Journal Entry 3

Nafeesa Malik
Sep 5, 2018 · 10 min read

August 30th- September 5th

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Hour 0–1.5

Today in class we had a quiz where we had to answer 10 questions and I got all ten right including the bonus. I did misspell anagnoresis, so I lost half a point for that. After our quiz, we talked about the questions we had to answer before class regarding the summary of the “The Five Biggest Questions Humans Ask” shared on blackboard of the compiled responses. The questions we had to answer were:

Why do you believe humans consider these questions so important? What difference does it make how we answer them?

I believe that humans consider these questions so important because most people spend their lives trying to find the answers. It’s hard to take people’s word for some of the questions we have because it doesn’t make sense to us logically or at all. We look for the “truth” so that we can ultimately be at peace with ourselves. I feel like people will have different perspectives on what the answers should be and that everyone’s answer to certain question will be different. For example, I grew up believing in one God and that he created human beings with free will, so that we could choose to worship him or not. So when the questions of God arises and if there is one and questions about our origin, I say that there is and that we all are descendants of Adam and Eve. However, others may not believe that there is a god at all, or they may believe in multiple gods and that a each individual deity created something different (one deity may have created the sun, while another created the moon, etc.). Our personal views color our perspective and therefore determines if we are satisfied with the answer that we get.

Specifically, why do you think humans are so concerned with the question of purpose? What are the answers that they typically come up with when they ask themselves “what is the purpose of life?”

Everyone at one point or another in their life will ask about or think about why they were put on this earth. It’s a natural curiosity and we all look for an answer in some form or another. The answer to our purpose in life always seems to be answered in bits and pieces but never in its entirety and in a way that resonates with us. It seems that sometimes we never get a clear definitive answer which is why we pursue it so much. A Lot of times the answers we come up with are related to our aspirations and goals. I feel like a lot of people confuse their purpose in life with their hopes and dreams. To me, I think that everyone’s purpose in life is different and you can only fulfill the part that is meant to be yours.

What stories (think of literature, song, or film) do humans tell each other that supposedly reveal the answer to the question “what is the purpose of life”?

I think most literature have in some way the answers to the purpose of life. You learn as you read and as you go along. Reading any novel,, watching movies, or listening to music, can inspire you in ways to better your life and to do things that make you happy. For example, I enjoyed reading Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, it taught me alot and opened up my eyes to issues going on around the world. I believe as a human being that we just don’t have one purpose in life, we have multiple. Being there at the right place and time to help others or to help make someone else’s life easier. As we grow older, and hopefully wiser, our experiences and values shape our perspective and our view of the world and the many issues in it. It influences the way we live our lives and what we do in our lives.

Notes (in class):

What is the purpose of my life?

- Reasons for being here?How do we make ourselves significant? Why were humans created?: Is this related to the original question?

  • Human agency vs divine agency
  • They are connected but not the same.

To ask the question “what is our purpose?” we need to first assume that we were created to have a purpose.

  • We assume that we have a purpose because everything else in our lives has a purpose; We are anthropomorphize the nature. For example, canines are present in our teeth to help us consume/ tear into meat. This does not mean that we will eat solely meat; purpose of canines is to grip and tear into food

4 ways of thinking about human ability to control their life narrative?

  1. Fate and destiny
  2. Divine gifts and devilish temptations
  3. You have gifts; natural talents such as a great voice or running fast. You get to choose whether you want to use it for good reasons or bad reasons.

— Ex: fast runner=Olympics gold medals vs. running away after committing a crime.

4. Free will- opportunities, uses, “fits”

  • Determinism: can be connected to fate and destiny but this one is all on you.

— People can be born with certain biological or neurological disorders and their future is uncertain but they are determined to achieve something in their lives.

— If there are social biases against you then that may also be a determining factor of what controls your life.

— Maybe your financial status as a child isn’t as good but that could be determining factor for you to do better.

— What do you think determines which of these paths that a person could go through?

