Constructing a Life Philosophy
Emily K. Yates
I choose to compare the ideas presented in Chapter 1: "The Importance of Choosing A Life Philosophy," with those that were given in Chapter 3, "How do Religions Give Life Meaning?” because I find religion and its influences on societies very interesting.
The introduction of this book begins with clarifying why is important to understand differing points of view with three ‘view points’ listed in Chapter One. The first point “Choosing a Map for Life” really jumped out to me. I agree that in order to better compromise and to both give and gain acceptance, I need to see opposing points of view as clearly and critically as possible. Without this ability I am ‘in the dark’ and where I see a simple solution there may actually be a complex situation that needs a more in-depth response.
An additional reason is that I agree we all need a flexible map for our lives. Using this map we can ask ourselves, ‘What do I really believe? What do I want to do in my life?”. Human beings are generally not stationary throughout our lives. As we grow older we change our minds, re-evaluate our self-images and we need to adjust our views accordingly; our ‘Maps’ must be revised continuously. I feel I was better at this when I was a few years younger. Life was bright, uncertain and exciting. As I have grown a little older I find I am less flexible, and quicker to formulate an opinion. I think this means it is even more important to re-evaluate my thoughts.
Plato’s analogy of the Cave, as discussed in the second viewpoint, ‘Are We Living in a Cave’, asks us to reconsider we believe is reality. Plato, using his story as reference, believes that what we ‘experience as reality is really a distorted reflection or shadow’. His argument feels true to me because I have lived in a few different locations in the United States while growing up. I remember what an amazing realization it was for me to see how differently individuals perceive life. What we ‘know’ and ‘believe’ is reflected in how we interpret situations, people and life. My personal example is that I ‘know’ people, especially here in America, are pretty awesome about trying to accept others. My knowledge and belief of this is a reflection of my own experiences. I believe there will always be a few rotten apples added to the barrel, so to speak, but as a whole, I have met a lot of incredible people. This is what I ‘know’ and ‘believe’.
The third point, ‘Discovering Our Personal Myth’, a discussion about social and individual myths, stood out to me the most. I agreed that the ‘trivializations’ of the word ‘myth’ is a gross miss-step in understanding.
A great example of this is my present GPA. I struggled against a personal myth, I doubt in my ability to learn in a school setting. I am more astonished then proud of my GPA. This myth has the firm foundation of validation because I was not a great student growing up. I not even a ‘good’ student. I believed I could not be a good student because that was what I was told. I know contributing factors included the upheaval of moving and being in a different school every couple of years due to my father’s military career. As an adult, I logically know I have the capability to be a straight ‘A’ student. I know I have earned my score due to a lot of hard work, long hours and personal dedication. Regardless of this logic, this myth still persists and floats around in my head on occasion. Even now a part of me still sees my GPA as something of a ‘miracle’. Myths are powerful friends or foes. They are a force to be considered and handled with care.
Chapter Three, "How does Religion Give Life Meaning?”, focuses on reviewing the largest and most influential religions. In the very beginning of the chapter it talks about Judaism, ‘the religion of the Jews…a self-revealing God’. A complicated and tense history is held between of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. I think it is because the second two are built on the foundations of Judaism. This chapter reviews Judaism as a communing with God, Liberal Christianity as seeking God, Conservative Christianity as having a Biblical God and Islam as obeying God. I found these to be adapt descriptions of how I also see these religions. All of these religions preach their truths just as Chapter one’s viewpoints are outlined, first a Map for Life, second as in Plato’s Cave and last the foundations each are built on; Myths.
Each gives a Life Map for followers. Plato’s cave can be used on each to explain our interpretations of each other and each person’s life experiences. Each religion outlines their myths for their religious, historical and spiritual answers. Additional personal and individual myths/ answers are available through each religions rabbi’s, priests and mullahs.
I feel I partially understand why and how some religions developed: humanity needed an explanation for catastrophic events for which they could find no explanation. An example of two cultural and religious changes due to the ‘unexplainable’ occurred during and after the ‘Black Death’ pandemic of the 14th century. This time in history has long fascinated me because of the extreme shifts in religious practice and power during that time, such as the rise of the Flagellants followers during the pandemic and the birth of the Renaissance after.
