1. On the corner of Fourth and Walnut in Louisville, Kentucky, Thomas Merton exp
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Question
1. On the corner of Fourth and Walnut in Louisville, Kentucky, Thomas Merton experienced an insight that he had been living under an “illusion”. Discuss the illusion and the new view of reality which replaced it. 2. Compare and contrast the life saving actions of Maximillion Kolbe and Lenny Skutnik. What do their actions say about human nature? 3. What were three or four things the Amish did in the documentary on “Forgiveness” after the tragic killing of their children? According to the documentary, what positive effects can be imitated by such acts of forgiveness? 4. What do you think is the biggest challenge in forgiving a person who has wronged you? Explain with an example or two. 5. Offer an understanding of Thomas Merton’s teaching that a selfish life, “contradicts the very nature of man.” (Thomas Merton; essential writings).
Explanation / Answer
1. On the corner of Fourth and Walnut in Louisville, Kentucky, Thomas Merton experienced an insight that he had been living under an “illusion”. Discuss the illusion and the new view of reality which replaced it.
Kentucky said that he was living under the illusion of being separate from other people. The illusion of self isolation in a world that was different or special. He was living under an illusion that he was different from other people. With a sudden realisation he felt that there was no difference between him and the other people. That everyone was same and that he loved everyone who was around him and none of them were aliens.
2. Compare and contrast the life saving actions of Maximillion Kolbe and Lenny Skutnik. What do their actions say about human nature?
Lenny Skutnik : he was one of employees of Congressional budget office. He is known for his act of heroism in 1982. He saved 6 members of an air Florida crash who were hanging by the plane's tail section in freezing waters. Due to such freezing conditions even the rescue team were not able to act on the shore but skutnik helped rescue them
Maximilian kolbe: In auschwitz there had been a rule that if any prisoner wanted to escape, ten more from his bunker would get executed. In Maximilian 's bunker one man drowned in latrine which was known later, but he was found missing at that time. This made the jailers select 10 random people for execution . One of them after being selected started crying for his wife and children and seeing this Maximilian took his place and took the execution.
This says about human nature that humans are kind hearted and are ready to replace themselves for someone else when there's an increase in the other person's suffering. Also, they don't care when they have the chance of saving even a single person's life over their own lives.
3. What were three or four things the Amish did in the documentary on “Forgiveness” after the tragic killing of their children? According to the documentary, what positive effects can be imitated by such acts of forgiveness?
The Amish people did not press charges. They did not blame the shooter. Nor did they hold any kinds of press conferences. They expressed forgiveness to the killer and reached out towards the killer and his family with compassion and grace. The Amish people also graced Charles Roberts funeral who performed the ghastly act.
Such acts of forgiveness assert the belief that people have on god and that god is the controller of everything that is happening. Also, when such acts occur, the other person who has committed the crime, realise what they have done with utmost guilt, which even a death sentence could not have imbibed in that person. Such acts assert why humanity is what it is and shows that there's still hope.
5. Thomas Merton says that selfish life, “contradicts the very nature of man. He says that a person is not an island. If a person starts living only to achieve power, then one person will only live to destroy the world and the other person. such a world requires to be changed, and that can only be changed by embracing the true human nature which embraces mercy and forgiveness. He says that the strength of cooperation and selflessness is much above the strength of desires, as this embarks creativity. The strength to build and live and let others live. This also supports the will to forgive and reconciliation which are intrinsic in the human nature.
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