V
Vouthon
Guest
Dear Lisa
I’m not sure that we can look at countries in other parts of the world and assume that their heritage, that is the philosophies which have an ancient history in these lands, are the cause or even directly connected to their current state of under-development and lack of proper human rights. Don’t forget that only 60 odd years ago most European countries were not democracies. Italy was fascist, Germany Nazi, Spain falangist, Portugal fascist and so on…Our values that we so cherish now were hard won.
There basis however, has nothing to do with Greek philosophy. The West’s historical superiority has stemmed from Jewish and Christian moral teaching on the inherent dignity of man made in the Image of God, which was lacking in the generally cold philosophy of Plato and Aristotle, despite the otherwise richness and profundity, they lacked the heart that only Christ could breath into the husks of Hellenic civilisation. Your words above only serve to confirm for me that it is Christianity which is the univeral religion of God’s love for humanity in the person of Jesus Christ, applicable everywhere and in every culture, whereas Plato and Aristotle or Socrates among others, aren’t. Had Christianity not arrived on the scene, I doubt that a pagan West would have been very humane at all.
I would attribute the West’s greatness too Christianity, not pagan philosophy. China recognizes this. The Communist authorities concluded in a brief a few years back that the reason for the West’s historical cultural greatness was not Enlightenment philosophy but rather Christian teaching. Fact. This led for calls for the government to foster its state-run (anti-Catholic) churches, such as the one that is supposedly Catholic without accepting the pope but following “patriotism” to the Communist state and Mao.
Indian philosophy embraces Dvaita and Advaita (Dualism and Non-Dualism) and is a vast repository of wisdom.
Would you attribute the West’s greatness to Greek philosophy then? I certainly wouldn’t. Its because of Christianity. Therefore if say China one day were to embrace Christianity en masse, particularly in its rational Catholic or Orthodox manifestations, I predict that welding Christian values to its own Taoist and Confucian philosophies, it may truly outstrip the West. Christianity for me is the key, not Greek philosophers. Our conviction of the inherent dignity of man does not stem from Ancient Rome, surely, where men were forced to brutalize themselves in games for the pleasure of a bloodthirsty civic population. It stems from the Torah’s conviction that man is the image of God.
I’m not sure that we can look at countries in other parts of the world and assume that their heritage, that is the philosophies which have an ancient history in these lands, are the cause or even directly connected to their current state of under-development and lack of proper human rights. Don’t forget that only 60 odd years ago most European countries were not democracies. Italy was fascist, Germany Nazi, Spain falangist, Portugal fascist and so on…Our values that we so cherish now were hard won.
There basis however, has nothing to do with Greek philosophy. The West’s historical superiority has stemmed from Jewish and Christian moral teaching on the inherent dignity of man made in the Image of God, which was lacking in the generally cold philosophy of Plato and Aristotle, despite the otherwise richness and profundity, they lacked the heart that only Christ could breath into the husks of Hellenic civilisation. Your words above only serve to confirm for me that it is Christianity which is the univeral religion of God’s love for humanity in the person of Jesus Christ, applicable everywhere and in every culture, whereas Plato and Aristotle or Socrates among others, aren’t. Had Christianity not arrived on the scene, I doubt that a pagan West would have been very humane at all.
I would attribute the West’s greatness too Christianity, not pagan philosophy. China recognizes this. The Communist authorities concluded in a brief a few years back that the reason for the West’s historical cultural greatness was not Enlightenment philosophy but rather Christian teaching. Fact. This led for calls for the government to foster its state-run (anti-Catholic) churches, such as the one that is supposedly Catholic without accepting the pope but following “patriotism” to the Communist state and Mao.
Au contraire I cannot possibly know how deeply involved you were with Yoga and would not presume too. I am speaking more in a general sense, that in my experience many Westerners do not really pentrate into the depth, richness and variety of Indian philosophy. They are often mired in meaningless, exterior trivialities that are common in the New Age Movement.
Indian philosophy embraces Dvaita and Advaita (Dualism and Non-Dualism) and is a vast repository of wisdom.
No Lisa, sister, on that we are absolutely agreed
he sounds VERY Leftist and very divisive. Reminds me more of Jeremiah Wright than Pope Benedict XVI
I think we can look at the Holy Father’s role and I wonder if simply too much was asked of him. Of course his age was a factor and one Cardinal said that he was never the ‘outdoorsy’ type as was JPIII but his energy level and health might have been preserved had he not been forced to deal with “Vati-leaks” and other internal strife.
because their issues were so much more critical than anyone else’s and the Priest had difficulty saying no.