During the height of the plague it is estimated that 30% to 60% of Europe’s population died. Medical “experts” at the time were at a loss to explain the cause and governments were unable to respond to the crises. Many believed that only God could have inflicted such a massive outbreak of death. Superstition ran rampant through cities as people struggled to understand this terrible occurrence. A projected 800,000 people decided that the plague was the result of their ‘wickedness’ and joined an extreme form of Christianity called Flagellants, who were also known as the ‘disciplinati’. These followers whipped themselves, wore next to nothing, turned to seclusion and burned all their belongings (Harris). Many of them did not get sick and saw this as validation of their beliefs. What they were actually doing was inadvertently disinfecting their dwellings and thereby avoiding infection.
The ‘Middle Ages’ did not show a great deal of development in art and science in Europe. Most of the population focused on their afterlives and their spirituality. The occurrence of the ‘Black Death’ made many people familiar with their mortality and prompted many to question what they ‘knew’ to be true.
One of the greatest cultural movements of rational thinking in history was the Renaissance. The Renaissance era was born in Florence and its birth marked the end of the ‘Black Death’ in Europe.
Italy, like many countries, suffered a great loss of life, and some argue that this suffering assisted in changing and shifting mentalities from focusing only on their spirituality and their hope in an afterlife, to realizing the value of their present life on Earth.
I brought up this time in history because I have thought of my life in a similar fashion. My childhood was the Middle Ages. I spent a lot of time listening to my parents and living with a naturally limited view of the world. Early adulthood was a time of great loss and changing opinions, it marked the end of my own personal ‘Middle Ages’. My Renaissance happened in my early twenties when I soaked up knowledge, self-discovery, art and information. Modern time is now.
I relate most to the last (arguably) religious point, Humanism, discussed in Chapter 3. This view point ties into my desire for my own ‘map’ and my belief in the importance of challenging my own ‘myths’. It was valuable to go through this book and to remember what I learned a long time ago... I believe many human conflicts could be eased with better communication and understanding. I believe religions that remain adverse to adaptation and the growth of ideas will naturally lose acceptance as our understanding of these ideas and of each other grow.
One of the greatest cultural movements of rational thinking in history was the Renaissance. The Renaissance era was born in Florence and its birth marked the end of the ‘Black Death’ in Europe.
Italy, like many countries, suffered a great loss of life, and some argue that this suffering assisted in changing and shifting mentalities from focusing only on their spirituality and their hope in an afterlife, to realizing the value of their present life on Earth.
I brought up this time in history because I have thought of my life in a similar fashion. My childhood was the Middle Ages. I spent a lot of time listening to my parents and living with a naturally limited view of the world. Early adulthood was a time of great loss and changing opinions, it marked the end of my own personal ‘Middle Ages’. My Renaissance happened in my early twenties when I soaked up knowledge, self-discovery, art and information. Modern time is now.
I relate most to the last (arguably) religious point, Humanism, discussed in Chapter 3. This view point ties into my desire for my own ‘map’ and my belief in the importance of challenging my own ‘myths’. It was valuable to go through this book and to remember what I learned a long time ago... I believe many human conflicts could be eased with better communication and understanding. I believe religions that remain adverse to adaptation and the growth of ideas will naturally lose acceptance as our understanding of these ideas and of each other grow.
References
Harris, M., (n.d.) Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches’, Chapter 10.
The End of Europe's Middle Ages: The Black Death University of Calgary website. (Retrieved on
May 25, 2011 from http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/endmiddle/bluedot/blackdeath.html
Schmidt, M.R., Ph. D., (1953), ‘Construction a Life Philosophy, opposing viewpoints’
The End of Europe's Middle Ages: The Black Death University of Calgary website. (Retrieved on
May 25, 2011 from http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/endmiddle/bluedot/blackdeath.html
Schmidt, M.R., Ph. D., (1953), ‘Construction a Life Philosophy, opposing viewpoints’