Isaac of Nineveh

I really like that this article talks about how if we trust God with our entire heart then we do not to think about oursleves when we pray. We would trust that God knows more about what we need than we do, and that his ideas for what we want will be much greater than our own ideas. He loves us more than we would even know, or more than anyone else could love us. A strong, good person knows that he needs to trust God completly, and to become absorbed into himself in order to be completely in touch with God. People who pray for themselves need to trust in God more, and need to be less self absorbed. This reading really contradicted itself the entire time. It was pretty interesting though, and it made some very good points.

Ludwig Wittgenstein

I really like that the article talks about how if you have to climb a ladder to get somewhere then it isnt needed because you are already in the place you need to be. Whatever is reachable by a ladder has no interest. It also talks about how the truth can be told only by people who know the truth, if you deny truth then you cannot speak it. It is really intersting to say that people who do not accept the truth in turn can not speak the truth. I also like that to say you do not need to be anywhere but where you are, and you do not need anything but what you have. People need to be happy with what they have, but the american culture does not do a good job with that. We are always striving for more, and wanting way more than we actually need. The american dream is basically being rich. Im not saying that it would not be nice to never have to worry about money, and to be able to buy whatever you want. I am just saying that people need to be able to be happy with what they have. They need to be able to know that they do not need material posessions in order to live a great life. The happiness does not come from the material objects, but from yourself.

Hugh of St. VIctor

I found this reading incredibly interesting. I really liked it. "The way down is the way up; the way in is the way out" it totally contradicts itself, yet somehow it still makes sense. The whole reading is full of metaphors. "to ascend to God is to enter into oneself, and not only to enter into oneself, but, in some unsayable manner, in the inmost parts to pass beyond oneself" You obviously can not literally pass through yourself, but they are just saying that is not about you. Its about finding God, by letting go of yourself and your wants, and needs. To look deep into yourself is to see whats true. It talks about knowing that the world is outside of us, but that God is inside of us. God is something that you have to find on your own. You can have help, but all in all you have to do it for yourself, and you have to figure it out on your own because God is you. You can not find God unless you look deep down and find what you desire. The world is outside of us because we just live in it. Other people affect us, but only if we let them. The world does not have to affect us.

Symeon The New Theologian

It is interesting that he compares going into the vision of God to diving into the sea. When I picture the sea I imagine turbulent water rushing all around you. I dont imagine anything peaceful of enlightening which is exactly what I imagine for experiencing the vision of God. I guess the point of the reference is to show that the vision of God is all you see when you imerse yourself in it, just like water is all you see when you imerse yourself in the sea. The story was short, and I think that was the entire point it was tryin gto convey. But when talking about how the mind is simple, and how when seeing the light of God all is sees is the light. I think it means that people make things to complicated and just need to enjoy the pure and simple things of life. Thats much harder to do than it would seem. In my experience the human mind over complicates things.

This reading seemed kind of negative toward humans, but it seemed to be very positive about God. It does not make sense to think that way though if you believe that God created humans. If he created something that you do not like then it would make sense for you to have a problem with the way God did it, and not with the creation itself. They seemed to think that God was so much better than the humans, yet he created them so in a way mankind is a recreation of God. It is nice to think that a way to be close to God is to bring joy to anothers heart. A lot of these readings do not talk very much about happiness, but i think that most people are just searching for true happiness. It is a great thing to desire, but it is so difficult to reach. Most people never really find true happiness, or true love. I wish that everyone could find this, but people seem all too happy to just settle. I think everyone deserves to be happy and loved. People just need to brush off the little things and they need to search for what will truely fulfill them. Sometimes it is so simple, but people just do not take the time to find it.

Johannes Scotus Erigena

"God is the source, the well of creation....unknowable, unthinkable, unnamable, yet at every moment inexhaustibly present." I have read a lot about how God is the creator of everything yet he is present in everything, but I really like this way to say that. You can say that many different ways, it just seems so right to say he is inexhaustibly present. "We ought not to understand God and creation as two thingsdistinct from eachother, but as one and the same." If he created everything then it is logical to say that God is creation. He is not only the source of creation, but the act of creation. I think that a lot of these reading are basically saying the same thing, just in a different way. I think a lot of religions are basically saying the same thing just in a different way. I guess that is why I do not really understand why people argue over religion. If they would just listen to eachother and not be stuck in their own ways then I think they would probably end up agreeing with eachother...not necessarily believe eachothers religions but realizing that they are not as different as they seem. People are uncomfortable with anything different than themselves though, and I think that is where a lot of religious tension comes from. I think it also comes from a lack of understanding, and misperceptions about other faiths.

Albert Einstein

This starts out in a rather sarcastic tone, but it was funny. When they are talking about all the babbling someone is doing, but then they find out he is a scientist and are like oh...i knew it all long. People need to be made fun sometimes, just in a nice way. "He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead." They are talking about being or feeling mystical. I do think it is true though that people might as well be dead if they are not going to feel life or to have emotion. The basis of life is emotion, you are always feeling some emotion or the other. it is sad to see people who try really hard to shut that off. Sometimes life is difficult, and sometimes it just plain sucks but the good stuff would not be as good with out the bad. I guess that if you never felt sadness than happiness would not be as great.