Monday, September 10, 2012
World Literature Prompt #2
Today in class we looked at several good belief statements. Imagine you are Pi Patel, and you want to submit a belief statement to This I Believe. What do you believe? What principles guide your life? Write a short belief statement from Pi's point of view (using I, writing in his voice, using some of his stylistic devices). Sign it with your name and period number. Please restrict your belief statement to the events covered in Parts I and II, not those in Part III, if you have read that far.
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I believe that you can love and praise God in anyway you please. Having only one religion does not make a person any more faithful.I believe the opposite, that following many faith traditions actually makes you more faithful. By learning more about different faiths, one can gain a deeper perspective of God.I choose to follow many religions so that I can attempt to get to know God better and learn many ways to honor and please him.
This guides my life because in being many religions I am able to relate more with people around me. Instead of following one religion, I know about many. I am more able to understand why someone believes what they believe.By loving God I have learned to love others. We are all God's creatures and by realizing that, I am able to see the good in anybody.
Elyse Jones
Period Eight
There’s something positively unforgettable about being stranded on the lifeboat with a tiger. For one thing, a tiger tends to be your only roommate. They have a habit of dissuading visitors, and consuming unwanted guests. There’s also a constant fear of being torn to bits, mixed with a bit of primeval terror of huge wild cats. One thing I remember was eating like a tiger. I was forced, not only to kill and eat fish, but to consume them like a wild animal, rushing to eat what I could before the tiger looked for his share. But I do, in fact, owe my life to a tiger.
I believe in tigers. I believe they always have the right words for a situation, from a contented purr when well fed and looking on an endless horizon, to a deafening roar when one mistakenly put his paw into a shark’s mouth. Tigers have a way of keeping your mind working, no matter how endless the sea or how empty your stomach. I believe that Richard Parker was the best possible companion for me on my misadventure. He was far more straightforward than any human, and he always made sure I was thinking on my toes. He was quiet, no incessant chatter with him. Above all he was a distraction. With him around, it was impossible to dwell on self-pity, or despair; he even kept me from boredom for a while. I believe that if he hadn’t climbed on to my lifeboat, neither he, nor I would be here today.
Joseph Per 8
I believe in zoos. What else brings so many species so close together? Many people would argue that zoos steal natural freedoms from animals, but the opposite is true. Zoos give animals basic needs, (food, water, shelter) and a safe place to live. Even though some animals attempt escape, it is not because they feel imprisoned, but because some small thing has caused them fear. Zoos are good environments for both people and animals.
Zoos bring people together in an environment of both science and religion. How else could my two very different Mr. Kumars both enjoy the zoo so much? Zoos inform people of scientific classifications, evolution, habitats, and animal safety while allowing people to simply wonder at the marvels of God's creation.
Paul Oliver
Period 5
God has a way of finding people when they are lost. Being lost at sea in a life boat with a tiger gives me lots of time to think. Not only to think about getting out of this boat alive but also about God. I believe God points people in the right direction when they are lost. I believe he wants us to praise him by figuring out the right thing to do during hardships.
After losing everything dear to me and being thrown on this boat all I have is a tiger and God to listen to my thoughts. While I am terrified of the great beast I speak my thoughts to God, I tell him how scared I am and he has shown me how to find supplies and construct a raft. I believe God is giving me another chance to live along side with this tiger for however long I'll be stuck out here. I believe, in time, God will show me what I truly want even if that means I won't get to see my family soon. God will find me because I am lost and he will help me overcome this tremendous problem.
-Rachel S, period 5
I believe that you must find hope in everything. After losing my family after our ship sunk I needed something to drive inside and help me conquer this great divide. Hope is essential in a situation like mine. When faced with cramped quarters with a hyena, zebra, orangutan, and a tiger you must hope that they will not notice you. Hope is what focuses my efforts to survive. Without hope I would have given up after the third day.
Edgar White
Period 8
I believe in the power of faith. Faith is something very few people would be willing to keep in a situation like this. I believe that having faith, that believing God will help you through this no matter how much doubt I have in my mind is just as important to my survival as food or water. Believing God is with me takes away the loneliness created by the vast ocean. Without faith there is no hope, without hope there is no reason to survive. I have faith.
