Religious Perspectives on the MOL Final 2

The meaning of life is hard enough to understand on its own. So our class divided the MEANING OF LIFE into a few sub topics. Religion came up in discussion and we began researching different religions. I took Christianity into thought and when I did, I read about the views of Christianity and how it affects the meaning of life for those religious people. Then we talked to a Rabbi (Phil Rothman) from Brotherhood Synagogue and a Priest (Lawrence) from St. Stevens Cathedral about Judaism and Christianity.
When we went to Brotherhood (20th st. and 3rd) we met with Phil in the sanctuary. He told us about "Tikkun Olam" (תיקון עולם) which means "Repairing the World." That’s pretty much what Judaism is about, or at least according to Phil Rothman. He is a very bright loving and Jewish man, both husband and father. He has learned great respect for the religion he has grown up with and then accepted. I never knew Phil could lead a service, but sure enough, the next night (Shabbat) he was up on the Bema leading us in Prayer. He told us a story of a boy who was ready to commit suicide, but because a new neighbor was nice and introduced himself, the boy had decided to stay around a little while. I agree with Phil about how the "repairing the world" is a big part of Judaism and that most Jews go by that rule. I find that when there is someone in need in the Synagogue, the argument is not "who has to do it" it is "who gets to do it". Tikkun Olam is to repair the world, but there are so many different ways that any person can do. Jews believe everyone can and should participate to better them selves and others around them. A simple good deed to anyone will do just fine. The Rabbi said that it could be anywhere from allowing someone to rest their head on your shoulder to an extremely generous gift to an orphanage etc. Their views on life are fairly easy, they do not require anything, just ask of you to thank G-d for all that is good and help when you can.
When we talked with the priest about Catholicism, his views on life were set and nimble. He was able to tell off the top of his head about the religion and how it is meant to make life useful and meaningful. It is important to understand and consider Christ’s sacrifice, being with him in heart, loving the idea and respect, and unity to the closest thing to G-d. Life is not something that is meant to have meaning, the meaning must come from you and you make it worth it. The Christians want only that you admit to sinning and understand what and why it was wrong. Live off of one another, support each other and always remember Jesus died for our sins. As long as that is followed, they believe that the after life will be good and worth it. “Christianity is about personal relationships: with G-d and with others. When Jesus was asked to summarize his religion, he said that it was loving G-d and our neighbor. Everything else is a means to that end.” I do like this idea of everyone respecting each other and passing love on to each other. Have a relationship whether you will see them again or not. Its like people in the movies that are going to die, but they join forces with a stranger that comforts them.
Some times the Christian religion is a bit too much for some people, such as my self. “One of the most important terms for Christians is "fellowship". This term covers our life together as Christians. This means first of all that we spend time together, in worship, educational activities, service to others, and just having fun. In addition to their primary goal, these activities help us get to know each other, and to develop into a community. The Bible refers to the Christian community using organic metaphors, such as a vine and a body. It talks about us sharing with each other and supporting each other.” I feel like the worshiping and togetherness of the whole people is a little strange. Understandable but its just that they take it a much too serious for my liking.
“There are several kinds of prayer. One classification is by where they are done: public, family, and personal. All are important. In the page on worship I discuss prayers as part of worship. Jesus characterized the Jerusalem temple as a house of prayer. This shows the importance of prayer in worship. However Jesus also prayed with his disciples, and he often withdrew to a private place for personal prayer.” It is interesting how they still go in to different perspectives and points of views. I do like the idea of how they seem to believe that there is always a ‘higher force above everyone’. For instance where they say Jesus prayed… it seems as if there is some one above him and so on so forth. This is what I think their points, perspectives and thoughts on the Meaning of Life.
“In repentance, we evaluate our lives in light of G-d's standards, and take the necessary action. In different Christian traditions, there are somewhat different ways of doing this. For Catholics, the sacrament of penance (or in more modern language: reconciliation) provides a structured environment where a priest helps us review our actions and motiviations. For Protestants, repentance is often done in the context of private reflection and prayer, although many also use small groups or partners to help provide some structure.” It is interesting to see how this religion allows you to repent. To apologize and make it up to G-d.
Looking at the MEANING OF LIFE in religion is a lot easier than other topics, only because the religion is more or less the MEANING OF LIFE followed by a group of people. They have their belief and understand the requirements, if any, that the religion asks of them.


