For better understanding of Pi's religious influences, religionfacts.com is a good web site.
In user-friendly terms, this site provides an overview of all religions; it will help you to understand the values and beliefs that helped Pi to survive. He says his story will make you (the reader) believe in God...but exactly what do Christianity, Hinduism and Islam say about God's relation to humans and their survival?
Be aware, as you read, that while much of Pi's story
could possibly be real, some details seem improbable,
such as the "floating island" where Pi spends a brief time. However, in nature there are...
Mangrove Islands (close-up view of one at right), which are similar. The mangrove grows huge roots (visible below the water line in photo), but the roots do not need soil or sunlight for growth. They grow in salt water, though they prefer brackish water, which is less salty.
The branches and roots commonly matt together, resulting
in a "floating island" (without soil, but with a surface of old decomposed mangrove leaves), which can form far away from shore. Commonly, at least some of the "island" roots will eventually extend so far under water that they will attach to an underwater geographical feature.
The picture at right shows a huge old mangrove island. Could this validate Pi's claim? Which other details seem improbable? If some details are not true, speculate about Pi's reasons for fabricating information.
No comments:
Post a Comment