Paul Tabish
Period 5
I believe in zoos and animals. Zoos are not bad and no animal wants to escape from zoo that gives it a good habitat and meals. people usually get into their minds that animals don't want to be caged up in a zoo but to the animal this is not the case their habitat is simply their home their territory. If one would want to escape from their home or managed to get out are frightened and then scramble to find a place to hide , not go about eating humans.
A zoo is a wonderful place to grow up in. You get this special bond between you and the animals. like me and Orange juice i grew up with her trying to practice her mothering skills on me. Her arms were long almost twice mine . And even though she was bigger than me and not to mention stronger , she did not hurt me. same goes for a tiger named Richard Parker. This Tiger saved my life. I owe my life to a tiger as strange as that may sound. Richard Parker helped me survive seven long month on a life boat. And did I get eaten alive like you and I would have thought? no. Animals are just like us in a way we have our sense of home and comfort , but we have the sense that something is wrong and that desperate measures will have to be taken.And when your on a life boat in the middle of the Pacific desperate measures are taken, so i strongly recommend these things you should have on board is some water , food and a tiger to keep you motivated to live. And that is why i survived and why I believe in animals.
Jessica Weyman
Period 5
I believe that not all wild animals are evil and aggressive. I have been on a life boat with a tiger and hyena. Two animals that are very capable of killing me at any moment. The hyena is the only one that has shown aggression but the tiger on the other hand has just stayed under a bench for the past three days. I believe that we always have to believe in hope. It is what keeps us alive in bad times and keeps us going. I had lost all at sea. I'm not going to lose all that i have left which is my life. I guess its the last thing i have to live for. i have no family left, no friends, and no way of knowing how to get home. I now guess that i can use all of my energy and time to staying alive. Being marooned on a lifeboat has taught me many things but i just have to believe that i can make it.
Nate Klebba
Period 8
I go along with Elyse. I believe in what I want. No one can tell me what to believe in because no one controls me. God only can control me if he wants. He does help you make right hoices though because he wants you to be big in life and not go the wrong way and be a bad person. It shouldn't matter what religion someone is because I think that as we've grown, we've learned to love everyone equally because that's what God wants us to do. I'm not sure if you can believe in many faiths, but I guess it could be possible. For example, Pi wants to be a christian in the story when he has another belief already. Your parents could be one religion, but you can choose what you want to believe in. Others believe in science rather then a religion, and that is normal because it's their belief. I am catholic and i believe in God. I don't actually believe in anything else besides God. I believe in other things, but out of the religion topic.
Dont underestimate any belief. In the end whether we have a belief or not, we are all one and the same in God's image. That's why he created us. To become as one and not separate from each other.
I believe God is with us where ever we go even though we can't see him. Sometimes when things get rough, we loose sight of whats important and fall into dark places. We need to take a step back and find the light of God.
When I was stranded on the boat with Richard Parker, at time I lost myself in depression. I was swamped by the idea that I would die or be killed. But I was able to find God even in my moments of complete despair. Sometimes things aren't as bad as they seem. I think its very important to know that someone is watching over with love. Theres something extremely comforting about knowing you always have someone to talk to, who will listen and never judge. One of lives biggest lessons is with faith in God you can conquer all.
Francesca Botto
Period 8
I believe you can find God everyone and in everyone.I lived in a zoo that my father owned filled with almost every kind of animal you could think of. God brought us these beautiful creatures and I have the opportunity to see them every day. Even the scary ones. I love God and God loves me so he will protect me.
I have even witnessed a priest, imam, and a pandit argue over which religion I should follow and which religion is the right religion. I could not even respond to any of their questions. All I want to do is love God as much as I can. I want to be as close as I can to Him. Even if I have follow three unique religions.