http://geneva.rutgers.edu/src/christianity/life.html

Artistic Persp. Final

The Meaning of life has been looked at in many different ways through out life. Whether it be through philosophy, through breaking it down and through religion. One main part of truly understanding the meaning of life and having a much better outlook on someone else's perspective is ART. Art comes in various forms, music, literature, media, and so many other pieces. It is a big and easy way of expressing oneself and their thoughts and beliefs on the meaning of life. Music is usually the most easy for understanding thoughts because the artist (musician) is more or less just blurting it out at you. The lyrics maybe sometimes a little confusing and not absolutely the meaning of life, but usually if you take time to read and try to interpret the meaning, you can see the MOL through the artisist's eyes. Artists want this! They want you to hear them (literally or not) and for you to understand their veiws. It is also visible in the media to see what a director or writer believes is the meaning of life. Maybe in a movie, on television, or even in video games. Artists show through the big screen or even through your small computer screen. A lot of people do not atually know and undestand what they are watching or considering could and probably is the directors meaning of life. Art is all around and misentrpreted. Which is ok sometimes, because the author, director, or cretor like tat sometimes. Maybe the perspective is that you should be confused and not fully understand the Point Of View.
Having to choose a movie that expresses a true meaning of life to me was not so easy. But when I truly thought of what movie would be a real good expample of someone's meaning of life, I came up with THE MATRIX. I truly believe that thi movie as well as the other two really show a confident and meaningful insightful arguement for their thought on the meaning of life. The movie takes place in the present, or atleast it makes you believe it is. After Neo, the protagonist, is filled in by Morpheus, his mentor and savior, about how his whole life is a computer program and that his real body is in the real world and he needs to WAKE UP. So morpheus wakes him and Neo winds up saving all of mankind from the stupid non-sensless robot generation. I think that the director really thought about how his whole life is written for him and that he should fight the system and experience all that he can and while doing that, save others and let them experience all of it too. Who knows, maybe thats how people find true love, Neo sure does.
The MATRIX is a good example of a very meaning of life oriented moveie both because its insightful, but it lets you interpret it for yourself. I really enjoyed it, and it truly helped me to understand differnt points on the meaning of life.
Another movie I think about is FIGHT CLUB, where the nararator NEVER gives his name. He finds a new friend who starts a cult, group, what ever uyou want to call it. But this friend trurns a little evil and leaves him in the dark. It take him until three quarters of the movie to realize that this friend, TYLER DURDEN is not a real person, he is the nararoter in the same body, but he is everything that Nar. cant be and wont be (consiously).
I feel liek the artist of this masterpiece doesnt know who he truly is and that it takes him a while to find something that he would like to be. People arre always trying to be something theyre not and becasue of it, they appear different, but still are that same old hag they used to be.
Every day people ty to hide behind new identities and its stuid because people should be happy with what they are, who they are, and what they do. I find in a lot of songs that they mention "I KNOW YOU BETTER THAN YOU KNOW YOURSELF". The artists of these songs must know people that have changed a lot since they first met and they are worried about them because they want them to be "real".
I find it sad, but alot of moveis, songs, and MOST CERTAINLY moives show this. A character that will do anything for people to respect them and think of them as they would want to. In a lot of songs they mention this, but in "BECOME WHAT YOU HATE" by MIDTOWN, they truly discuss how people (a friend in particular) change for no reason, or atleast not one true necessary reason. Midtown says they didnt think their friendship was a fraud, but now, he doesnt even know what it is. They see the WILL IN YOU and see that their friend has become everything they once hated. Its a sad story, but this person they talk of has had a tough time and is unabe to cope with it unless they change their norms to social norms.
They also go into how their future is going to go to crap and nothing good will come from this and that sooner or later, they will see that their new friends are the ones they used to make fun of!

In short, ART CAN APPEAR IN SO MANY WAYS, and its only how YOU interpret it, for it to make sense. An ART piece could be the true meaninig of life for some one, but for anoter person it could mean the opposite and the others will laugh at the "stupid idea" of the meaning of life. It is fun though to see how the AART perspecitves resemble ideas. Especially through songs because they just really TELL YOU THEIR THOUGHTS though lyrics and even the TUNE of their songs!
ART is a great, and maybe one of the best easiest, ways of resembling thoughts on the Meaning Of Life.

