Morals and Religions

What are the connections between morals and religions?

The main connection between morals and religions are that both things teach you something. It can be very small things to big things like how to live your life. Morals are lessons based on a real-life issue, a story, legend, folktale, myth, or fable. Take 'The Tortoise and the Hare' by Aesop for example. There are many morals to this fable; don't be over confident, don't boast, don't overlook others, slow and steady wins the race, and so on. At the same time, religions have rules and beliefs that also teaches people. Actually, many religions also use stories to explain and teach something. For example in Christianity, these stories are called parables. In Hinduism, there's the story of Rama and Sita. Of course, religions don't only use stories. Commandments and rules created by the Gods of each religion also teach its followers and believers alot of things, such as what's good and what's bad, what not to do and what to do.

This I Believe

The essay from This I Believe that I'm going to talk about now is named "Leave the Light On" by Marianne Rogowski.

This essay talks about a mother's love for her children. Marianne's mother told her the story of leaving the florescent light in the kitchen on, as that was a sign for home. Marianne's mother told her that no matter what mistakes, they are never too bad for her to return home. Marianne went off to college, everything was fine, and life was good. But in her Junior Year, after just turning twenty, everything changed. As Marianne drove home, she kept her head low. And as she entered the house, her mother knew straight away that something was not right. Marianne herself was horrified of what she was going to confess to her mother. She said, "I know you're going to hate me. I'm pregnant." But instead, her mother hugged her tight and comforted her saying that she could never hate her and everything will be all right. Leaving the light on is like keeping the fire burning. Many times you'll hear people compare fire with love. Yes, it is the same here. The light is like the love Marianne's mom has for her. And that now time has passed, Marianne passes on the story of the light to her children.

This essay touched me because it reminds me of the love my family has for me. Although I pass through many fights and disagreements with them, I will always know the unconditional love they have for me, and I have for them; just like Marianne and her mom.