Why do Mothers do it?

A very hard question to answer is why do some mothers commit the unthinkable act of filicide? Filicide is when a mother or father kills their son or daughter. Nobody would think someone would kill their own child, and while it is very rare. It does happen. Most mothers kill their child's if they are seriously disturbed, stated by Lanny Berman. A child might kill their child for many different reasons, they might feel it is best for their child (Altruistic filicide), if they state they are hearing voices (acutely physcotic filicide), she doesn't mean to kill her child but it happens after repeated abuse (fatal maltreatment filicide), a mother might feel her child means nothing to her life (unwanted child filicide), and finally if a mother wants to get back at her husband (spouse revenge filicide). Usually the only way a mother kills her child is if an unusual circumstance occurs.

Could Taoism be the Key to Further Understanding Chinese History?

I just read an article from the New York Times called Reconstructing Taoism's Transformation in China, It was a very interesting article. It discussed kind of how the religion of Taoism has transformed over time into what it is today. Taoism is a Chinese philosophy based on the writings of Lao-tzu, advocating humility and religious piety. This religion is not as popular as most today, but it is very important especially in helping to better understand Chinese history. Taoism shows us how most dynasties in early China did not govern the people in a fair way. But Taoism states that people must be justly. If Taoism states this then it use mean the rulers of China didn't. These leads us to figuring out how their social classes were determined and what jobs were done within each social class. Taoism has very different political beliefs than other religions, so these tells us how that they must have been trying to change things, leading us to what problems may have went on in Ancient China.

Is our World Real?

I just read an article called Are we Living in a Computer Simulation? It was a very interesting article. It talks about the chances that we aren't actually alive right now and we might might just be someone's virtual reality on a hardrive. What do you think? I think we are real because I know I'm real and I came from my mother and father who came from their mother and father and so on and so forth. If we were a virtual reality I feel we would be able to start over just like in games they start over and relive multiple times. If we weren't real why would we die and just be forgotten about for the rest of humanity. It's a very interesting topic to think about. Do you think we are real? I think people make a very scientific and educated reason to why this might be true but I still believe we are real and we live here and we're meant to be here!

The Search for Faith

The story of Moshe Yosef Daum and Fela Nussbaum in the story "Holocaust Survivors: The search for Faith" and "The Book of Job" are both alike and different in certain ways. Both stories are similar in the sense that God is being question about his faith by someone. In Moshe Yosef Daum and Fela Nussbaum's story Fela always questions whether God is actually there for them. She wonders why God lets this terrible tragedy happen. In the story it mentions, "If God did so many miracles during biblical times, then why hadn’t she seen any such miracles during the holocaust." This is similar to Jobs wife in the Book of Job she always asks Job why is God doing this to you? She doesn't have as much faith in God as God continues to to true Job. These two stories are also similar because in both the Men don't give up. For example in the holocaust story Moshe always talks about the fact that there any survivors is a miracle God gave them. In the book of Job, Job doesn't sin God, he held his faith even when his wife questioned it. The main difference in these stories is that in The Book of Job God makes Job suffer, not other people. God questions Jobs faith so he makes him miserable. In the holocaust story God isn't the one making Moshe and Fela suffer, it is the Nazis. In this story they question God and if he really has faith. The Nazis don't torture the Jews to see if they have faith, they do it to tot rue them because they don't like the Jews. In the Book of Job God has faith in Job but puts him to test because of Satan who makes God question Jobs faith, even though Job is an amazing person.

The Book of Job part 1 vs. The Old Testament

Hey guys, I have just read The Book of Job and it was a very interesting piece of literature. I highly recommend it. It really makes you think about why God did what he did to Job (pronounced jobe). The Book of Job is very similar but also very different than the stories of the Old Testament. The book of Job and the Old Testament are both very similar especially in the sense that in every story God punishes or causes trouble with the character whether it is Job, Abraham, Noah, Adam and Eve whoever it is, it happens. In the book of Job God tortures Job because Satan tells God that Job is only a good person because he was blessed with wealth and other good qualities. So God puts him to the test to see if he is really faithful to God. This is kind of like the story of Abraham and Isaac where God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son jus too see if Abraham still has faith in God and worships him.  Killing you son is harder than killing yourself, this is why it is so hard to do. Although The Book of Job is very similar to the stories of the Old Testament it is also different. For example, in most of the stories of the Old Testament God punishes or tortures someone or the people because they Aren't worshipping God anymore or he wants to find out if they still have faith and worship him. This makes you question is God all knowing? That's a question to think about. For example In The Book of Job God tortures Job to find out if he is actually a good person or is he a good person because he has wealth and good qualities. But in Noah's ark the flood story in the New Testament God make a flood to wipe out humanity because he doesn't believe they worship him anymore. The Book of Job was a great story and I highly recommend it.

