Hand goes up - I read this book a long time ago; he's also got one called For Christ's Sake which I've also read. If I'm not mistaken, this is the guy that still holds on to his Christianity even though he is well aware of all its 'pagan' connections... I think I also saw a show of his about where he is spiritually at this point in time, I will see if I can find the link... http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/paganchrist.html (Interesting show)
The Pagan Christ
by poopsiecakes 127 Replies latest jw friends
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notverylikely
There is as much historical proof that Jesus existed as there is the others like Aristole existed.
Could you provide as much? For instance, we know where Aristotle went to school, where he worked, who he taught, we have reams of HIS writings, who his teachers were, who his wife was and when she died, numerous accounts from teachers, students and other contemporaries of various sources.
We don't have that for Jesus.
The whole notion of Christanity holding b ack science is over blown, it didn't.
Read the works of Augustine Hippo as an example.
Augustine was a priest, theologian and philosopher, not a scientist.
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poopsiecakes
I'll definitely check it out Psac, but didn't Hippo live around the 4th century? How could he speak to advancement, or lack thereof, in the middle ages?
Meeting Junkie, how was it to read the book? Did you enjoy it? I know that he used to be an Anglican priest...
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tec
The comment about how advanced we may be had it not been for the Christian movement really struck me.
Since I haven't researched this yet, my questions are those of genuine confusion.
If the Christian movement seriously impeded science, then what seriously impeded it in non-Christian nations? Mainly oriental nations? Why aren't they extremely advanced in science and technology? Can that be blamed on the Christian movement?
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poopsiecakes
The Inca civilization was very advanced technologically until the Spanish came along and tried to force Christianity on them, then wiped them out when they said no thanks....just one example off the top of my head....
I'm not saying I agree or disagree with the supposition, but that it made me think - which can't be a bad thing right?
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tec
I'm not saying I agree or disagree with the supposition, but that it made me think - which can't be a bad thing right? -poopsiecakes
Agreed! I only caution that everyone keep in mind that most people are biased -on each side of the coin- and that this reflects in their research. The zeitgeist movement is a perfect example of bias to the point of falsehood. I'm sure there are Christians guilty of the same, but I don't read them either.
At the same time, searching for and finding the truth is always a good thing, and I applaud you the search.
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poopsiecakes
I used to be afraid to watch anything like this and would never have considered buying a book on the subject. It's awesome to be exposed to different ideas and I'm loving it!!!!
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PSacramento
Augustine was, even in his tiem, already formulating faith based on reason and science, he was reconciling both.
In Collins' book, "The Language of God" he mentions a few scientific religious types, Augustine be one of them.
Remember, Newton was religious as was Copernicus and Galileo.
Sure they had their issues with the Church and the church with them, the the church supported them and many other scientists over the centuries.
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notverylikely
If the Christian movement seriously impeded science, then what seriously impeded it in non-Christian nations?
Mainly oriental nations?
Why do you prefer to focus on oriental nations?
But, for reference...Arabic and Persian societies had invented algebra and the concept of zero in math for one example. Today we see a huge anti-science movement among a large section of more fundamentalist Christians. In the orient they were using cannons and had gunpowder....
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PSacramento
Could you provide as much? For instance, we know where Aristotle went to school, where he worked, who he taught, we have reams of HIS writings, who his teachers were, who his wife was and when she died, numerous accounts from teachers, students and other contemporaries of various sources.
Sorry, I meant Socrates.