On Experiences of Beauty (Tangaza College)

Group 1

We shared on was an experience of something beautiful. A member of the group brought out a concrete example to show some things that appear to him as beautiful which the other group members also shared in his opinion. He brought his experience of a mass he attended at Upper Hill. Some of the things found in the church which make it beautiful are: the variety of colors, the position of the altar, harmony in the church, the order of the pews, the melodious music and the people’s participation. The other things which were also highlighted as appealing to some one as beautiful are nature, artifacts and a calm or soothing character. We also discussed that we love beauty in nature, created things and artifacts like buildings, flowers animals, plants and people.

Beauty in our group is understood in terms of proportionality, variety, size, order, quality of material used and the character of a person. Beauty is something which attracts, however, these qualities do not make beauty in themselves but we shared the opinion that they only make for beauty only when they can help us to contemplate or ascend to divine beauty. This is in conjunction with what we shared on, basically, that beauty has something to do with the sublime or the metaphysical. In the human nature there is a desire to appreciate all the creatures. This desire consequently leads us to the contemplation of He who created and put order and harmony in the world, and our faith teaches us that God is the creator


Group 2

SECRETARY: SEREKA FRANCIS, Cssp.

All the group members shared that the first place to experience love is in their families. It is in the immediate family that is first experiences parental love in form of acceptance, care and guidance through life issues. This love is unconditional and it is all through life. Another member shared the experience of love from people who are not of our families. These are people of good will who love God. They love without condition because they love God and their follow human beings.

We also talked about the love in relationships. This love is in most cases conditional. Love that expects rewards, it is love for love sake without having regard for the dignity of the other and this is common among the youth. It is exploitive in nature.

One member shared that we experience love in school especially through our teachers and in the religious communities from where we come.

Most members expressed that must have or must have had someone whom, she or she loved. It comes out clearly each member wants love to be deep, genuine, sincere, sacrificing, forgiving and respectful.

From the text on love, the idea of the agape love is evident. This is made of Jesus’ love. Jesus is the master of love. His love goes beyond compare. He loved us as we are. To crown It all he died on the cross to free us from sin such that we can be able to inherit eternal life.  Jesus willed well for us because God is the source of all goodness. It was a selfless, self-giving and a self sacrificing love; a love that went beyond the ‘I’ so that the other may have life.

Group members

Osodo Elizabeth Akoth- 12147 T

Sereka Francis- 12109 T

Joseph Ebenyo- 12060 T

Godfrey Muhanya-12074 T

Samuel Apondi- 12074 T

Bouda Bertin- 12092 T

Group 3

In the 2012/2013 class of Fundamental Theology, Tangaza College, group three members shared and discussed the question; “What are some things that appeal to you as ‘beautiful’? Do you see and love beauty in nature, created things, arts, etc? Share with the group your own sense of ‘beauty’ (What is ‘beauty’ for you?)”

Some things that appeal as ‘beautiful’ include: Art and Craft, sports and games, e.g, football.

Yes, group three members agreed that ‘beauty’ can be seen and loved,

• In nature (forests, savannah grass lands, water bodies like lakes, mountains and hills, the sky, e.g, ‘sunset’).
• In created things (large scale crop and animal farming, structures like buildings, roads, e.g Thika High way).
• In human beings (men and women in terms of character, habit, attitude and created in the image and likeness of God to love and to be loved; group three tended to incline towards the beauty of women, some women are so attractive to the eye, thus one can not resist a second or even third ‘confirmation exercise’). Women are really lovable, the relationship between a man and woman is very beauty, and one of the most reasonable answers for a man not marrying a woman is for the sake of the Kingdom. 
• In arts (the art works in most Catholic Churches are so captivating and breath taking, eg, the Bacilica in Yamoussoukro- Cote d’ivoire).

In conclusion, group three members stated that ‘beauty’ is selective and subjective due to individual biases such as cultural context. However, transcendentally, beauty is truly good and rightly objective.

