Brittany Irwin
What it Means to be Human Human beings are very precious and unique creations. God crafted human beings in his image and likeness; each matchless person has his or her own physical features, thoughts, interests, likes/dislikes, etc. To be fully human means embracing God as our creator, the main source of the human identity, and following the path of holiness that he has laid down for human beings. In Thomas Merton’s work of philosophy “The Inward Solitude,” written to a general audience, he lists the qualities of what he thinks it means to be human. Throughout this section of his text No Man is an Island, Merton describes how God is the source of creation and how human beings need to follow him but have the freedom to do otherwise. He says, “True solitude separates one man from the rest in order that he may freely develop the good that is his own, and then …show more content…
Pascal explains throughout this section of his text, Classics of Western Thought: The Modern World, how humans need to work to find God in their lives to obtain their true selves. Pascal says “We naturally believe ourselves far more capable of reaching the centre of things than of embracing their circumference” (46). Through this, Pascal is stating his belief that Humans believe themselves to be “capable” of reaching their goals and dreams on their own, resulting in the discovery of their true identities. Pascal believes that humans need to “embrace” their surroundings to find the actual truth. Human being’s surroundings, or “circumference,” are all of God’s creation. By putting themselves into this world they can meet the challenges of helping others head on and always have God to support them. This source of reassurance can assist humans to be more selfless and again, live a life of
What it Means to be Human Human beings are very precious and unique creations. God crafted human beings in his image and likeness; each matchless person has his or her own physical features, thoughts, interests, likes/dislikes, etc. To be fully human means embracing God as our creator, the main source of the human identity, and following the path of holiness that he has laid down for human beings. In Thomas Merton’s work of philosophy “The Inward Solitude,” written to a general audience, he lists the qualities of what he thinks it means to be human. Throughout this section of his text No Man is an Island, Merton describes how God is the source of creation and how human beings need to follow him but have the freedom to do otherwise. He says, “True solitude separates one man from the rest in order that he may freely develop the good that is his own, and then …show more content…
Pascal explains throughout this section of his text, Classics of Western Thought: The Modern World, how humans need to work to find God in their lives to obtain their true selves. Pascal says “We naturally believe ourselves far more capable of reaching the centre of things than of embracing their circumference” (46). Through this, Pascal is stating his belief that Humans believe themselves to be “capable” of reaching their goals and dreams on their own, resulting in the discovery of their true identities. Pascal believes that humans need to “embrace” their surroundings to find the actual truth. Human being’s surroundings, or “circumference,” are all of God’s creation. By putting themselves into this world they can meet the challenges of helping others head on and always have God to support them. This source of reassurance can assist humans to be more selfless and again, live a life of