Human vs. Animal

      Reason really is the only thing that separates us from other animals. Well the sophisticated reason that we use in our everyday lives. I do wonder if animals have a sense of reason as well. Is there reason the same as ours, but we are just too blind and arrogant to see it. But then again, maybe not.
      When you think about it, we are more similar to humans than we think. We seek companionship like they do. We do drastic things for food. We live according to a food chain. We care for our off-spring and we live in colonies. When I stop to think about it, when we say that something and animal does is human like, we aren't really correct. What should be said is that things we do are animal like. Often times this is said for a negative thing, but it should be said for everything we do. We are not really above any animal in the world, we just simply like to think we are.

Miracles

     What is a miracle? I had never really thought about the actual definition of one until class. I do not think that a miracle is brought on by praying to a god, or living a sin free life. I think I believe the explanation that Professor Johnson stated, that "miracles" have a reason, we just don't know, or need to know what that reason is to believe it. Sure, maybe some of you may say that the reason is God or something like that, and that is a fine explanation if that is what you believe, but I think it is something more than that.
       Will I never question a miracle, but I do think that there is a greater reason for it. The reason may be scientific, but I'm not going to find that out because science is not my forte. I think I believe that everything in this world happens for a reason. I don't think I will ever know the reason for most things, like why a child dies, or why a group of people decided to fly planes into the World Trade Center, but I think it needed to happen for the world to continue in a certain way. Perhaps this is just me looking at the world with the glass half full, but it's what I believe. Everything that has ever happened needed to happen for the world to exist as it currently does.  

Spirit, I don't know about that

     Some people may say that reason tells us to turn to spiritual life in times of worry, or panic, or distress, or anything like that. I'm not so sure I agree. I think reason tells us to release our emotions. I think reason tells us to reach out to other humans, and release the emotions that we are feeling. Think about it. When some people turn to a spiritual life, often times they pray, yes, but they also often times talk to the leader of their religious place, like a Rabi or Priest. Instinctual I think we need human contact more than a Spiritual world in times of distress.

Ignorance is bliss

       Why would anyone live their life in a cave? Wouldn't they get board of the same shadows playing over and over again? How can no one ever wonder about an outside world? I thought humans were naturally curious about things they do not know or can't see. But then again we are always hiding from things we cannot control, or things we don't want to know about.
      Finding out that we are ignorant about something that we were so passionate about hurts. It is like stepping out of the cave and into the light. Our beliefs are shaken, our heads are confused, our souls are torn. Sometimes I think that it isn't the fear of knowing the truth that keeps us in the dark, but the fear of the pain afterward that scares us the most.