What is High School Like?

High school... What is it like? It's actually pretty good! Waking up later than middle school might be nice but the best part about being in high school is the freedom you have. You get to go out for lunch! Nobody questions what your doing and you are responsible for everything. Teachers leave it up to you to go to class. It makes you feel more grown up. Also, the teachers are more fun. Most teachers usually give you an assignment and the directions and tell you what to do and then you do it. In high school so far everything is more creative, you have to put in thought, it is more creative making it more enjoyable. Not everything you do is in such a specific way. While high school may be great it also has its down sides. I am used to being able to do my homework and get on with my day. But now I might whole nights finishing up homework. So the work load isn't small but that's not too bad, you just got to learn how to manage your time. It is not so bad!

Genesis 6-9... What kind of person is God? You Might Be Suprised!

I usually think of God as the best of the best. Most people who believe in God do as well. But after reading Genesis 6-9, I just don't know. His answer to the people not worshipping him was flood the world and destroy humanity. Who does that? That's awful. I think God was an arrogant person in this story he had no tolerance at all. He could have given humanity another chance, or warn them. Although he was arrogant, I do not think he was oblivious. He did realize that Noah was worshipping him. He didn't annoy God. God awarded him and helped him, his family and 2 of every kind of animal on the arc to be saved. After humanity was wiped out he didn't forget about Noah and he did make the flood go away. Although God was an arrogant, impatient, and awful person in the beginning I do think he learned his lesson when he agreed never to whipe out humanity again. This was part of the covenant he made with Noah. You should read Genesis and tell me what you think of God in the story.

Adam and Eve Banished, But Why?

Hey guys, I have just read Genisis 2-3 where Adam and Eve are created. The lord God creates them and puts them in the garden of Eden, he says you may eat form any tree except the one in the middle. If you eat from it you will surely die. Adam is created first, and Eve is created from Adam. Later on they are kicked out of the garden of Eden. But why? You might ask. I'll tell you why, Eve screwed up. She didn't think things through and got some fruit from the tree. She ate some and gave some to Adam. God realizes when Adam knows he is naked and covers up for God. He went up to Adam and said how do you know your naked, have you been eating from the tree. Adam replied Eve gave me it. Then God went to Eve and asked why did you eat from the tree? She replied the serpent told me too. Even though she claims this I still believe it is her fault, she shouldn't have accepted it or listen to the serpent. She screwed up and she should have taken the blame for it. There is a lesson to be learned listen to what you are told and you'll do fine otherwise, be prepared to face the consequences.

Gilgamesh vs. Hebrew flood stories

The Epic of Gilgamesh flood story and the Hebrew flood story are both very alike sand similar in many ways. The Epic of Gilgamesh flood story happened because the gods were upset at how noisy and annoying the humans were being, this lasted for 6 days and 6 nights.  The Hebrew flood story on the other hand was started because the god felt that he wasn't being worshipped anymore, this lasted for 40 days and 40 nights. In both stories there was a hero wormed by avoid about the flood and told to build a boat, in the Hebrew story it was Noah and in the Epic of Gilgamesh Upnapishtim was warned in a visit by a god into his dreams. But Noah was warned directly by God. Noah brought his family and 2 of every kind of animal in the jungle, a female and a male. Upnapishtim only brought his wife. When the flood was over Upnapishtin was granted immortality but Noah still was faced with growing old and dying eventually. I think this stories might be so similar that they were told many different times and all originated from one story but were interpreted so many different ways based on religion. For example in the brew religion they believe in only one God this might be why Noah is warned by the god. But in the Epic of Gilgamesh flood story Unapishtim is warned by Ea the god of wisdom. There are many gods in the Mesopotamian religion so each god is the good of something, he is warned by the god of wisdom. I truly believe both these stories came from the same story but were changed or evolved over time according to what people interpretation them as and how they told them. I also believe religion plays a huge role in how they were changed.

Bibliography:
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/flood-myths.html#Hebrew

http://www.icr.org/article/noah-flood-gilgamesh/

The pilot

Hi I'm Ethan Gatto, I'm blogging to show you the reader what I do in ninth grade English. Do I do it because I want to? No way, I'm doing this blog as a part of an assignment that my teacher  Mr. Reid (very fun teacher) has given me. I go to the Roslyn high school and play basketball, soccer and lacrosse. Right now I think this is okay, but I hope that changes by the end of the year. I am always open to new ideas. I hope many people Visit my blog.