Artistic Pers. on the MOL first draft

The Meaning of life has been looked at in many different ways through out life. Whether it be through philosophy, through breaking it down and through religion. One main part of truly understanding the meaning of life and having a much better outlook on someone else's perspective is ART. Art comes in various forms, music, literature, media, and so many other pieces. It is a big and easy way of expressing oneself and their thoughts and beliefs on the MOL. Music is usually the most easy for understanding thoughts because the artist (musician) is more or less just blurting it out at you. The lyrics maybe sometimes a little confusing and not absolutely the MOL, but usually if you take time to read and try to interpret the meaning, you can see the MOL through the artisist's eyes. Artists want this! They want you to hear them (literally or not) and for you to understand their veiws. It is also visible in the media to see what a director or writer believes is the MOL. Maybe in a movie, on television, or even in video games. Artists show through the big screen or even through your small computer screen. A lot of people do not atually know and undestand what they are watching or considering could and probably is the directors MOL. Art is all around and misentrpreted. Which is ok sometimes, because the author, director, or cretor like tat sometimes. Maybe the perspective is that you should be confused and not fully understand the POV.

Religious Perspectives on the MOL Final

The meaning of life is hard enough to understand on its own. So our class divided the MOL into a few sub topics. Religion came up in discussion and we began researching different religions. I took Christianity into thought and when I did, I read about the views of Christianity and how it affects the meaning of life for those religious people. Then we talked to a Rabbi (Phil Rothman) from Brotherhood Synagogue and a Priest (Lawrence) from St. Stevens Cathedral about Judaism and Christianity.
When we went to Brotherhood (20th st. and 3rd) we met with Phil in the sanctuary. He told us about "Tikkun Olam" (תיקון עולם) which means "Repairing the World." That’s pretty much what Judaism is about, or at least according to Phil Rothman. He is a very bright loving and Jewish man, both husband and father. He has learned great respect for the religion he has grown up with and then accepted. I never knew Phil could lead a service, but sure enough, the next night (Shabbat) he was up on the Bema leading us in Prayer. He told us a story of a boy who was ready to commit suicide, but because a new neighbor was nice and introduced himself, the boy had decided to stay around a little while. I agree with Phil about how the "repairing the world" is a big part of Judaism and that most Jews go by that rule. I find that when there is someone in need in the Synagogue, the argument is not "who has to do it" it is "who gets to do it". Tikkun Olam is to repair the world, but there are so many different ways that any person can do. Jews believe everyone can and should participate to better them selves and others around them. A simple good deed to anyone will do just fine. The Rabbi said that it could be anywhere from allowing someone to rest their head on your shoulder to an extremely generous gift to an orphanage etc. Their views on life are fairly easy, they do not require anything, just ask of you to thank G-d for all that is good and help when you can.
When we talked with the priest about Catholicism, his views on life were set and nimble. He was able to tell off the top of his head about the religion and how it is meant to make life useful and meaningful. It is important to understand and consider Christ’s sacrifice, being with him in heart, loving the idea and respect, and unity to the closest thing to G-d. Life is not something that is meant to have meaning, the meaning must come from you and you make it worth it. The Christians want only that you admit to sinning and understand what and why it was wrong. Live off of one another, support each other and always remember Jesus died for our sins. As long as that is followed, they believe that the after life will be good and worth it.
Looking at the MOL in religion is a lot easier than other topics, only because the religion is more or less the MOL followed by a group of people. They have their belief and understand the requirements, if any, that the religion asks of them.

WTHDTQEM( final Draft)

People have questioned the actual meaning of life for years and years. Yet, no one (known to man) has quite figured out the MOL. They do continue to try to interpret in completely different ways. Many have written essays, blogs, and even books concentrating on trying to understand the MOL.
Irving Singer sings(not really) about the MOL. What he says is along the lines of not attacking the question directly, but looking at a different angle and rephrasing the question(thus the title of the article - Meaning of Life: Rephrasing Questions) As Singer continues to dive deeper into the question of What is the "Meaning of Life?" he falls upon other questions, concerning topics from other perspectives from other places to how can it truly have one answer? He says people dodge the question as best they can and try to interpret the question differently than asked. People are afraid and they try to deny it, as well as what they think is the MOL.
Joseph Ellin, another philosopher, not so similar to Irving, but still on the same page. They are both looking for an answer, or at least a way to interpret it. He says that people like to forget the idea that they do live on Earth and there are other people that live here for certain reasons. Their own. But people forget that there is a bigger picture and they are a spec compared to the big world, universe, etc.
No one can understand the want of someone else, the push they have. People live their lives they want and others can never come to fully understand it. The thing many people DO NOT UNDERSTAND, is that the people who don't know other people's MOL rely on them to live for their MOL. People need each other, whether they admit it or not, life revolves around everyone and without them, there is no MOL for anyone. Even someone half way around the world that you will never meet, might be vital to your MOL. You'll never know! Ellin enjoys the idea that no one lives by them self.
He does know that the question must be broken down into parts.Everything must have an explanation that can be in reference to the answer. It must have something to do with the purpose of us actually existing. It has to explain the reason for life and death, how they affect each other and how it affects the rest of us. and Last: The reason for why everyone relies on each other and how the world revolves around everyone!
John Wisdom, number three of the 3 philosophers writes his opinions in The Meanings of the Questions of Life. Wisdom likes to discuss contradiction within the MOL. The questions just keep pouring in and are never ending and unable to be answered.
There is much we can take from each of these men and it is up to the person to find their own, even if it is a little persuasive at parts by one another. None of these men have come to a full conclusion either and are still looking for the answer or at least something close to it.

