Religion

The Velveteen Ocelot

(130,647 posts)

16. The question isn't whether the Greeks were "better" at philosophy,

Mon Jan 1, 2018, 02:39 PM

Jan 2018

it's whether the Bible contains any interesting insights into the way people thought about the world at the time. I believe it does. I don't think it's the word of God, if such a being even exists, but I don't think it lacks value in the overall history of human thought. It was the product of many different writers in different places throughout a long period of time, so there's not much in the way of any evolution of a single philosophical thread, beyond Karen Armstrong's general observation - so you really can't compare it to any coherent development of the philosophy of, say, Aristotle. Apples and oranges, or maybe sushi and pork chops.

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Can an Iron Age Religion Survive Internet Age Technology? [View all] MineralMan Jan 2018 OP

There ARE some basic truths taught there if you strip away the mythology. shraby Jan 2018 #1

Yes. Those truths are pretty much universal MineralMan Jan 2018 #2

Those are good lessons PJMcK Jan 2018 #3

Exactly, which is why they are universally known everywhere. MineralMan Jan 2018 #7

This message was self-deleted by its author Cary Jan 2018 #29

There are some really shitty morals taught there too. Voltaire2 Jan 2018 #14

Those truths exist with or without religion. (n/t) Iggo Jan 2018 #21

All ideas older than religions. AtheistCrusader Jan 2018 #44

Islam seems to be thriving - and growing. yallerdawg Jan 2018 #4

And yet, the number of "nones" keeps rising. MineralMan Jan 2018 #6

Atheism seems to do well under certain social conditions marylandblue Jan 2018 #13

There are atheists everywhere, even in churches. MineralMan Jan 2018 #17

It seems like the younger generation is not doing this marylandblue Jan 2018 #19

It does seem that way, MineralMan Jan 2018 #36

Not faster than anything else, actually. AtheistCrusader Jan 2018 #45

Will this fact have any impact on YOUR belief? Probably not. yallerdawg Jan 2018 #47

There are a number of problems with that data. AtheistCrusader Jan 2018 #48

No impact. yallerdawg Jan 2018 #49

No, I offered you counter-sources with hard data. Can't you tell the difference? AtheistCrusader Jan 2018 #50

"Shoot the messenger." yallerdawg Jan 2018 #51

Nietzsche lamented marylandblue Jan 2018 #5

Nietzsche. One of my favorite memories MineralMan Jan 2018 #9

You are quite the subversive marylandblue Jan 2018 #11

I try my best. MineralMan Jan 2018 #12

I had to give up my copy of Catch-22 in basic... NeoGreen Jan 2018 #83

The "miracles" described in the Bible were not miracles, of course. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2018 #8

Thanks. I take it for what it is. MineralMan Jan 2018 #10

hmmm well as far as philosophy and ethics goes the stuff the Greeks did is far better and more Voltaire2 Jan 2018 #15

The question isn't whether the Greeks were "better" at philosophy, The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2018 #16

But wouldn't it be better to go to the originals? Pope George Ringo II Jan 2018 #18

The Epic of Gilgamesh isn't the "original." The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2018 #23

Well, Ziusudra appears to be as close to an original as we can find on a flood myth. Pope George Ringo II Jan 2018 #25

even still this concerns the history of literature, not philosophy. Voltaire2 Jan 2018 #27

They stole conflicting philosophies and then edited it poorly so it makes no sense whatsoever. Pope George Ringo II Jan 2018 #30

"Literary merit" depends a lot on the quality of translations, of which there have been many. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2018 #35

I guess we can talk about translations, scholars, and historians. Pope George Ringo II Jan 2018 #39

no need for me to respond. Voltaire2 Jan 2018 #24

religion is where the priest/royalty class subjugate the population and enrich themselves msongs Jan 2018 #20

And Jesus loves you. But he will Fuck. You. Up. Iggo Jan 2018 #22

Yes. guillaumeb Jan 2018 #26

which wisdom provided uniquely by your religion is timeless? Voltaire2 Jan 2018 #28

The question was posed can an iron age religion...etc. guillaumeb Jan 2018 #32

once again, no answer. Voltaire2 Jan 2018 #33

What you mean is that my answer does not conform guillaumeb Jan 2018 #34

No narratives or any of your other bullshit memes. trotsky Jan 2018 #55

It was not a question. guillaumeb Jan 2018 #64

Then I'll ask the question. trotsky Jan 2018 #66

The wisdom to recognize that this question is an argument guillaumeb Jan 2018 #67

Uh huh. trotsky Jan 2018 #79

Thank you for restating my original statement MineralMan Jan 2018 #37

Timeless my ass. When is the last time you read the bible cover to cover? AtheistCrusader Jan 2018 #46

Again., you insist on literalism Cary Jan 2018 #31

I watched the Joseph Campbell broadcasts MineralMan Jan 2018 #38

I think (meant to be constructive criticism)... Cary Jan 2018 #40

No, I do not look at it too literally. MineralMan Jan 2018 #41

An intersting anecdote TlalocW Jan 2018 #42

Yes. Very interesting, and pertinent to MineralMan Jan 2018 #43

I believe it will have to evolve... HopeAgain Jan 2018 #52

Secular Humanism requires no such evolutionary development MineralMan Jan 2018 #53

I do believe that the human mind is not purely rational HopeAgain Jan 2018 #54

The human mind is a complicated thing. MineralMan Jan 2018 #62

I understand what you are saying HopeAgain Jan 2018 #63

"Jesus said nothing that can't be interpreted consistently with modern science" trotsky Jan 2018 #58

I don't believe you read my post fully HopeAgain Jan 2018 #59

Oh I did. trotsky Jan 2018 #60

I was referring to the Q source.. HopeAgain Jan 2018 #61

So you don't have an answer to my question. trotsky Jan 2018 #65

I know HopeAgain Jan 2018 #68

The argument I'm making is the key to the problem with religion. trotsky Jan 2018 #69

I thought the OPs provided context to the discussions on here. HopeAgain Jan 2018 #70

Wow thanks for that snide remark. trotsky Jan 2018 #71

The discussion thread is about whether religion will survive in the technological era... HopeAgain Jan 2018 #74

Why do you need to state falsehoods? trotsky Jan 2018 #75

I don't know why your last question is so difficult for people to answer. MineralMan Jan 2018 #76

Yeah but I think we DO know why it's so difficult. trotsky Jan 2018 #77

Thanks for completely mischaracterizing what I said... HopeAgain Jan 2018 #82

BHWAH HA HA HA trotsky Jan 2018 #85

I think I answered that above (#52). HopeAgain Jan 2018 #78

You're trying desperately to shift the argument, but it's not working. trotsky Jan 2018 #80

I am not the one shifting the "argument" HopeAgain Jan 2018 #81

Well yes, you did. trotsky Jan 2018 #84

I think it's not so much the technology itself, trotsky Jan 2018 #56

Yes, exactly. The increased ability the Internet age gives us to MineralMan Jan 2018 #57

Yes, it most certainly can. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2018 #72

Ah, discernment. Always a touchy issue. MineralMan Jan 2018 #73