Alex's 3rd Discussion Reaction

     In today’s discussion on NFTU the topic of religion was brought up yet again. By correlating religion back to the changes made during the 19th century, I was able to understand the impact it made on our Western culture. Hope and comfort was morphed into fear and uncertainty when the idea of religion was challenged by science (evolution vs religion). This concept is what allowed me to understand the narrator’s desire to become less conscious; ignorance is bliss. Initially, I did not understand what being too conscious meant but after today’s discussion I realized that the narrator’s trait of being too aware or too knowledgable of the world around him is what drives him to unhappiness or longing because that is what it did to society during the 19th century. If Mr. Shapiro could convince me that God does exist and it was guaranteed that I would walk out of the classroom with a full belief in God I would not want him to. Although the idea of religion and a God is comforting to some, so is the idea that science could prove it exists.