Michael Kearns
Period 8
I believe in the power of the mind. Throughout my life, I have grown up in a zoo and I have had to learn about how to use my mind in certain situations. For example, when my father showed Ravi and I how vicious tigers and other wild animals can be, I have had to keep my mind alert for my safety. Not only this but I have had to use the power of my mind to get me through difficult situations in my life. Another example would be when I was continuously teased at school about my name. I wouldn't have been able to get through those tough times unless I had a strong mind. I have also been bantered about what religion I am and how I can't be more than one religion. I could have easily broken down but my strong mind helped me power through these difficult times of ridiculing.
Now, I am on a boat. I have not had food or water for three days and I feel weak. I've watched the zebra and the monkey been torn to shreds by the hyena. I've seen my life flash before my eyes. I am on a boat with two of the most vicious animals on the planet. I want to give up but I can't. I know I can survive because of the power of my mind. The power of my mind is very strong and will keep me going through anything.
Gabi Dodson
Period 8
I believe in the power of Zoos. I believe that a zoo brings many animals together in a safe, friendly, and yet still natural environment. I believe that a Zoo gives an animal, not matter how wild, a relaxing life in a comfortable environment where there is no longer the constant threat of a predator higher on the food chain than you.
I believe that if you free the animals from a zoo they would have no idea what to do. Animals are better off in a zoo than in the wild after a life in the zoo. You might as well run into a home and yell, "You are free! Leave, Run!". The people in that home would have no idea what to do, they choose to be there and they enjoy it. So what else do they know? Nothing. This i believe.
Thomas Ashton, Period 8
I believe in what we do as human beings, effects the world dramatically. With politics, religion, even daily events such as trash and gasoline. In the Tao Te Ching we read in class, number 10 talks about being able to be both connected to worldly attributes as well as a higher sense in the world; for me, religion is just a viewpoint as well as moral ideal. I'm not saying that I don't believe in a greater good, but I'm only spiritual when a dramatic event has happened to me or my loved ones.
A belief in something greater is better than focusing toward the downside the world has. Us humans can make a great change for all of our benefits; the only problem is that it's in our nature to fight among our own fellow species. Someday we can have good for the world, just not today; but tomorrow may be the day!
I believe in perseverance. I will never give up on life or hope. My mother, father, and brother are now gone, but I know to listen to the voice that made itself heard in my heart telling me to keep going. I have a fierce will to live, and will never stop fighting. Many others give up and lose hope; however, I am not one of them. I have an inability to let go.
Hope guides me to keep fighting, and without it, I would be lost. I know in my heart that this is right. I have faith in myself to keep moving forward with the help of God. I will fight to the end.
Raquel Markham
Period 8
I believe in many things. I believe in the power of beliefs, i believe in zoos, I believe that many religions are the same. I Believe that Jesus was the Prophet and the Lord and savior. If i believe all of the things i feel that i believe. Then i feel that i am one with God and that i am a Prophet just like Jesus.
Robbie Brennan 5th period
I believe that one can believe in all religions. One can believe in all religions because all religions are true in their own way. We should all get to chose what religion that we want to believe in, and we should not fall to social conventions and only pick one.
I believe that one can always have hope even in the worst of times. Something can always come around and help. If you believe in God then you can always have hope. He is all loving and all knowing, and if you need help he is always welcome to listen.
Patrick Humlicek
P
eriod 8
I believe in faith. If you ask someone "do you follow any religion?" they may say, "Christian" or "I believe in science, and no I'm not going to give you money." If someone asked me that question I would answer: "Yes, three to be exact." and they would most likely give me a confused look and walk away. This would not bother me because I have as much faith in my three religions as most people have in their one. Faith has been the conductor of the train of my life. It has steered me in the right direction, kept me calm and even kept me alive.
Faith is essential to everyone's lives be it in religion, science, a career or even in an animal. I had secret faith in Richard Parker, my 500 pound shipmate, to not eat me. As I said faith can save your life.
John Schwarz
Period 5
I believe that only the faith in myself will guide me through this terrible time. Faith in your self is not just a simple matter of saying you can do it. It is having that inner drive that keeps you going.That keeps you fighting to survive. The will to risk the odds of being eaten in order to find water.I also believe that this new belief of mine has come from my families death,that I was taught to not give up on life by both my father and mother. Even with all the chaos on the boat and the discovery of Richard Parker under the tarp, I believe that that drive is still going and I will survive.
