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.

Novalis

I found this reading to be very interesting. I liked a lot of the statements it made, but my favorite is when they say "When you understand how to love one thing-then you also understand how to love everything." I do not know why I like that so much, but it appears to be true. Once you understand how to love it becomes possible for you to love anything and everything. I find it very sad that people dont choose to embrace this. People dont love everything, they dont even love most things, and have the capacity to love all but not choosing to do so is sad. It does not say much for human nature. "marriage is the highest mystery." Obviously it is very difficult to figure out since the divorce rate in our country is so high. People just seem to have problems being able to accept love and being able to love unconditionally. I think a lot of issues with love come from such a strong desire to have it. It is human nature to love and be loved.

Maximus of Tyre

I like how he says God is "greater than time and eternity and all the flow of being." Obviously if God created earth he is greater then it, but is God is all, God is greater than anything, he is the creator of everything. "Only let them know, let them love, let them remember." This story is full of love, and acceptance. He is not judging people he is just letting them know, know all. Since God is all knowing everything he does it right. I dont know if i really believe in all the creation stories, or the fact that it is all Gods creation, but the idea is really cool. It is amazing though to think that one being could ever possibly have that big of an impact. He not only changed the world, but created it.

Heraclitus

"To men, somethings are good and some are bax. But to God, all things are good and beautiful and just." Men see things in a much more negative light than God. It is his creation though therefore he is bound to like it. It is just a personal opinion, but i think that it is not just a more negative view, but it is a more relastic view of life. Life is not always going to be good and perfect. A large part of life is incredibly difficult and really sucks. They also say "The sun is new everyday." So even though things are not always good and beautiful each day is a new day. Its a fresh start, and a new chance at something beautiful. I found this very optimistic about God, but not so much about man.

Dhu'l-nun Al-misri

So this reading was really interesting. They are not saying anything to profound, but they describe the saints. How God sees them, how they see God, and how they must act. God gives them very specific ideas of what to do in many different situations. God has given them love, and they have given God love in return. They also give Gods love to other people through their caring, and helping ways. "When I love a servant, I am his ear, so that he hears by me; I am his eye, so that he sees by me; and I am his tongue, so that he speaks by me."God is basically saying that when he love his servant, or a saint that everything they do is through God. their actions are not really their own, but just an act of God.