  • It all depends on your experience and the situations we’ve been through.
  • Sense of agency: is the subjective awareness of initiating, executing, and controlling one’s own volitional actions in the world.
  • You have to play your part for the divine to play his part.
  • It also depends on whether on your religious beliefs.

— Where does ancient mythology tend to fall?

  • They believe in fate, destiny, divine gifts, and devilish temptations.

— How does one account for suffering in a world created by a greater divinity?

  • Maybe to tests us and make us better.

— In ancient mythology, curses were stuck to the families for generations. So it depended on who and how your ancestors were.

  • Divine wrath: its suppose to make you more vigilant to punish wrongdoers.
  • Miracles, uncommon occurrences
  • Oikos: house; the whole family is cursed because of the wrongdoings of their ancestors.

***For the homework, due before class on Tuesday, September 4th, we were asked to answer the following questions:

  1. According to to the author, what is Classical Mythology?
  2. Do you agree with her reasons for studying classical myths in the 21st century (pp.33–35)?

Sunday, September 2, 2018

Hour 1.5- 3.5

In preparation of next class and for the homework assignment due I read Classical Mythology in Context (CMIC)pp. 3–35. and answered the homework questions. It was interesting to read about what differentiates a myth from a legend and from a folktale. It was also cool to read about the different time periods that legends stem from. I liked how they talked about the 12 main gods in Greek Mythology though technically there were 14. Another thing I found interesting is that the gods and goddesses were not physically described.

According to to the author, what is Classical Mythology?

According to the author, when you break down “classical mythology”, “classical” refers to something that belongs to a certain category, group, or class. It is derived from Latin, not Greek. Over time the word “classical/ classic” evolved to mean something that increases and highlights the best qualities of a particular group. “classical” was first used by Renaissance scholars to describe Greek and Roman antiquity and from there, “classical” myths referred to myths originating in ancient Greece and Rome. Classical Mythology hence became widely known as the myths that stem from ancient Greece and Rome.

Do you agree with her reasons for studying classical myths in the 21st century (pp.33–35)?

Yes, I agree with the author’s reasons for studying classical mythology in the 21st century. She makes excellent points, and I think it is pretty cool to read and learn about myths because it gives you an opportunity to experience how your imagination can make the world feel and seem more magical.

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Hour 3.5–5

Today, we talked about the origin of Easter and Thanksgiving and why they are celebrated today. An interesting similarity between the holidays is that they coincide with the seasons and that they have meaning behind them. For example, Easter is associated with spring, which symbolizes birth and regrowth. Something I found interesting was that the reason bunnies are associated with Easter is because they represent the act of reproduction. Eggs are associated with Easter because it symbolizes the seeds of life. We also talked about how in the Star Wars franchise, Star Wars Day was made into a holiday. The Date May 4th, is a play on the famous dialogue of “may the force be with you and how May is the month in which most if not all of the movies were released. We then talked about how this all could relate back to Greek Mythology and how things came about in the Trojan War, and what started it. Another thing I found interesting is that the gods in Greek mythology are selfish and jealous of one another. They don’t care much about the consequences of their actions. We also talked about how the Trojan War is the most famous war when it didn’t actually happen in reality. The Trojan War began with the Marriage of Thetis (goddess) and Peleus (a mortal). Thetis was prophesied to birth a child who could overthrow the Gods. The Gods didn’t like this so they arranged her marriage to a mortal hoping it would prevent her from birthing the child. At their wedding the gods invited many guests but snubbed the goddess of discord, Eris. Because of this, she basically gate- crashed their wedding and started an argument between Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite. She left a golden apple for the fairest goddess and the other three goddesses began to argue on who it was meant to belong to. They went to Paris, a Shepard, and demanded that he choose who should get the apple. Each of them bribed him with something. Aphrodite offered him the most beautiful woman in the world as his wife. He accepted and chose to give her the golden apple. I though this was funny because if given the option, nine times out of ten, men would choose to have the most beautiful woman in the world as his wife.

