Taoist Texts

After reading this article I learned how these texts can help deepen my understanding of Chinese history. In the article it talked about Taoism. Taoism is the only indigenous religion for China. For many people Taoism means to just go with the flow. Over the years this idea of going with the flow has changed for many people and by changed I mean that no one really follows it anymore. Historians have put together many ancient Chinese texts. The huge collection of these texts is called the Taoist canon. In ancient China, there was an emperor that ruled over everyone else. But the taoists weren't a fan of this, they thought that everyone be equal.

Is The World Actually Real?

After reading this article I will admit that it made me look at this whole world another way, but realistically I think that there isn't enough evidence to make this all seem true. Don't just look at what I think, You could have other opinions on this too. There are still other people who think this is a possibility. For example, the article states that there is a 50-50 chance our existence can be a program on someone else's hard drive. But isn't that taking things a little too far? In the article Randall admitted she did not quite understand why other scientists were even entertaining the notion that the universe is a simulation. In the article she also said, “I actually am very interested in why so many people think it’s an interesting question.” And I agree with what she thinks. Overall I think that maybe someone can prove this if there are more things happen and more facts but as of right now there aren't any factual evidence that 100% prove all of this. So yes I think the world is real. 

Comparing Another Story To Job

The story of Job has many similarities to this story about the Holocaust. I noticed a question that can relate to both of the stories and that's why do bad things happen to good people? Most of the Jews did everything right and they still got punsished. Except this time he wasn't really testing anyone's loyalty or faith God  just killed millions of completely innocent people. God also has a way of making everything violent. He makes it seem like violence is always the answer and it's starting to become a pattern throughout both of these stories. Another similarity in both stories is that in Job and in Mr. Menachem Daum both question everything God has done. For example, in the article the mother said, "if God did so many miracles during biblical times, then why hadn’t she seen any such miracles during the Holocaust?" Also in the story of Job, Job says, “Why is light [or life] given to him that is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul, who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures; who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they find the grave? Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, whom God has hedged in?”

Part I of Job

The story of Job has a connection to almost everything we already talked about in the Old Testement. In almost every story I noticed that it all goes back to one thing and that's God's characterization and who God really is and what he does to people. In the story of Job God is testing Job and his loyalty like other stories we have read. The same question came into my head from the past stories we read before. So what does this say about God? Why would he need to test people if he's known for knowing everything. For example in the story Adm and Eve he put a tree in the middle and just told them not to touch it but why though, what was the point of that tree. And if God really knows everything he would've known they would touch the tree so why did he want to set innocent people up for failure. Another story that relates to this is the story of Abraham. If God happens to know everything why did he need to make Abraham go through what he went through just to see what he already knew was true. Another similarity I noticed throughout all the stories is that God is demanding. I noticed he doesn't ask anything he just does it. If he needs something done he gets it done and always finds someone to do it. At the end of the day God is one bipolar man. He either treats you well and gives you what you deserve or becomes completely unpredictable and tries to make your life a lot harder. 

A Different Side of Noah's Ark

This article about Noah's Ark was different than the story. This is because in the article it said some facts and had more evidence about the Ark. In the article it was more specific and it was more about the ark than the actual story. However in the story of Noah's Ark it talked more about Noah and what he did with the ark and general information about the ark. Even though there were differences between this article and the stories we read in class about Noah's Ark I also found some similarities between them. In the article and in the story that we read god was giving the instructions to build the Ark step by step and specific. For example, in the article it says, " The God who told Atra-hasis to build this boat gave him precise directions," Finkel said.

The Beginning of 4 Years

There have been so many things that have already happened in high school. The worst thing about high school so far is the amount of work I have. It's a big step from middle school to high school. It has been hard but I get through it. Even though that's a bad part there are so many more positives. I already had so much fun this year. It's the one year that I actually started enjoying school. There is so much more freedom that makes everything so much better. Like you can leave for lunch, you can have free periods and you can do a lot. I think that so far high school has been pretty good but sometimes the work isn't that great. Overall I had a good first month of high school and I'm excited to finish this year and get through the next 3 years. 

God's Characterization

In the story of Genesis, God’s character was a lot different than I thought it would be. Growing up I always thought of God as a forgiving and kind man but in the story Genesis it made me look at God differently. While reading the story I realized how commanding God can be. He just commanded people to do things and expected everyone to follow his wishes. God shouldn't have expected everyone to be perfect and for everyone to be exactly who he needs them to be because he made the people who live on Earth today and he made everyone different so he shouldn't expect everyone to do everything the same. After doing this project I learned that there are many different ways people see God. I also learned that everyone is different in their own way and everyone believes what they think is right and no one should take that away. After reading Genesis 6-9, my views on God has changed a bit and it started getting me thinking about who God really is and what he can really do.