Alex Kosak
Period 8
I believe God is present at all time, to everyone. I was stuck on a boat with 4 wild animals, and made it out alive. If that isn't proof of God's saving power, I don't know what is.
God isn't only there for the disposal of human beings. Animals, just like the ones in my father's zoo, rely on God to guide them. This may sound silly considering they are caged up, but it's true.
Anyone who has the faith can depend on God, and he will show his love for them.
Allison Witte, Period 5
Many people of this world dwell on the imperfections. Focussing on all of the things God has "messed up on". I choose to look at all of the beautiful miracles created everyday. From the flowers blooming in pink and purple, to even the simple air that fills my lungs. It's the little things that count, this I believe. Being thankful being stranded on a life boat with a tiger would be outrageous, but yet again, I am. I am so truly thankful for this horrendous experience because my faith in God became even stronger. I expected nothing from him, yet his helping hand got me off of that boat. And for this I am thankful. Be satisfied with the little things, and remember; for everything bad that happens to you in life, there is always a spark of goodness.
Delaney Barnett
Period 8
Stranded on a lifeboat you'd be surprised how many thoughts go through your head. Not about Peter Parker or any of the other animals, or even my survival, but thoughts about yourself. While I was thinking about one of things I'm most passionate about I came upon God. I believe in talking to God through more then one religion.
It is easier for me to communicate my thoughts through many religions, then just one. I feel that my parents must have a hard time because they aren't apart of as many as I am. Without having all of the connections to all the religions that I do, all of my emotions and prayers wouldn't be able to be answered. I don't know how some people live without such a great thing.
Abby Isaacson
Period 5
I believe that fear can be overcome. It is not easy, though. Fear paralyses you, and makes you unable to use reason, logic, or hope. Fear is the greatest enemy, but any enemy can be defeated. While trapped on a lifeboat with a bengal tiger, I was overcome by fear, but I realized that I could work with the tiger, and I was less afraid. I worked to make him my companion. Fear can be defeated by the soldiers that it once overcame: reason, logic, and hope.
This is a guiding principle in my life, and one that I feel everyone should live by. Fear takes us down, and leaves us with only dread. It is the only thing that holds us back from our true potential. In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." If we can triumph over fear, there is nothing that can stop us.
Sam Stevenson
Period 5
I believe that all religions have the same general purposes. I consider myself a part of three religions and all three have something or some things unique and good to them. This is why I believe in three religions. I want to have some parts of each religion in my life. I also believe in zoos. Zoos are a place where humans come together with animals. I believe that this is a good thing.
My three religions also guide my life. I think by being a part of three religions, I can understand other people in a better way. However, all three religions have one thing in common: God. So in the end, I think that God guides my life.
Dash Anderson
Period 5
I believe in God. I simply believe in God. I believe that there is no right God or wrong God and that we all can communicate with God. We can all talk to him but some people choose to have a conversation in a different way. Some choose to talk to God 5 times a day while others maybe once. Some people don't talk to God for years. Whether you talk to him one way or another I believe in God and not in the way I make it known to him.
Manny Alvarez
Period 5
This is what brings me to "This I believe."
I believe God is what you make him/her..it. I believe that my religions are the guides of my life. I believe what I believe in and there isn't anyone who can tell me anything different. Being lost at sea for as long as I was can bring out the best spirituality in a person, just having all of that time in pure silence can make you realize things that you usually don't think about in a regular day.
I believe that God is within us, all we have to do is notice.
Mia Peterson
Period 5
For this I believe.
By Pi Patel
I'm here with Richard Parker. I have many faiths in my soul. I pray to them all. I am on a life boat with a massive bangle tiger a.k.a Richard Parker. I have the means to survive. I have water and food. I live on this life boat. I still live with God in my life and I am a worshiping boy. I choose to have many Gods in my life. I love them all. What guides me is what has happened to me. I watched a animals kill each other right in front of my eyes. In the life boat they all killed each other. This is a guide to make sure I myself stay safe.
Erin Pitt
Period 5
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