I think a common theme in these passages is faith and truth—faith in your beliefs, and truth in yourself. As many people have quoted before, Yudolf said —“‘to be authentic to yourself’ and to be unafraid to follow your beliefs” (59) is the greatest way to uphold your fait h. Only by doing that which you believe is right and good will you be confident your death is not “going to evil” but rather having “great reason to hope that death is a good” (Plato, 56). Plato seems to believe he should not fear death—he has followed his beliefs faithfully and does not fear a god who would probably applaud his time spent on earth. Because Plato had a great impact on the earth he left behind, he can be viewed as a hero.

Megan discussed what heroism meant to Greco-Romans in comparison to Judaism—the quest for beauty vs. the quest for God (and God’s approval?). These seem fitting ends to becoming a hero because they are the ultimate “truths” these two civilizations sought in life. Only through finding these truths could they die in peace, knowing they would be rewarded for their life paths and choices made on earth. According to Isaiah, “[God] shall bring forth judgment into truth” (Isaiah 42:3, 64). We will be judged based on the truths we find, the knowledge we gain, the impact we make. Additionally, Isaiah points out that we can better ourselves and improve the world around us by helping others, for example, he says, “and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday” (Isaiah 58:10, 68). Also, passages in Psalms expressed that compassion towards others leads to compassion from God in our time of death: “blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.” (Psalm 41:1, 70). These acts of compassion, the quest to make a difference, are examples of everyday heroism.

I agree with Garrison that these readings point to a search for truth. This search for truth, to find meaning, is still relevant today. We all want to leave the world better than we found it, or if anything, simply better ourselves (even if this is a purely selfish endeavor). Many of us still fear death, and according to Plato and Isaiah, we must follow certain paths to avoid an evil eternity. As Plato says, “O judges, be of good cheer about death, and know this of a truth—that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death” (57); it is through faith and truth that we find salvation.