Faith and Meaning of Life With Regard to Lev Tolstoys Beliefs - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1897 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2019/03/22 Category Religion Essay Level High school Tags: Faith Essay Did you like this example? Why does philosophy exist? The answer is simple, yet complex at the same time for those whose minds arent open to various interpretations of literature, ideals, but most importantly, questions. This is why philosophers dedicate virtually their entire lives to such questions and ideals that spark their interests. Philosophy can be defined as love of wisdom, and with such wisdom comes experience, knowledge, and good judgment. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Faith and Meaning of Life With Regard to Lev Tolstoys Beliefs" essay for you Create order Such elements of wisdom invoke curiosity; thus, bringing us to the inevitable question pondered for countless centuries by some of the greatest minds in the history of philosophy: what is the meaning of life? or simply, why do we exist? This question has plagued the minds of intellectuals, mainly philosophers, and particular individuals have tried to answer this question, failing to do so throughout the span of their lifetime. However, I want to focus on one individual; someone who dedicated their entire life to answering this question. This person is thought to be one of the most influential Russian philosophers and writers of all time. He is, none other than, Leo Tolstoy. His search for the meaning of life brought him to numerous places, both mentally and spiritually. Leo Tolstoy had been baptized and brought up in the Orthodox Church. As he progressed through his childhood and formative years, and eventually adulthood, he had already given up and abandoned his faith. Tolstoy also gave up on college when he was 18 years of age. He believed he was too educated to believe in such doctrines, and that there had to be an answer to the meaning of life, purely based on rationalism, science, and nothing to do with religion. Thus, his life was a complete and utter struggle, in which he dedicated to finding an answer to this seemingly unanswerable question. Through such hardship, Tolstoy, having searched all if not most aspects of science, realized that the answer and the ultimate truth to the meaning of life was indeed faith and religion, a preconception that he had once deemed false and irrelevant with regard to the meaning of life. I completely agree with Tolstoys answer to the meaning of life. Faith, which I see as having a particular set of morals, all ows us to follow certain principles that, in turn, dictates who we are as human beings, and what the purpose of our lives is. However, free will and moral responsibility, as weve talked emphatically about throughout the entirety of this semester, is a critical determinant to what faith you decide to live by. Believing in something gives you a sense of direction in life. Our actions, which resonates from our beliefs and faithful orientations, are what give us character, purpose, but most importantly, shows us who we are. Why do people have faith? What does faith do for us? It is a common practice thats persisted for thousands of years. Even before the origin of Christianity, faith was a conception thats always existed regardless of time. Even looking as far back as ancient Athens, civilizations praised the Greek gods and lived their lives in accordance with faith and admiration of them. Why? Well, why do scientists believe in science? We believe in such things to give our lives meaning, truth, understanding, and to deviate from such purpose is to renounce your faith. Faith allows us to reach such purpose by instilling morals in us that helps us achieve successful and fulfilling lives; successful in a sense of becoming the best person you can possible be. Leo Tolstoy studied many faiths during the course of his life, such as Buddhism, Mohammidanism, and especially Christianity. Despite all that hed gone through to search for the answer to the ultimate question, he says, I asked: What is the meaning of life, beyond time, cause and space? With the result that, after long efforts of thought, the answer I reached was: None (36). Though he later went on to state in life, in which I concur, that faith is the one and only true answer to the meaning of life. Otherwise, one could literally drive themselves insane and even ponder suicide in an attempt to answer lifes most common yet indubitably non-answerable questions. The reason as to why one might even go as far as to ponder suicide is because if the person cannot find what gives his/her life purpose, theyd begin to believe that their life is not even worth living; thus the suicidal thoughts. One might ask: Why is faith the one true meaning of life? Why cant happiness in itself and bringing about mass happiness be the meaning of life? This question may very well be answered best by a utilitarian such as John Stuart Mill, though the answer is rather simple, and it all has to do with faith. Happiness and even morality are but mere constituents of faith itself. Happiness can be brought about by pleasures, and not all pleasures can be achieved from good intentions. However, faith brings out the best in a human being and determines what actions are the right actions; thus bringing about happiness as an end to such means. To illustrate, let me give you an example. A man robs a bank, having harmed numerous innocent people in the process. Is this man happy? Of course he is. This man is happy because of all the money he has acquired in the process