by jam 7 Replies latest jw friends
The Greeks developed philosopy as a way of understanding the
world around them, without resorting to religion, myth or
magic. Science in ancient Greece was based on logical thinking
and mathematics.
Thanks to the Greeks and other early scientist, without you we
would still be in the dark ages.LOL
If god wanted us to fly he would have given us wings.
Hearth and kidney transplants, cannibalism.
Dinosaurs walked with Adam.
WOW!!!!
The greatest contribution of ancient Greeks to humanity was the invention of "Orthos Logos", which can be translated as "reason", "logic'', ''orthological reasoning'', ''rational thought'' etc.
Heracletus, Epicurus, Lucretius, Democritus, Leukippus were some of the founders of reason. As of no surprise, most of them denied the existence of gods, or at least their intervention in human matters.
It was the coming of Christianity that marked the end of Logos and its substitution by the ''knowledge by divine revelation'': if God granted us all the knowledge we need, then why employ reasoning? So, that marked the end of the ancient world and the start of the Middle Ages. Islam in the 6th century was just another repetition of Christianity in that matter.
It took some one and a half millenium for mankind to discover once again the ancient art of Reason. This procedure started slowly after Renaissance but mostly came on screen during the Age of Enlightenment. The 19th century theory of Evolution was a grand manifestation of the triumph of Reason over religious superstitions.
In the 20th century, alas, we saw a revival of irrational thought, with all this science denial and ''new-age'' religions, and cults like, erm, you know :)
What the 21st century will bring in this fight of reason against irrationality, we will see.
Jam and Syme!
I totally agree with you. Syme, you must have studied the same subjecs as I have. Your knowledge is taken right out of the schoolbook. Think if we could make more JW,s reading this information. They would be much more happy and confident in what they actually know.
Bugbear
" What the 21st century will bring in this fight of reason against irrationality, we will see. "
I am hopeful that with the spread of the Internet and therefore the access to knowledge of all kinds, Reasan will begin to win out. There is a long way to go, the Internet is only available to a relatively small number of the people in the World, though it is fast expanding.
( I think it is less than 3 billion people have Internet capability ?)
What is needed is quality Education, and again, we have a long way to go, even the education in the U.S.A and here in the U.K leaves a lot to be desired, but it is my fervent hope that the silly beliefs that belong in the Middle Ages are soon done away with.
People will be much happier, and way more peaceable, Suicide Bombers and their ilk are bred from ignorance.
Bugbear, thank you! I haven't ''officially'' studied those facts, but I read a lot on my own! (although I have studied, but not this)
That's exactly what every JW, escpecially young ones, should realise: You don't necessarily have to have a degree in History or Philosophy to know these things. Besides, most young j-dubs are discouraged from taking up ''higher'' studies, so they don't have a chance. What they DO have the chance (in most cases) is to go to a bookstore, buy a couple of books, and start READING. It's not that complicated. And if an overzealous JW reprehends them, they can always say they read so as to strengthen their faith by cross-referencing the Bible accuracy, or coz they want to search a topic that came up in field service, or tell them that the WT magazine has repeatedly encouraged us to have a general knowledge of secular literature [this is true], or something like that. :)
Now, about what you said, about what we can do, I haven't thought of it. Maybe we can start a new thread here on jwn, posting references and links to various historical sources, that help someone get a real grasp of world history and relevant things. Now, if you're suggesting anything bigger, I'm afraid I wouldn't have the time available right now to take it up.
Phizzy, yes, I agree: education is THE crucial factor. As Rutherford would put it: education, education, EDUCATION! I think that education stardards in UK are high, though. I've visited London only once, and I clearly remember the striking effect it had on me seeing all these primary school kids attending lectures in the National Gallery, or completing 'field' tasks inside the British Museum, or taking a tour to the Natural History Museum. These may seem normal to you, but to where I come from, those are really remarkable. When someone is taught, say, the theory of evolution or the history of mankind (which predates the story of Genesis) in such a young age, then one is not so prone to falling prey to charlatans.
Jam, I read how the great Islamic leaders thrieved when they allowed the books and tutors from Non-Islamic lands to bring forward their teachings.