Notes (in class):

How do we experience/ participate in stories and myths (beyond just hearing/ reading/ seeing them)?

— Easter- dinner; food preparation (social bonding); play reenactment (initiation); Easter egg hunt; easter bunny; why bunnies? — symbol of fertility; beginning of spring (renewal); connects people together

  • Make yourself a personal part of the story
  • There is some affirmation on this day or around this time.
  • You think about the things you have done

— Thanksgiving- dinner;

  • Corresponds to a certain season
  • More secular holiday. Families come together and enjoy food!
  • It has customs and traditions that are unique to each family.
  • Maybe a play reenactment. But nobody thoughts they were channeling a divinity.

— Star Wars- cosplay; the date (May the 4th); movie marathon; themed foods; conspiracy theories; tattoos;

  • The month of may is before summer starts
  • Star wars day kicks off the start of summer.
  • Movie marathons
  • Star wars themed food
  • Star wars toys, juice boxes, snacks.
  • Using a toy to reenact the scenes from star wars.
  • Disney rides: they make it seem real. It’s kind of an reenactment.
  • Creating conspiracy theories on youtube
  • Tattoos
  • Educational products: learn to read, count, learn colors through star wars
  • Generational: your parents experienced it differently and you are experiencing a different part of the story.

— Comparing Star Wars to Easter:

  • The level of interest and devotion of each depends on the part of the community you study.
  • The characters are depicted as heroes.
  • When toys were released, multiple versions of the characters were released.
  • The Trojan cycle

— The Trojan War- begins because of the wedding of Wedding of Peleus and Thetis; Thetis- was prophesied that her child would be stronger than the gods- which is why she marries Peleus a mortal; Gods did not include Goddess of Discord (Eris) from the wedding; in retaliation she produces the Apple of Discord and the apple is fought over between Hera, Aphrodite, Athena.

  • The child born to Thetis and Peleus was Achilles.

— The Judgement of Paris- they go to Paris, a Shepard, and he will choose fairly. Athena offers him to be successful in war, Hera offers to make him King, Aphrodite offers him the most beautiful woman (Helen of Sparta), who becomes Helen of Troy.

  • The Fall of Troy
  • Iliad: Wrath of Achilles.
  • Nostos: the homecoming of the greek soldiers
  • Hero: someone who you worship after they have died.
  • They are considered powerful spirits that if you piss them off then you’ll have to face their wrath but if you appease them then you’ll be given certain benefits
  • Cult worshiping: worshiping heroes was popular between greeks
  • The Homecomings (Nosfoi)
  • — (Odyssey)- Tells the story of one homecoming.- Odyssey: tells story of the hero Odysseus that comes home after 10 years of travelling.

** For Homework due before class Thursday we were asked to answer the question: What happens after you die? and to Read Book 11 of Homer’s Odyssey.

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Hour 5–7

Read Book 11 of Homer’s Odyssey-

Book 11 was interesting because he traveled to the underworld and came back to the surface/ world alive which is not possible in reality. I enjoyed how even in the Underworld, the dead were concerned about Earthly customs and rituals. Elpenor is concerned that he receives proper burial rites. When Odysseus meets the ghost of his mother, its obvious that his goals were more important to him and that he was willing to sacrifice anything to achieve it. He holds his own mother at bay in order to follow Circe’s instructions. Eventually, Odysseus goes from adventure and seeking glory to missing his home and family.

What happens after you die?

As a Muslim, I believe in life after death. I believe that the deeds you commit in this life whether good or bad determines if you end up in heaven or in hell. Once you die, that is it, there is no way to come back from the dead or be reincarnated. In Greek mythology, once a mortal dies, their soul is sent to the Underworld to Hades to do with as he wishes. However, in Greek Mythology it is possible for a person to travel to the Underworld, to the life after death, and is able to leave there alive and not as a spirit.

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