of robbing the bank, though he is certainly not at all morally just due to his intentions. Happiness is indeed an important end. Howeve r, how you achieve that happiness in your life makes all the difference, in which I reiterate: faith leads to good choices, which leads to happiness and morally correct/acceptable behavior. There are certainly normal people that live calm and relatively stable lives free from any sort of disconcerting mindsets, who do not acknowledge the existence of God, or some other divine entity. However, unfortunately, there are those who dont believe in God and are constantly struggling to find meaning to their life. A prime example being Leo Tolstoy himself. As mentioned, Tolstoys entire life was a journey in search for the answer to the meaning of life without the need for the mentioning of God. Obtaining immense amounts of knowledge (e.g. science, mathematics, social sciences, literature, etc.) will not bring you anywhere near closer to answering the question of the meaning of life. People in such cases see life as a trap, and believe that death is the only relief from it. During his darkest years of malicious thought, Tolstoy states, and it was then that I, a man favored by fortune, hid a cord from myself lest I should hang myself from the cross piece of the partition in my ro om where I undressed alone every evening, and I ceased to go out shooting with a gun lest I should be tempted by so easy a way of ending my life (15). Faith and religion can be a means of preventing such actions from occurring. For example, most religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Islamism, Hinduism, just to name a few, deeply frown upon suicide and see it as a sin that can condemn a person to hell. When it all comes down to it, regardless of what kind of life you have, when all else is lost, such as even the desire to live, a person always has their hope and faith, which is something that can never be broken down and diminished. Faith alone has the ability to uplift a damaged soul, and it can be the difference between life and death. Faith can be an expression of ones liveliness and willingness to prosper in life by taking into account the decisions one makes based on that faith. I think we can all agree that all, if not, most human beings long for a fulfilling life and aspire to be the best person they can possible be. Therefore, faith gives people a set of values and ethics by which to live by. Such values in itself does not completely dictate your life; rather, these ethics remind a person of what to take into consideration when they act. To put things into perspective, let me give you a simple example: A low socioeconomic status individual, who is a strong believer in his faith, notices a well-dressed businessman drop his wallet across the street. Does he keep the wallet or give it back? You know the answer as well as I do. The lower class individual acts in accordance with his faith and believes that the morally correct thing to do is give the wallet back, in spite of personal desire to keep the wallet. Why then would this low class commoner decide to follow his faith if hes well aware that there would be no afflictions affiliated with keeping the wallet? No one would ever know he kept the wallet if he had made the opposite decision. To reiterate, these values that peoples faiths (many different faiths) rely upon are some of the things that build character, and establishes a sense of pride and spiritual fulfillment that one so desires. Im not saying that nonbelievers arent capable of such goodness in their lives; on the contrary, they might even have the same personal values regardless of religious beliefs. What I am really trying to get at is the fact that such individuals who rely on faith seem more apt to do the right thing in comparison with others (e.g. Tolstoy during his years of fame, wealth, and malicious indulgence). Faith does not necessarily mean a person is obligated to do good in their life. It is simply a way of directing a person on the right path to a morally just li fe. Although some people may see faith as paramount relative to other important constituents with the question of the meaning of life, logic and reasoning is also something that should be strongly considered. As Aristotle stated, man is a rational animal. Therefore, rationalism and logic are both important aspects in every, if not, most decisions that a person makes in their life. Tolstoy brilliantly states, All the concepts we use to compare the finite to the infinite, and to arrive at an understanding of life, of the concepts of God, freedom and goodness, are put to the test of logic. But they fail to stand up to the critique of reason. What Tolstoy means by this is that religion has a relationship in accordance with reason and knowledge; they complement each other, and help an individual make the right choices in life. Without reason, faith is all but relevant due to the fact that all decisions a human being makes should be rational and in accord with their faith; that is, a particula r set of morals brought upon by a God or divine entity of some sort. He also states, furthermore, I said to myself, the essence of every faith consists in its giving life a meaning which death does not destroy (50). I completely agree with Tolstoy in that faith, although irrational to some people, gives humanity a reply to the question of life. Every human being is entitled to their own faith due to freedom of choice. The most important thing is what you do with that faith, and how your actions shape who you become as a morally just and rational human being.

