"The year showed me beyond doubt that everyone practices cafeteria religion. Its not just moderates. Fundamentalists do it too. They can't heap everything on their plate." pg. 328
At the end of the book Jacobs reflects on what he has experienced over the past year and how living by the Bible, which started as a project, had genuinely changed how he felt about and viewed many things. He realizes that it is almost impossible to live exactly as the Bible says which is what leads to many people picking and choosing which parts they will follow. This book has given a thorough and interesting look into the lifestyle and challenges faced by those who choose to live their lives in exact accordance to the Bible.
Showing posts with label By Laura. Show all posts
Showing posts with label By Laura. Show all posts
Monday, November 29, 2010
Non-Fiction #2
As the book progresses Jacobs becomes more and more devote to following the Bible as literally as he can. For example, he decides to follow the "go forth and multiply" law as soon as he can, and when he and his wife do not seem to have any luck he takes every measure to ensure that she will be able to have children, which in the end worked out for them and she became pregnant with twins.
During this time Jacobs also looks into the idea of Polygamy as set out in the Bible and in turn thinks about convincing his wife that it is a good idea, without actually taking the idea seriously himself. He even receives advice about how to convince her from his religious advisers.
Although many of the Biblical laws, like polygamy, are out dated and in many cases illegal he also describes how this experience has benefited him and has begun to change him. He states that he looks forward to prayers and doesn't mind that he cannot shave his beard. However, the year was far from over.
During this time Jacobs also looks into the idea of Polygamy as set out in the Bible and in turn thinks about convincing his wife that it is a good idea, without actually taking the idea seriously himself. He even receives advice about how to convince her from his religious advisers.
Although many of the Biblical laws, like polygamy, are out dated and in many cases illegal he also describes how this experience has benefited him and has begun to change him. He states that he looks forward to prayers and doesn't mind that he cannot shave his beard. However, the year was far from over.
Non-Fiction #1
The book I have chosen to do for my non-fiction read is "The Year of Living Biblically" by AJ Jacobs. Jacobs, who has written other memoirs such as "The Know It All" where he read the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica, grew up in a secular family. However, he decided he wanted to know what it would be like to follow the bible literally for an entire year. The book is written in somewhat of a journal style and is divided by moths, with details going through each day.
The beginning of the memoir introduces many of the new and more commonly known rules/laws Jacobs will have to follow for the next year (do not lie, give to charity, pray daily, do not steal etc.) however, he also brings to light many of the lesser known laws such as no wearing of mixed fibres, having to play a ten string harp, no taking/creating pictures and to stone adulteres.
Jacobs looks into many different views and opinions within Catholicism but during the second month of the book he focuses on the theory of creation. He visits a creationist museum in Kentucky to do research where he finds they even have a display of dinosaurs with saddles.
The book is written in a humorous manner and provides an in depth look into what it would mean to follow the bible literally for a year.
The beginning of the memoir introduces many of the new and more commonly known rules/laws Jacobs will have to follow for the next year (do not lie, give to charity, pray daily, do not steal etc.) however, he also brings to light many of the lesser known laws such as no wearing of mixed fibres, having to play a ten string harp, no taking/creating pictures and to stone adulteres.
Jacobs looks into many different views and opinions within Catholicism but during the second month of the book he focuses on the theory of creation. He visits a creationist museum in Kentucky to do research where he finds they even have a display of dinosaurs with saddles.
The book is written in a humorous manner and provides an in depth look into what it would mean to follow the bible literally for a year.
Monday, September 20, 2010
The same old story
The part of chapter 2 that stood out to me the most was on page 21/22 where Frye describes how story lines have not changed much over time. He gives many examples which clearly show how conventional stories are used again and again but in slightly different ways. The one which interested me the most was the example of "the mysterious birth of the hero" because this is probably the most popular conventional story to use and has been evident since the time of Mesopotamia. I found the idea that writing does not evolve over time but rather stems from a few conventional ideas was very profound and gives a new perspective on literature.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
what makes a complete human being
"One person by himself is not a complete human being...." (p.6)
Through this quote Frye is conveying the idea that without other people around to share our experiences with a person is not complete. So much of how a person acts and interacts with others is a direct result of the people and society that surround them. Without anyone to influence and educate a person throughout their life they will not have essential qualities and miss out on lessons which could be learned from other people.
The idea of not being complete can also relate to how in our society today a person's happiness or feeling of success/completion does not always rely on self satisfaction, they want to have others see what they have accomplished and receive praise for it. Without this it would make a lot of hard tasks, problems etc. that people have spent their life completing or solving seem worthless, which emphasizes the need for humans to constantly have other people around them to feel complete.
Through this quote Frye is conveying the idea that without other people around to share our experiences with a person is not complete. So much of how a person acts and interacts with others is a direct result of the people and society that surround them. Without anyone to influence and educate a person throughout their life they will not have essential qualities and miss out on lessons which could be learned from other people.
The idea of not being complete can also relate to how in our society today a person's happiness or feeling of success/completion does not always rely on self satisfaction, they want to have others see what they have accomplished and receive praise for it. Without this it would make a lot of hard tasks, problems etc. that people have spent their life completing or solving seem worthless, which emphasizes the need for humans to constantly have other people around them to feel complete.
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