Group three

Rainu Ram; Benjamin Juana; Akagwu John; Cajanja Sapalo; Kweyamba Respicius; 

John Michael Alibu (secretary)

Group 4

2 a) Things that appeal to us as beautiful:

 -Pieces of fine art, paintings, and crafts.                                                                                                  -Music                                                                                                                                                  -Some color combinations                                                                                                                        -Naturally well endowed women(ladies).                                                                                                 Especially with natural body complexion: natural hair, untinted eyes, proportional hips and tender bodies.                                                                                                                     -The order in nature as in vegetation: in flowers, trees, and some plants.

  b) Yes! We agree that we see and love beauty in nature and other things around as named above.

  c) Beauty for us:-                                                                                                                               

   -Is what is pleasing to the senses.                                                                                                           -That which attracts the eyes and brings one great pleasure.                                                             

  -It is in the eyes of the beholder and thus it is subjective. It varies from person to person. Hence                        what is pleasingly beautiful to one may not be for another.

d) Comment(s): 

-Seeing is believing. What is beautiful is perceptible to the senses and thus it has the power of  attraction in it.                                                                                                                                        
-What is perceptible to the senses is physical beauty from physical perception of the things                considered beautiful.                                                                                                                           -However, by our transcendental powers, we ought to surpass the beauty in the created things                    so to contemplate the ultimate Divine splendor/beauty whose spark is in each one of those                 created things.

- Therefore, the goal of created beauty is to lead one to the reflection and contemplation of                          Divine beauty of Beauties-the wonder and admiration of the most eternal Beauty.

Group 5

The members contributed immensely in the discussion on beauty giving different examples of things that appeal to their eyes. For instance, a member pinpointed that a good looking young lady with a medium sized body and chocolate in color is beautiful to him, whereas another one said that a light skinned lady looks beautiful to him. Even though they differed in terms of appearances, that is, dark skinned and another one chocolate, both shared a common ground of seeing beauty in them.
Some members were categorical on what they thought to be beauty by attributing it to the style of dressing one has as well as the color of their vestments. A member contributed that according to him, cleanliness and smartness are prerequisites for beauty. Moreover most of the members agreed with a member who was convinced that there is beauty in a harmonious musical lyrics/songs, even though different people have different preference of songs, but in them there is beauty.
The beauty of nature was given the highest priority since each member was convinced that in every creature there is beauty. Some gave an example of created things like vegetation, masses of water, land, living and non living things. On addition to that, a member convinced the group that a talented artist can draw a wonderful work of art, like flowers, persons, and even vegetation which according to him, he sees beauty in it.
Since each member had different perceptions about what beauty is, we concluded our discussion by agreeing that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Thereafter,we had to appreciate what Plato says; that beauty is the participation in varying degrees in an ultimate and divine beauty which is ultimate in all human desire. This was affirmed by all members since what we perceive to be beautiful is just but an indication or reflection of an ultimate beauty which is in God alone.

Members are: Chanikya Kodati [m.h.i],Muwagaba Justus [m.af],Leonard G.Wamboi [o.f.m],Christian Mumpa[i.m.c],Daniel Kabuya[m.af],Rono Nicodemus[o.s.a]. 

Group 6

Members: Judge Michira; Christopher Nkole; Anthony Musonda; Pawel Gabrys; Joseph Mmasi; Bartholomew Senewo

SENSE OF BEAUTY IN NATURE BY ANTHONY

Beauty is something that is good in nature that appeals to the mind. In Zambia there is a place called Victoria fall and what makes the Victoria fall is a river shared between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is a beautiful environment anyone would love to behold, when I found myself there during one of my outings, I just couldn’t but exclaim that this is an epitome of beauty. The environment was so nice to my mind that I just felt like pitching a tent there. One of the things that amazed me about the place is the way the water flows and the flowers used in decorating the place. It is actually a beautiful environment to behold.

SENSE OF BEAUTY IN ART BY JOSEPH

In Rome there is a section called the sixteenth chapel found in the Vatican museum, the artistic work in that chapel is called the last supper and it was designed by a man known as Michael Angelo. The first time I saw that art, I was moved with passion to know what it is and by the time I got close to it, I discovered that it was a design on the last supper, which I have never seen in any place since I was born. It was one of the most beautiful and marvellous design I have ever seen, I felt like taken it to my community so that I can adore it.

Looking at these experiences, we could narrow it down to Plato’s idea of beauty. For Plato, beauty is something that is complete and absolute. From this stand-point we can say that there is a higher being that is absolute beauty in which created things, nature and art participate in various degrees. However, this being could be referred to as transcendent being (God) or divine beauty, which is the final goal and desire of every human person.        

        

        Secretary: Bartholomew Senewo

Group 7

No Report