Raptorex - Facts and Figures

Name: Raptorex (Greek for thief king); pronounced RAP-toe-rex Habitat: Woodlands of central Asia Historical Period: Early Cretaceous (130 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 10 feet long and 150 pounds Diet: Meat Distinguishing Characteristics: Small size; stunted hands and arms About Raptorex Discovered in inner Mongolia by the famous paleontologist Paul Sereno, Raptorex lived about 60 million years before its more famous descendant Tyrannosaurus Rex--but this dinosaur already had the basic tyrannosaur body plan (big head, powerful legs, stunted arms), albeit in a diminutive package of only 150 pounds or so. (Based on an analysis of its bones, the sole specimen of Raptorex appears to have been a full-grown adult six years of age). Analogizing from other early tyrannosaurs--like the Asian Dilong--Raptorex may have been covered with feathers, though as yet theres no definitive proof for this. A recent study of Raptorexs type fossil has cast some doubt on the conclusions reached by Sereno. Another team of paleontologists claims that the sediments Raptorex was found in have been dated incorrectly, and that this dinosaur was actually a juvenile of the late Cretaceous tyrannosaur Tarbosaurus! (The giveaway is that the fossil of a prehistoric fish uncovered alongside Raptorex was misidentified, and it fact belonged to a genus that plied the rivers of Mongolia during the late rather than early Cretaceous period.)

Digital Fortress Chapter 46 Free Essays

Phil Chartrukian slammed down his receiver. Jabba’s line was busy; Jabba spurned call-waiting as an intrusive gimmick that was introduced by AT T to increase profits by connecting every call; the simple phrase â€Å"I’m on the other line, I’ll call you back† made phone companies millions annually. Jabba’s refusal of call-waiting was his own brand of silent objection to the NSA’s requirement that he carry an emergency cellular at all times. We will write a custom essay sample on Digital Fortress Chapter 46 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Chartrukian turned and looked out at the deserted Crypto floor. The hum of the generators below sounded louder every minute. He sensed that time was running out. He knew he was supposed to leave, but from out of the rumble beneath Crypto, the Sys-Sec mantra began playing in his head: Act first, explain later. In the high-stakes world of computer security, minutes often meant the difference between saving a system or losing it. There was seldom time to justify a defensive procedure before taking it. Sys-Secs were paid for their technical expertise†¦ and their instinct. Act first, explain later. Chartrukian knew what he had to do. He also knew that when the dust settled, he would be either an NSA hero or in the unemployment line. The great decoding computer had a virus-of that, the Sys-Sec was certain. There was one responsible course of action. Shut it down. Chartrukian knew there were only two ways to shut down TRANSLTR. One was the commander’s private terminal, which was locked in his office-out of the question. The other was the manual kill-switch located on one of the sublevels beneath the Crypto floor. Chartrukian swallowed hard. He hated the sublevels. He’d only been there once, during training. It was like something out of an alien world with its long mazes of catwalks, freon ducts, and a dizzy 136-foot drop to the rumbling power supplies below†¦ It was the last place he felt like going, and Strathmore was the last person he felt like crossing, but duty was duty. They’ll thank me tomorrow, he thought, wondering if he was right. Taking a deep breath, Chartrukian opened the senior Sys-Sec’s metal locker. On a shelf of disassembled computer parts, hidden behind a media concentrator and LAN tester, was a Stanford alumni mug. Without touching the rim, he reached inside and lifted out a single Medeco key. â€Å"It’s amazing,† he grumbled, â€Å"what System-Security officers don’t know about security.† How to cite Digital Fortress Chapter 46, Essay examples

Growing Up Fatherless Essay Example For Students

Growing Up Fatherless Essay Growing up, all my friends had a father except for me. In the essay All Over but the Shoutin   Rick Braggs has the same issue. Sure everyone has a father but not every child knows him personally. I only went and visited my father two time year, if I was lucky. It would only be for a couple days at a time. He was never really a father to me. Even after being with him for a couple days, he was still a complete stranger to me. I always pondered what it would be like to have a father. Everyone in my family never had anything nice to say about him. I never really listened to them because I didnt want to believe that he was a bad person. One day I finally got to experience what having a father was like. Ever since I can remember, it has always just been my mom and I. There was never a strong father figure in my life since mine left when I was just three years old. He packed up his bags and left, like my mother and I were nothing. I didnt know my father, I didnt know what kind of food he liked, his favorite sports team, his favorite color, or if he ever loved my mom and I. I dont remember ever making him fathers day gifts or cards in grade school, or feeling the warmth of his arms around me. I was too young to remember anything about him. To me he was a mere shadow, a fuzzy memory that never seems to fail to creep into the back of my mind. In Braggs essay he says I thought that the man I would see would be the trim, swaggering, high-toned little rooster of a man who stared back at me from the pages of my mothers photo album, the young solider clowning around in Korea, the arrow-straight, good looking boy who posed beside my mother back before the fields