tradition is clear on this topic: at the core of oneself is the very presence of God. Jesus says in the gospel of Saint John, 'a thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly." (The Role of Faith in Our Story by Fr. Pete McCormick, Moreau FYE Week Three )



Root Belief: To love someone takes mutual commitment.
Why do you believe this? : Because love requires a sacrifice from both parties. Lovers need to sacrifice time, money, and energy for one another. As such, it requires a lot of commitment. 

How have you come to believe this? : I came to believe this because love is something that implies sharing: sharing food, sharing gifts, sharing moments. Sharing involves opening yourself up to someone else; it involves giving something away. Because of this, if someone is taking and not giving anything in return, a relationship can become unhealthy, parasitic. 
 
How has this belief been challenged? : It is challenging to differentiate toxic from healthy relationships because there might be an asymmetry of perceptions. For example, a man may love a woman and thus project his own feelings on her, but she might not necessarily reciprocate. When eventually the man finds out that she is not interested, he may feel inferior or even betrayed. This would lead him to believe that the relationship was a toxic one, but it was never a relationship, to begin with.

How does this belief influence your actions? : This belief influenced me to always be respectful towards women I am romantically interested in.  However, people often misunderstand what I mean by respect. Respect is about knowing and adhering to your partner's limits; it is not about being overly formal or sycophantic. Relationships need to be fun, but they also need to have boundaries.

QUOTE from MOREAU MATERIAL: "A friend who uses you may treat you like a therapist but never ask about how you're doing. Or it could be the friend who just wants access to your social circle, scouting your friends as potential romantic interests or even finding a way into your professional connections." ("5 Signs You're in a Toxic Friendship" by Olivia T. Taylor, Grotto, Moreau FYE Week Four)

Root Belief: God has entrusted a journey to every human being.

Why do you believe this? : I believe that every creation is created with a purpose in mind. We, as creations of God, are no different. God has a plan for every human being, you do not need to adhere to this plan, but he has it in store for you. You can use your Free Will however you please, but God's plan for you is the one in which you will be most fulfilled.

How have you come to believe this? : According to Aristotle, everything that exists has four causes: material (of what it is made of), efficient (the preceding force that pushes it into existence), formal (what is the essence of that thing, what makes it what it is and not anything else), and final (the ultimate purpose, the reason why it was created). But what exactly constitutes the purpose of our lives? I found the answer in Jeremiah 1:5 when God spoke to the prophet the following words: "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; Before you were born, I sanctified you." 
Every individual human has a calling in life; otherwise, they wouldn't be born in the first place.

How has this belief been challenged? : This opinion is challenged by the possibility that the Christian God does not exist. Going forward, I wish to study theology in a more rigorous manner and scrutinize all the different arguments for and against my beliefs.

How does this belief influence your actions? : This belief has influenced me to ponder my decisions carefully, to see whether or not they are noble and oriented towards a higher purpose.

QUOTE from MOREAU MATERIAL: "Graduates, I tell you that as you move forward from this day, I believe that your ability to manifest your destiny, to find and fulfill your purpose lies in your ability to adjust your focus, to sharpen your vision on the good and great things that are right in front of you and that are in store for you." ("2021 Laetare Medalist Address" by Carla Harris, Moreau FYE Week Five)



Root Belief: We can amend an Epistemic Crisis.

Why do you believe this? : I believe this because the Epistemic Crisis is essentially a problem of narrative, which is a very common historical phenomenon.

How have you come to believe this? : I came to this conclusion while reading David Brook's article on post-2020 election America. Political polarization and different ideas of science have created an atmosphere where two neighbors could be living under entirely different narratives of reality. This, however, was not so uncommon throughout history: Pagans and Christians, Heliocentrists and Geocentrists, communists and capitalists. Different groups of people have always held starkly conflicting views of philosophy, science, politics, etc. An Epistemic Crisis is nothing more than a feeling of living in a different reality from people who hold different opinions. It is fundamentally a problem of political and scientific polarizations. In his book, Phenomenology of the Spirit, the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Hegel explores how new ideas are created through Dialectics: a dominant statement (thesis) is challenged by its polar opposite (anti-thesis), and through debate and critique, a new, more refined opinion is generated (synthesis). Perhaps what we are living through now is merely one of the many instances of Dialectical conflicts. In any way, I believe that, as time goes on, we will learn to live with our differences.

How has this belief been challenged? : This belief has been challenged by the possibility that the political tension we are living through in the current year could remain unsolved or translate into a physical conflict. 

How does this belief influence your actions? : Because of this, I feel like it is necessary to create an environment where different opinions can be respected and logically discussed. I do as much as I can to ensure that I don't disrespect others based on their views.

QUOTE from MOREAU MATERIAL: "Today, many of us feel that America is suffering an epistemic crisis. We don't see the same reality. People say that they often assume the problem is intellectual. Our system of producing propositional knowledge is breaking down." ("How to Destroy Truth" by David Brooks, NY Times, Moreau FYE Week Seven)