"900–1090The Golden age of Jewish culture in Spain. Abd-ar-Rahman III becomes Caliph of Spain in 912, ushering in the height of tolerance. Muslims granted Jews and Christians exemptions from military service, the right to their own courts of law, and a guarantee of safety of their property. Jewish poets, scholars, scientists, statesmen and philosophers flourished in and were an integral part of the extensive Arab civilization. This ended with the invasion ofAlmoravides in 1090"
Moses Maimonides was born at the time these leaders decided to revoke the rights granted to Jews and Christians, the Islamic Empire tossed out all their "thinkers" because their crazy religious leaders felt the Dark Ages were better than the intellectual growth Islamic Empire residents could have gained. The Muslims with brains enjoyed the Greek Writings, used their Geometry along with philosophiles to counter the strangling affects the Islamic Clerics kept their people prisoners with. If you have time, Maimonides writings are a good change of pace, I should read more about him because he is considered one of the greatest experts on Jewish Law this side of the 100-2000 AD.
"
Maimonides's family, along with most other Jews, chose exile. Some say, though, that it is likely that Maimonides feigned a conversion to Islam before escaping. [14] This forced conversion was ruled legally invalid under Islamic law when brought up by a rival in Egypt. [15] For the next ten years, Maimonides moved about in southern Spain, eventually settling in Fes in Morocco. During this time, he composed his acclaimedcommentary on the Mishnah in the years 1166–1168. [18]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maimonides
Following this sojourn in Morocco, together with two sons, [19] he sojourned in the Holy Land, before settling inFostat, Egypt around 1168. While in Cairo, he studied in Yeshiva attached to a small synagogue (which now bears his name). [20] In the Holy Land, he prayed at the Temple Mount. He wrote that this day of visiting the Temple Mount was a day of holiness for him and his descendants.
Maimonides shortly thereafter was instrumental in helping rescue Jews taken captive during the Christian King Amalric's siege of the Egyptian town of Bilbays. He sent five letters to the Jewish communities of Lower Egypt asking them to pool money together to pay the ransom. The money was collected and then given to two judges sent to Palestine to negotiate with the Crusaders. The captives were eventually released. [21]
Following this triumph, the Maimonides family, hoping to increase their wealth, gave their savings to his brother, the youngest son David ben Maimon, a merchant. Maimonides directed his brother to procure goods only at the Sudanese port of ‘Aydhab . After a long arduous trip through the desert, however, David was unimpressed by the goods on offer there. Against his brother's wishes, David boarded a ship for India, since great wealth was to be found in the East. [22] Before he could reach his destination, David drowned at sea sometime between 1169–1170. The death of his brother caused Maimonides to become sick with grief.
In a letter (discovered later in the Cairo Geniza), he wrote:
The greatest misfortune that has befallen me during my entire life—worse than anything else—was the demise of the saint, may his memory be blessed, who drowned in the Indian sea, carrying much money belonging to me, him, and to others, and left with me a little daughter and a widow. On the day I received that terrible news I fell ill and remained in bed for about a year, suffering from a sore boil, fever, anddepression, and was almost given up. About eight years have passed, but I am still mourning and unable to accept consolation. And how should I console myself? He grew up on my knees, he was my brother, [and] he was my student. [23]
Thanks folks for your comments. RottenRiley; interesting read.
This is why I love this place.
Job 28:12 "But where can wisdom be found? And where is the
place of understanding? There is a ton of wisdom here.
Thank's Jam for continuing your education too! You make this place a great breeding ground for good ideas and intellectual progress. Remember the Watchtower's famous saying "You don't have to do your own Bible Research (Scholarly Research) because the Watchtower has people to do your thinking for you!" obeying their stagnant teachings will prevent a person from busting the Cult's Barrier, men like Greg Stafford, Carl Johannes and the rest of the scholars who dumped the Tower once they discovered History contradicts every bad teaching coming from the Tower!
Did you ever wonder why the Tower was so harsh on Philosophy, Critical Thinking and challenging the terrible elder committee decisions?