and mop handle and the rest of it took her looks  . I do remember looking through photo albums that my grandma had and seeing my father. He looked just like a normal guy. I would always wonder about what he looked like but I could only look at the photos of him. In the photos he looked very happy and joyful. I wonder what exactly happened that made him leave. I remember it just like it was yesterday, I was on the same school bus that Ive always rode since I started school. It was a very hot Friday in the middle of April, so the bus stunk from all the sweaty teenagers. I always sat in the back because that where all the cool   kids sat. My best friend was sick that day so I had to sit by myself. My bus driver always played the radio loud on Fridays which was my favorite and I always looked forward to it. It was finally my stop so I got off the bus. A gust of warm wind hit my face once I stepped off the last step of the bus. I proceeded to my house where I noticed that my moms car was absent . I didnt think anything of it at the moment, so I picked up the spare key from under the door mat and went inside. An hour passed and my mom still wasnt home. I was sitting on the couch getting worried when I noticed a white truck pulling into our drive way. It was going very slow like whoever was driving wasnt too sure if this was the correct house they were looking for. I didnt recognize the truck at first but then my uncle (my fathers brother) came walking up to the door. I couldnt comprehend why he would be at my house. The only time I ever saw him was around the holidays when the whole family got together. He knocked repeatedly on the door so I answered quickly. The words that he said are still stored in the back of mind until this day. I invited him inside and offered him a bottle of water since it was hot outside. .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63 , .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63 .postImageUrl , .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63 , .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63:hover , .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63:visited , .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63:active { border:0!important; } .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63:active , .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63 .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0110aa4fc054789dd0394ab267c9cb63:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Scoliosis EssayHe denied and asked how my day was at school. I answered him but I knew he wasnt at my house just to ask me how my day was at school. He asked me to take a seat by him. He then proceeded to tell me that my mom had gotten a DWI either that day and was currently in jail. He explained to me that I now had to go live with my father. I was in complete shock, I just froze up and went into my room and packed the things that I needed. While I was packing my clothes, I was very nervous about moving in with my father. On my way to my fathers house I had completely no clue what to think. Maybe Ill only have to stay with him for a few days I assumed but it ended up being two years. When I got to his house he was standing outside like he was waiting for a special delivery. He had boots on, blue wranglers pants, a red checkered shirt, and a black plain hat that said Harley Davidson on it. When we pulled into the driveway he actually looked happy which stunned me. He grabbed my bag out of the back of the pickup and welcomed me inside. His house smelled really fresh like he just finished cleaning. He showed me around the house and then showed me to my room. It was painted light brown and had a queen size bed in the corner along with a wooden dresser. The room was very bare and didnt have any decorations on the walls. Over the next couple days we hung out at the house and caught up. He asked about all kinds of things like he was trying to catch up for all the time that he had been out of my life. In Braggs essay he says For the next few hours unless I was mistaken, having never had one before â€Å"he tried to be my father. Between coughing and long pauses when he fought for air to generate his words, he asked me if I liked school, if I had ever gotten any better at math, the one thing that just flat evaded me  , I can relate to this because I had the exact same thoughts when my father tried to be a father. At the time, this whole situation just felt like a dream. But as each day passed, I felt more and more comfortable around my father. After a few months I enjoyed living with him. We got along very well and had a lot in common which totally took me by surprised. After a couple years of living with my father, I could honestly say he was and still is one of my best friends. But when my mom got sober and got a steady job I had the choice to move back in with her. I chose to move back, after making this choice I figured that my father would be mad because I was choosing her over him. He wasnt anger about my decision he was very understanding about it. While living with my father, he never once said he was sorry for leaving or gave an excuse as to why he left. I didnt expect this from him, but it would have been nice to hear. In Braggs essay he states He never said he was sorry. He never said he wished things had turned out differently. He never acted like he did anything wrong.   I can relate to his statement because my father never apologized either. Living with my father for a couple years was a real eye opener to me. I realized the he wasnt the bad guy that my family had made him out to be. I understand that our father and daughter bond wont be as strong as the girls that have always had their fathers in their lives, but I am grateful that he is on it now.