The scientific approach to "holy books"

by behemot 18 Replies latest jw friends

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  behemot

  " Remember, always, young man, that science which has become a great power in the last century, has analyzed everything divine handed down to us in the holy books. After this cruel analysis the learned of this world have nothing left of all that was sacred. But they have only analyzed the parts and overlooked the whole, and indeed their blindness is marvelous. Yet the whole still stands steadfast before their eyes, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Has it not lasted nineteen centuries? Is it still not a living, a moving power in the individual soul and in the masses of people? It is still strong and living even in the souls of atheists, who have destroyed everything! For even those who have renounced Christianity and attack it still follow the Christian ideal. And neither their subtlety nor the ardor of their hearts has been able to create a higher ideal of man and of virtue than the ideal given by Christ of old. When it has been attempted, the result has been only grotesque ."

  quote from The Brothers Karamazov by Fedor Dostoevskij, Book 4, chapter 1

  Your comments welcome.

  Behemot
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  trueblue
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  Lillith26

  "Deism declares, that the practice of a pure, natural, and uncorrupted virtue, is the essential duty, and constitutes the highest dignity of man; that the powers of man are competent to all the great purposes of human existence; that science, virtue, and happiness are the great objects which ought to awake the mental energies, and draw forth the moral affections of the human race." ~Elihu Palmer
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  Psychotic Parrot

  Yes, there are sophisticated ways to clutch at straws... now what of it?
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  Lillith26

  I disagree with the quote from The Brothers Karamazov by Fedor Dostoevskij, Book 4, chapter 1........

  For even those who have renounced Christianity and attack it still follow the Christian ideal.

  The Christian IDEAL stated here is the "Ethic of Reciprocity" (do unto others...), and is contained within nearly all Religious beliefs. I have studied many Religious beliefs, both modern and ancient, and although it may be worded differently, or presented in a different manner, it is there. Sometimes its right on the surface, sometimes you have to look a little more deeply for it . Even Anton LaVey's Church of Satan has a version of it!
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  behemot

  I think the above quote is better understood in terms of the cultural impact of the bible on our Western world.

  Perhaps the author wants to convey the idea that, despite the fact that the historical critical approach to the "holy book" has dismantled its claims of divine authorship (and this is all the more so an established fact today, more than a century later than Dostoevskij), yet we still can't help but somehow come to terms with that heritage, which remains the cradle of our culture and keeps on affecting in many ways - even unconsciously - our lives on both individual and societal level.

  Behe
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  PSacramento

  Faith has nothing to fear from science, or science from faith.

  Its the extremissims in BOTH that one shoudl have concerns with.
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  Psychotic Parrot

  What the hell is scientific extremism?
  
  Can you possibly give a good explanation of that?
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  trueblue

  Many years ago I done a little bit of study on mysticism, it is a scientific approach, then one day at the KH during WT study it was about things like the elements, and functioning of trees and such. That Jehovah was in control of theis actions going on with in the tree, and it got me thinking back on the mysticism stuff that like in our bodies all the cells, and what not have like a mind of it's own but are actually part of a much larger mind. The cells and what nots are little minds that are concidered as microcosms, and the larger mind called the macrocosm. Then I realized the WT study was on the same subject only giving the name Jehovah to the macrocosm. I then was able to make a lot of comments during this WT study.

  Shortly after I seen a program on TV a group of scientist acknowledging that there haves to be an inteligent higher power a creater, and defuting the big bang theory. I remember little about the TV program, but the scientist had charts, and drawings of cells or attoms that are made of different parts and engineered like an electric motor, and the electric motor would run backward or forward just like mans electric motor when the electricity from (- negative) to (+ positive) are switched. Causing the cell to move back or forth. Then the scientist where giving charted statistics; the odds of of such a divice this cell or atom could have been made by chance, or the chance that two of the parts could have been made @ the same time by chance. The odds where astronomical, not to mention the spectacular duties that are in harmony with so many other things in the universe. It is imposible for there not to be a God.

  One time I was walking down a business street, and called in by Church of Scientology, had me watch videos, and such. Sold me a book or I give donation I don't recall, and the very next time I went back they wanted to give me a job printing books. I asked what it pay, and the reply was (volunteer). @ least they honest. Hint Hint JW

  To tell the truth I haven't seen an org. that do not want or need money.
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  Psychotic Parrot

  What a load of rambling tosh.