2020 Space Exploration

If I was an astronaut in the year 2020, and was asked to go to unexplored space, I would first have to think over all the aspects of the trip. First, what kind of good could come out of it? I might find some new element or compound that could help fight diseases. I might find some form of never ending regenerative energy source. I would also have to look at the drawbacks. If I’m going into unexplored space, then there are probably dangers that I don’t know about. For instance, there could be frequent meteor showers or some form of solar winds. After weighing the possibilities I would have to make a choice. No matter how hard I try to forget or ignore it, I would end up choosing one or the other. Let’s say I choose to go. Why would I do this? Because, after looking over the possibilities I realize, that it is better to take a chance for man kind then to stay safe for myself.

The Effects and Similarities of the Gutenberg Printing Press and the Internet

The Gutenberg printing press had a very profound impact on the
Renaissance era. It allowed books to be made quicker, easier and cheaper. It made it possible for the everyday person to own books. Average people then became able to read and write, which allowed them to become more intelligent and creative, from the new information they had obtained.

The internet has had a similar effect on the society of the late twentieth and
early twenty-first century. It has allowed people to have a wealth of information at the click of a mouse. Before the internet people had to research in books from libraries and book stores. Now people can simply get online and search a topic. The similarities of the Gutenberg printing press and the internet are that each one made it possible for people to become more informed. Knowledge is our greatest ally and these two thing make it so we can have more.

Carpe Diem

“Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die”. This is a famous phrase from Carpe Diem, that encourages people to live life to the fullest, live in the moment, not to think of the future, to live fast and die young. Carpe Diem talks about enjoying life without any sort of hesitation or guilt. At first, it sounds wonderful and liberating, but after some thought you should realize that it isn’t very practical. When you live as if you’ll die tomorrow, what happens when you don’t? When a person thinks they have one day left to live, what might they do? They will most likely try to enjoy themselves as much as they can. So, they might do things that are bad for their long term health, and spend all of their money becoming a glutton. When you have life, you should enjoy it. You should keep in mind that you my not be alive tomorrow. But, you should also keep in mind that you very well may be alive tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and so on. This is when everyone must make the choice, “Am I going to live as if there is no tomorrow, or am I going to live to make a better tomorrow?"

Religions Field Trip

Al Huda Islamic Center. This was the first place we visited. Being a Muslim mosque, it is a place of ritual prayers. Prayer is such an important part of their gatherings, that the carpet is patterned in a way that gives each person their own prayer space on the floor. It was interesting that it wasn’t very flashy or ornate, except for the gold colored throne which sat in front of the congregation. This is used by the member of the congregation who is leading the prayers. The men who showed us around were very kind and even brought us bottled water and cheese.

Congregation of Children of Israel. This was the second place we visited. Being a Jewish synagogue it was a very patriotic place, which showed both their patriotism to America and to Israel, their religion’s sacred Promised Land. The Torah is the sacred book of Judaism. There was one, which was most likely the most important object in the building. It was made from animal skins that had been made into a very large scroll, which had the entire Torah printed on it in Hebrew, the language of the Jews. You could tell that the scroll was very important to Rabbi Gerson, who was the leader of the congregation.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. This was the third place we visited. Being a Catholic church it had very beautiful stain glass windows, and these depicted points in the life of Jesus Christ. A very important object in this building was the Tabernacle. This is a small cabinet that housed both the bread and the wine that is consumed during the ceremonial Lord’s Supper. This is also believed to be the main place in which the Holy Spirit resides within the church. The Holy Spirit being in the Tabernacle is what Catholics believe causes the transubstantiation, which is where during the Lord’s Supper the bread and the wine actually become Christ’s body and blood. This was my personal favorite of the three places and I really enjoyed deacon Grutsch’s presentation.