Importance Of History In The Present Day

The Importance of History in the Present Day The past is history, the future 's a mystery, and today is a gift, that is why they call it the present. This quote is a perfect way to summarize what I plan to explain in this paper: the past is history. We study it and try to learn from it. Every part of our past is of some use to us and has impacted the lives we live today. As I discuss the emergence of Islam, The Rule of Saint Benedict, and illuminated manuscripts I will explain just how important each are to us today. One of the biggest aspects of our world today is religion. Even if someone does not believe in a god they are most likely to believe in some other force greater than themselves such as evolution, gravity, or science. However, …show more content…
Today most people like making decisions by themselves and being in complete control. They enjoy individuality and a life that is constantly busy and filled with errands. We have lost some of mankind’s most important virtues, but thankfully, Saint Benedict is here to remind us. Obedience is defined as compliance with an order, request, or law or submission to another 's authority. Instead of following the orders of our elders, most people want to rule everything, decide everything, and be in charge. Rarely can someone take a step back and realize how truly insignificant they are. We think we can be in charge of our lives, but there are so many things we cannot control. That may be why so many turn to religion. It is easier to obey someone or something that we believe controls us than thinking nothing is in control and that our life will just happen by chance or luck. Another fault of ours is our need to constantly chatter. Go to a wooded area and sit and listen. You’ll hear silence. There may be animals, wind, water in the distance, but it’ll be fairly silent, maybe even somewhat eerie. Yet, instead of appreciating the beauty of our world, we feel the need to have something to gossip about, worthless stories and meaningless ‘how are you’s. Silence is a virtue we have forgotten. Next is humility and oh my, I could discuss the lack of humility in my generation for hours. The way girls dress, the way we all act, the entitlement we carry. It’s shameful. While Saint Benedict teaches that we should be humble and blend in we continuously throw ourselves in ways that make us stick out from everyone else and give us the attention we so desperately desire. Not only do we desire attention, but we desire materials. The level of materialism that lives within us is unreal. While monks follow rules that forbid them from having personal items,