End of the unit 

In the whole unit we learned about different cultures, their beliefs, myths about their origins and points of view about abortion.  I´ve never put attention before to some other cultures that close, especially Indian. There are many differences between Buddhists and our culture.                                                                                                                                Their religions are very different from ours. First, polytheism, they have different deities and each one has a different functions. Most of us believe in one god who created and control everything. They believe in reincarnation that´s why they don´t care if they are poor now. Catholics are used to think that our life will be one for eternity.                                                                                                        Abortion they condemn it too, but one of the reasons it´s karma and here it´s most for a moral thing.                                                                                                                                                                                     

Talking about origins, Celts are a much older culture than ours. They were conquest many times and started to be a civilization very soon.  Instead of us, we were conquest just once and it was hard to be a civilization.                                                                                                                             Through those activities I realized that even if their beliefs are interesting it´s hard for me to imagine believing in the same. Maybe it is because I grew up in a very different culture or an educational thing.  

Ra was the creator, his power layed on his name. Also, he was the first pharaon of Egypt. For this he made himself man and as every man he had to grow old. Egyptians were happy because there was peace and plenty. Nilo was always leaving a rich coat of mud which made sure of fine crops.  The first day of the world Rah said "I am Khepera at the dawn, Ra at noon, and Tum in the evening," and as he said it the sun was rising in the east and crossing the sky and setting in the west.  But the people of Egypt rebelled against Ra and they were preparing evil things against his divine majesty. Those actions were caused by Apophis, the Dragon of Evil. Instead of sending the Eye of Death which was supposed to turn Egypt into a desert and to disappear mankind he created Sekhmet. It was a huge lioness, when it tasted human blood started to kill every human on Egypt. So Ra in order to stop it put red ochre on the beer to make it look like blood and the will sleep for a while, turning Sekhmet into Hathor the Lady of Love. Nowadays in the first day of the year they celebrate the festival in honor of Hathor and the priestesses of Elephantiné have to drink the red beer of Heliopolis. Now the world has love which is a new delight and a new pain.

Hills like white elephants is a story about a conversation between a men and a girl who is about to have an abortion. Everything it´s explained in an implicit way or symbolism.                                                                                At the beginning it´s hard to get the main idea but once you get it it´s very interesting.

The video showed the story of Sidharta.  A man who had everything but when he discovered human pain and suffer, he left it.  Also, it showed different perceptions and explanations about Buddhism. It was boring but it clarified some concepts. It made me understood the short story a bit more.   

 At the exhibit we saw the most important elements and some history of Indian culture and religions. It showed deities, demons and natural beings. Their meanings and importance were explained. It was impressive to see how different our religions and believes are. The sculptures were gorgeous and kind of weird.  

Buddhists doesn´t approve abortion even though on their countries this is a common practice. The main concern of having an abortion is karma. Abortion is mainly used as a birth control method. It is hard thinking that if they had better methods this dangerous practice would not be that common.