OPP on MOL DRAFT (Final draft)

You know? When asked the meaning of life, a lot of people jump immediately to say "I dont know" or something like a joke. People dodge the question, and it seems a lot of people havent really thought about it. Possibly subconsciously they have, but not that they would just answer off the top of their heads. They are afraid! People dont want to answer because they dont know and a lot of people would like to keep it that way. So, to further my understanding of other people's persepctives on the MOL, I interviewed a few people. Those can be seen under this post.
My brother, obviously joking at first, ("He starts off with "Beats me!" and then I look at him and he said to procreate and advance the human species. Living the way we're "supposed" to. He has a very pessimistic way of looking at it. He doesnt like to think that we have no control and no say towards who we are.") Im sure has thought about it before. Everyone has at one point, but the truth is, no one really knows. I was happy Manny had concluded with the saying "its different for everyone." It really is!
A lot of people like to think that the meaning of life has a lot to do with happiness, or something as silly as that. People like my brother, who are overly pessimistic about life in general have a better idea of what they think it is. But does that mean that they feel better than those who dont know? Is it better to stay kept in the dark, should you question?, or should you just not care?
Jennifer is a very happy self satisfying person who ALSO loves to bring everyone else into her fun. She enjoys life, its pretty obvious, and because she knows not so much off the top of her head, but still has an idea really says something.
In school, we had given out an interview and when asked "if you were to die right now would you be satisfied with the life you’ve lived?", most of the population of school said NO. Which is interesting to me because all of these kids laugh at the question, "what is the MOL?". A lot of people take for granted what they dont know. When they finally do take these things in to consideration, that is when a lot of people have enlightenments.
While I skimmed over other peoples blogs, I found this:"Less seniors said that they cared about finding happiness as opposed to other grades." and that really just hit me square in the head. I was just stunned that I ddint think of it previously, that as you grow older, you believe that you are wiser and know more, but there is way too much too know! People think knowing more and being able to "judge better" makes them happier. But isnt a child, who is accepting of anyone willing happier than the man who cant make friends because he doesnt like her hair, or his smile, or my laugh, or anything. you know?

Religious Perspectives on the MOL

The meaning of life is hard enough to understand on its own. So our class divided the MOL into a few sub topics. Religion came up in discussion and we began researching different religions. I took Christianity into thought and when I did, I read about the views of Christianity and how it affects the meaning of life for those religious people. Then we talked to a Rabbi (Phil Rothman) from Brotherhood Synagogue and a Priest (Lawrence) from St. Stevens Cathedral about Judiasm and Christianity.
When we went to Brotherhood (20th st and 3rd) we met with Phil in the sanctuary. I never knew Phil could lead a service, but sure enough, the next night (Shabbat) he was up on the Bema leading us in Prayer. He told us about "Tikkun Olam" (תיקון עולם) which means "Repairing the World." Thats pretty much what Judiasm is about. Or atleast according to Phil Rothman. He is a very bright loving and Jewish man, both husband and father. He has learned great respect for the religion he has grown up with and then accepted. He told us a story of a boy who was ready to commit suicide, but because a new neighbor was nice and introduced himself, the boy had decided to stay around a little while. I agree with Phil about the "repairing the world" is a big part of Judiasm and that most Jews go by that rule. I find that when there is someone in need in the Synagogue, the argument is not "who has to do it" it is "who gets to do it".