Edward Fishman, Period 5, 1/8/2021

Edward Fishman

Period 5

1/8/2021

Day B

 Literacy & Learning                       

When I saw in the syllabus that we we're going to be reading the Book of Revelations, I was excited to see the apocalypse side of Gods, Monsters, and the Apocalypse. I've seen many interpretations of the book, whether it be in movies or TV shows, serious or satirical but before this class I have not actually read the original story. After reading I had a thought about religion in general, it all seemed very cult-like to me, the only difference is the people who created them are no longer alive. The idea that to avoid the literal end of the world you need to pray to the lord everyday and live your life by a certain set of rules just put me off. I don't mean to insult religious people, if the word of God is what gets you through the day, I will happily support you and your choice. However my problem with it lies when people try to force it onto others, claiming that they're helping save our lives from the soon to come wrath of god that will eliminate anyone who does not worship Him.

Reading this has changed my perception on religion as a whole, being raised in a house with a Christian mom and Jewish dad I've never been forced into either one, experiencing a little of both cultures growing up. Now I am more grateful for them not pushing anything onto me as I have seen happen many times with my friends, and going further into my life when religion is brought up, I will look at it from a non-biased point of view. There is also, in Christianity at least, the fear of God. That unsettles me because how can one be happy in life when you are always in fear of something? The idea that there exists a being in the universe with all knowing power and knowledge is a very fearful thing, and once again if its something that you believe in go for it, but forcing it onto others is overstepping boundaries and making the life of someone else harder than it has to be. Religion as a whole however, is a very good thing, keeping peoples morals in tact it has helped grow our society and keep it in check.

My learning of the book of revelation will likely not have an impact on my other classes, but its actually vice versa. Learning more and more about physics and the way that the world works is led to me taking a more skeptical view of the texts given to me. All religions are based on faith, your unwavering faith that there is a plan set in motion for you and your loved ones. I, as a person, am faithful to science. Some books from long ago, translated into the dirt sometimes not even keeping the ideas that were conveyed in the original, are not enough for me to subscribe to that way of thinking. The application of what I learned from the text to the world around me, is to live life to the fullest. If there is going to be a world ending event, why live a boring life? Personally I would want to be doing the things I love until the end, and knowing that after all the madness there will still be a world here for our innovations and knowledge to live on is enough for me to be at peace.