I'm going to post a discussion question when I actually read what's assigned...
Friday, February 24, 2012
section 8 group 3
(sorry to be posting this so late.. is this semester hectic for anyone else?) What we talked about in class on Wednesday.. We kind of went on our own tangent, and went do the road of "can you live your life without having a personal philosophy" I seemed to be the only one not able to grasp not having one's own thoughts or wants. I 100% agree that one can be coerced into doing things that they do not want to do and after a while, you just go along with whatever is put in front of you.. no questions asked. But I still can't wrap my brain around not having your own thoughts stirring in the back of your mind. I was talking to my grandmother about this, and she brought up a good point about the slaves. Slaves obviously were not happy with what they were forced to do, but did them in fear for their lives. But when (IF) they ever had a free moment, they did what they wanted, how they wanted. If this isn't making sense, and I'm being redundant, sorry. :)
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I agree with you to a point Sarah, but at the same time I think that there are all kinds of people in the world, including some that learn not to think for themselves. I believe that people like my grandma, that are taught not to think for herself because she is told what to do and that things are the way they are because those are the conditions you were born in. Especially, when you are not educated at all and when the only people you socialize, for the most part of your life, is your family. I honestly think that people like my grandma do not wonder about anything, because she is so stress free, she doesn't know where things come from or why they are there. She just knows that we are going to provide everything to her and that is it. If you could just talk to a person like that you can understand what I mean. On the other hand, if she would have been tortured like slaves were, I think she would have wondered why things had to be that way, because as humans I think it is in our nature to ask ourselves why do we suffer. But in my grandma's case it is different because eventhough she just did as she was told, she was't a slave she just did some house chores, then the rest of her time she would sleep, eat and sat around doing nothing. And she was never tortured or talked down to. We always treated her with respect and over all showed her that we loved her. Thus, I think her family disabled her to think for herself and just gave her everything she needed to live. Also, the place she lived in plays a major part of her mentality, because in her home town (back then, when she was growing up) there were no material objects and basically everybody was very poor, they grew their own crops and they provided for themselves, money was not something they would want because the people around them dis not have any either. So these factors and many more I think influenced her to be this way because she did not know anything out of her world. Regardless, I think that with all the means of communication and media that we have now it is very difficult for a person, nowadays, to not think for themselves. Especially, because it is so easy to be in contact with the outside world, no matter in which place you are.
ReplyDeleteFactual Question: Who said "There is no justice, and there is no Judge"?
A: Elisha Ben Abuyah
Discussion Question: why do you think Elisha became a respected rabbi and studied religion, but then rejected that same (Judaism) religion?
Like Nayeli, I believe that there are people out there who do not think about life, but I believe it applies to a broader group of people. There are those who do not question what goes on around them and blindly follow what is told to them. They make great soldiers and followers, but terrible conversationists. Maybe they feel more at ease whenever there beliefs are not constantly being attacked from within, or they believe that they themselves are not intelligent enough to question those before them. In the end, they are faced with less decisions and suffering, but are they truly happier. I believe that a life of questioning and discovery is one that will lead to happiness, because you are searching for a personal truth, not one that is force-fed to you.
ReplyDeleteFactual question:Who was associated with doubt in Jewish text?
Answer: Elisha Ben Abuyah
Discussion question: What you do if you had been excommunicated from a community that you had been prominent in, but later rejected?
Like Sarah, I'll post discussion/factual questions after I get to reading assignment tonight! Just wanted to go ahead and post now. (This semester is kicking my butt, too!)
ReplyDeleteNayeli, I think your Grandma, while she may not question much, sounds like she would be an interesting character... from the stand-point that I think it would be interesting to sit down and attempt to talk to her about her opinions on life, the universe, etc. Did you or any of your family members ever try to discuss anything of substance with her? I definitely agree with Sarah, that regardless of your environment or upbringing, I think it would be difficult to assume that a person doesn't occasionally wonder about the mysteries of life. I think those people that don't question things either shut that part of their brain off (whether consciously or not), or they are too interested in daily, material goings-on that they become too preoccupied to care or have time to think about anything beyond the present moment. I think both Nayeli and Sarah have valid points.
Like I had expressed in class on Wednesday; I still hold it to be true in my opinion, that we are all born very impressionable, and our parents/gaurdians/caretakes raise us by values they hold to be important in their lives. What happens is, these values are displayed and used to help influence us when we are young, as a way to help mold us as respectable citizens. Like I also said in class I don't believe you openly question thier opinions in their age, as a reason of respect more so; not to say that when you do start reaching an age in which you have your own opinions about certain things, that you don't have the freedom, or shouldn't be allowed to follow them, I would just not openly speak in objection about what your elders have told you. Some do not have a strong sense of teaching from those are supposed to be their caretakers, and that could be good or bad. Good because the individual may establish their own opinions on a foundation that is purely solid and of their own because they are searching for genuine truth for themselves that they never had, or bad in the way that, they never will have the interest nor intent on thinking past what they have or have not ever been told, because it wasn't prevalent before, so therefore it pretty much becomes a part that is obsolete in thier lives. I think that we all SHOULD have a sense of philosophy and believe to some extent that fits with us as individual people for sure. I also think in my opinion, that it IS vital at a certain point of one's age to question what it is THEY ACTUALLY BELIEVE, and find a reason to believe that or not to. Society does kind of have a way of teaching us that "This is the way it is," and you shouldn't question that, but I think that questioning some of the things that are set in place is necessary for us to grow and decide what is the best thing for US not only as individuals but as a collective Nation of People.
ReplyDeleteFactual Question: Who was the daughter of a great rabbi, and was praised not only for scriptual knowledge and wisdom but for her unconventional spirit and intellectual wit?
A: Meir's Wife: Beruriah.
Doscussion Question: Do you think Elisha Ben Abuyah had the right reason and intention to doubt his Faith after what had happened to his son as being the reasoning for it??
Discussion Question: Have any of you ever had a personal experience which has led you away from a former belief? Why do you think this happens?
ReplyDeleteFactual Question: Which Jewish rabbi doubted his religion after a mystical experience?
A: Elisha Ben Abuyah
Sarah like Nayeli, I agree with you to a point. The difference between slaves and those who were taught to live that way is their mindset and as well as their customs. The mindset of an individual determines the way they act and think. With slaves being brought into slavery, they knew life a different way. Therefore, when the slaves had a free moment they did things that they would do if they were in their home land. Those who were born into it were told about the way life once was before slavery for their ancestors. Therefore, they knew they weren’t slaves because of their gender but slaves because of their races. Those who live in a country where it’s a part of their customs for women to be inferior to men, knows life no other way. Therefore, their mind is formed that they way they are treated is the norm and to think otherwise is unacceptable and not heard of.
ReplyDelete