by NoOneImportant » Fri Jun 27, 2014 2:11 pm
Trevor wrote:
We like to think of ourselves as more intelligent and enlightened than our ancestors were, but circumstances are rapidly proving us wrong.
Quite right, that IS what we like to think... it just isn't so. Whether your religious or not the Old Testament evolved from events starting roughly 1000-750 B.C. (depending upon whether we're talking about the events, or their writing.) That is a span of roughly 2700 - 3000 years. If you simply take it, the Old Testament, as a moral treatise its great depth never ceases to surprise - it ranges from short simple literal little stories that at first seem simple and trite; but over time, with reflection, I have come to understand that the simplicity is usually resident on my side of my glasses, for with contemplation I have found great moral depth; to the moral dept may be added, if one is disposed, a deep pleasing spiritual message; and finally a message leading to the eschatolgical, to all eternity. And all the messages come from a "simple" 3000 year old (more or less) translation of a book(s) left behind by the "ignorant", "uneducated", and depending upon who you are listening to, almost savage people.
While it's not quite so astounding, or profound similar observations might be made regarding the Iliad, and the Odyssey. And one need only reflect on some of Plato's dialogs (2400 years old), the Apology's four dialogs, to get a sense of the origins of man's ancient goodness, and reflect upon Plato's Republic as a dark example of an evil idea that has caused the murder of 10s of millions, an evil idea that just simply wont die. In either case these are shining brillian examples to illustrate man's current stunted development.
It isn't my purpose to convert, or preach but it is to reiterate your comment (paraphrasing)... perhaps we're not quite as bright as we would like to think. An iPad, or a SmartPhone does not an educated man make... you will become what you think about.
Great observations Treavor.
Trevor wrote:
[quote]We like to think of ourselves as more intelligent and enlightened than our ancestors were, but circumstances are rapidly proving us wrong.[/quote]
Quite right, that IS what we like to think... it just isn't so. Whether your religious or not the Old Testament evolved from events starting roughly 1000-750 B.C. (depending upon whether we're talking about the events, or their writing.) That is a span of roughly 2700 - 3000 years. If you simply take it, the Old Testament, as a moral treatise its great depth never ceases to surprise - it ranges from short simple literal little stories that at first seem simple and trite; but over time, with reflection, I have come to understand that the simplicity is usually resident on my side of my glasses, for with contemplation I have found great moral depth; to the moral dept may be added, if one is disposed, a deep pleasing spiritual message; and finally a message leading to the eschatolgical, to all eternity. And all the messages come from a "simple" 3000 year old (more or less) translation of a book(s) left behind by the "ignorant", "uneducated", and depending upon who you are listening to, almost savage people.
While it's not quite so astounding, or profound similar observations might be made regarding the Iliad, and the Odyssey. And one need only reflect on some of Plato's dialogs (2400 years old), the Apology's four dialogs, to get a sense of the origins of man's ancient goodness, and reflect upon Plato's Republic as a dark example of an evil idea that has caused the murder of 10s of millions, an evil idea that just simply wont die. In either case these are shining brillian examples to illustrate man's current stunted development.
It isn't my purpose to convert, or preach but it is to reiterate your comment (paraphrasing)... perhaps we're not quite as bright as we would like to think. An iPad, or a SmartPhone does not an educated man make... you will become what you think about.
Great observations Treavor.