"We shouldn't live as
if it mattered more than life in this world, because where we
are is always the most important place." - The Amber Spyglass
by Philip Pullman
"We have to build the
republic of heaven where we are, because for us there is no
elsewhere." -The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
I know someone, for the sake of discussion let's
call her erm, Britney ( Why Britney? Cos I don't like Britney
Spears) Well, anyway, Britney has this holier-than-thou attitude.
She is deeply 'religious' and goes to church as often as she
changes her underwear. She prays regularly and goes for all
those many many church activites.
She even raises funds for charities. Sometimes,she
skips her studies and she spends almost all of her time doing
them. She is to totally consicous of the Ten Commandments.
And yet, she does all this so she says that
she can go to heaven later. Not because she sincerely wants
to help others, but because she thinks that she will get something
out from it.
That would be okay if it wasn't for the fact
that she is extremely unhelpful. Very very very extremely totally
unhelpful. And critical of others. Like she would just sit at
one corner critisizing others, yet never bothering to help.
She never bothers being nice
I hate people like that. There are many I know
that does things like that, like doing something just because
they think they are going to get a reward for it.
Perhaps that's why the concept of heaven exists.
Maybe it's because people in general cannot stand the idea of
not recieving their just payment, their rewards.
Without the concept of an afterlife, let's say
we knew that we just no longer exist , well, a lot of people
would lose their purpose in life. Perhaps it is just as well
an idea of afterlife exists, so that most can keep their sanity.
Religion is just an easy way out to explain
life's great mysteries. It also helps us put us OUT of perspective.
We all are after all, a small speck of dust on a huge world
in an infinite universe. Compared to that, all our achievements
would seem like ... nothing. Zero. Nada.
So people use religion so that they won't have
to think for themselves. I am not against religion. If it helps
one be a better person, well, I am all for it.
But when people use religion so that they don't
have to think for themselves about good and evil, the meaning
of life, how big is this universe after all, then it's wrong.
It goes against everything humans stand
for, thinking sentient beings. If we don't think for ourselves,
why, we will just be another species of hairless upright
apes.
The Wheel of Time sinks to
new lows. Stock prices dropping rapidly. Investors advised to
drop shares.
Review of The Crossroads
of Twilight (Book Ten of the Wheel of Time) by Robert Jordan
( WARNING: Do not attempt to
read from Book Ten. Instead start from Book One - The Eye of
the World)
I love the Wheel of Time, in fact Jordan is
my favourite authors on my list. However this does not excuse
what Jordan has done to CoT (Crossworads of Twilight) i.e. made
crap out of it/ spoiled it.
This is the most horrible WoT book I have ever
came across after that misery which was named the Path of Daggers
(Book 8). I didn't even bother to read the book twice.
See, I judge a book by the number of times I
re-read it. Normally, I read most books twice.
The ending has the only REAL plot advancement,
whereas the others are boring parts of an over-extended Prologue.
If I hear just ONE more time how Elayne has to drink goat's
milk , I am gonna scream.
There is absolutely nothing to review, don't
bother buying it. If you want, I can send you an email in one
line that summarizes the whole book.
Don't get me wrong. The Wheel of Time is an
epic fantasy which is really beautiful and captivating. I probably
read The Eye of the World (Book 1) gazillion times.
You know, in Macbeth there is a scene
which is generally not considered to be written by Shakespeare
because:
1. It adds nothing (no plot advancement) to
the fast-moving story
2. It is insignificant.
Well, that probably describes the Wheel of Time.
Maybe, in the future, people are gonna praise Jordan as a great
writer, and make excuses for him, that he probably didn't write
the terrible Book 7, 8 and 10.
