Re: Judge for Thyself Who is Right
We are at the stage when we are aware that our manipulation of the environment may cause its and thus self distruction; and in the stage when we starting to be aware of the possibility of manipulating the so far chaotic and coincidental social/economical structure, to achieve one that can integrate all creativity and resources in a manner that is optimal for people's life and for the environment. Very exiting times... Eva You have to explicitly define "human progress" before you can claim it's true. So, explicitly define "human progress", and then tell us what explicit measurements tell you that humans are progressing rather than regressing. Jay [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Judge for Thyself Who is Right
Is there progress in science? Is not science a human endeavour? Aren't all scientific laws, theories, propositions, facts, hypotheses, the product of human consciousness? From: Eva Durant [EMAIL PROTECTED] that is what human progress is about. We are able to learn "Human progress" is not science -- else it would be explicitly defined and measured. The belief in human progress seems an attempt to make sense out of our senseless lives and transcend our personal deaths. As part of something larger we believe we can live forever and make "progress", but as individuals, the best we can hope for is a painless death. Jay ** * Brian McAndrews, Practicum Coordinator* * Faculty of Education, Queen's University * * Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 * * FAX:(613) 545-6307 Phone (613) 545-6000x4937 * * e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]* * 'Reexamine everything you've been told, * * and disregard everything that insults * * your soul' Walt Whitman* ** **
Re: Judge for Thyself Who is Right
None of your characters are right in this tale; There is no such thing as absolute freedom (Jesus), the best way to define it is by e freely, individually made (continuous, dynamic) collective decision. No totalitarian elite - however intelligent - will be able to provide happiness for us. We can be only supportive of decisions we understand and we were part of making. Eva From: Durant [EMAIL PROTECTED] actually, after a while there is enough experience to do it better, that is what human progress is about. We are able to learn Human "progress" is an illusion. Judge for Thyself Who is Right by Jay Hanson Dostoevsky's parable is set in sixteenth-century Sevilleat the height of the Inquisition. On the day after a magnificent bonfire, in which nearly one hundred heretics were burned alive, Jesus descends and is immediately recognized. The cardinalthe Grand Inquisitorhas Him promptly arrested and thrown in prison. That evening, the door of Jesus' cell opens and the old, ascetic Inquisitor enters to confront Him. For a few minutes there is silence, then the Inquisitor delivers the most profound and terrible attack against Christianity. The Inquisitor charges Jesus with betrayal of mankind, for deliberately rejecting the only ways in which men might have been happy. This singular moment occurred when "the wise and dread spirit, the spirit of self-destruction and non-existence," tempted Jesus in the wilderness by asking Him three questions. First, the spirit asked Jesus to turn stones into bread. Jesus refused because He wanted mankind free, and what would obedience be worth if it were bought with bread? Thus, He denied men their deepest cravingto find someone who would take away the awesome burden of freedom. Then, the spirit asked Jesus to throw Himself from the pinnacle of the temple, "for it is written: the angels shall hold Him up lest he fall". Again Jesus refused, rejecting miracles because He wanted faith given freely. But the Inquisitor explains that man cannot live without miracles, for if he is deprived of them, he immediately creates new ones. Man is weaker and baser by nature than Jesus thought. "By showing him so much respect, Thou didst ... cease to feel for him " Jesus' last temptation was to rule the world, to unite all mankind "in one unanimous and harmonious ant-heap, for the craving for universal unity is the third and last anguish of men" He refused once again, and thereby rejected the only ways in which men might have been made happy. The Inquisitor explains "We are not working with Thee but with him [the spirit] We have taken the sword of Caesar, and in taking it, of course, have rejected Thee and followed him. Oh, ages are yet to come of the confusion of free thought, of their science and cannibalism [But] we have corrected Thy work and have founded it upon miracle, mystery and authority. And men rejoiced that they were again led like sheep, and that the terrible gift that had brought them such suffering, was, at last, lifted from their hearts And all will be happy, all the millions of creatures except the hundred thousand who rule over them. For only we, who guard the mystery, shall be unhappy Peacefully they will die, peacefully they will expire in Thy name, and beyond the grave they will find nothing but death." "And we alone shall feed them" the Inquisitor continues, "Oh, never, never can they feed themselves without us! No science will give them bread so long as they remain free. In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet, and say to us, 'Make us your slaves, but feed us.'" Jay
Re: Judge for Thyself Who is Right
From: Eva Durant [EMAIL PROTECTED] that is what human progress is about. We are able to learn "Human progress" is not science -- else it would be explicitly defined and measured. The belief in human progress seems an attempt to make sense out of our senseless lives and transcend our personal deaths. As part of something larger we believe we can live forever and make "progress", but as individuals, the best we can hope for is a painless death. Jay
Judge for Thyself Who is Right
From: Durant [EMAIL PROTECTED]
actually, after a while there is enough experience to do it better,
that is what human progress is about. We are able to learn
Human "progress" is an illusion.
Judge for Thyself Who is Right
by Jay Hanson
Dostoevsky's parable is set in sixteenth-century Sevilleat the height of
the Inquisition. On the day after a magnificent bonfire, in which nearly one
hundred heretics were burned alive, Jesus descends and is immediately
recognized. The cardinalthe Grand Inquisitorhas Him promptly arrested and
thrown in prison. That evening, the door of Jesus' cell opens and the old,
ascetic Inquisitor enters to confront Him. For a few minutes there is
silence, then the Inquisitor delivers the most profound and terrible attack
against Christianity.
The Inquisitor charges Jesus with betrayal of mankind, for deliberately
rejecting the only ways in which men might have been happy. This singular
moment occurred when "the wise and dread spirit, the spirit of
self-destruction and non-existence," tempted Jesus in the wilderness by
asking Him three questions.
First, the spirit asked Jesus to turn stones into bread. Jesus refused
because He wanted mankind free, and what would obedience be worth if it were
bought with bread? Thus, He denied men their deepest cravingto find someone
who would take away the awesome burden of freedom.
Then, the spirit asked Jesus to throw Himself from the pinnacle of the
temple, "for it is written: the angels shall hold Him up lest he fall".
Again Jesus refused, rejecting miracles because He wanted faith given
freely. But the Inquisitor explains that man cannot live without miracles,
for if he is deprived of them, he immediately creates new ones. Man is
weaker and baser by nature than Jesus thought. "By showing him so much
respect, Thou didst ... cease to feel for him "
Jesus' last temptation was to rule the world, to unite all mankind "in one
unanimous and harmonious ant-heap, for the craving for universal unity is
the third and last anguish of men" He refused once again, and thereby
rejected the only ways in which men might have been made happy.
The Inquisitor explains "We are not working with Thee but with him [the
spirit] We have taken the sword of Caesar, and in taking it, of course,
have rejected Thee and followed him. Oh, ages are yet to come of the
confusion of free thought, of their science and cannibalism [But] we
have corrected Thy work and have founded it upon miracle, mystery and
authority. And men rejoiced that they were again led like sheep, and that
the terrible gift that had brought them such suffering, was, at last, lifted
from their hearts And all will be happy, all the millions of creatures
except the hundred thousand who rule over them. For only we, who guard the
mystery, shall be unhappy Peacefully they will die, peacefully they will
expire in Thy name, and beyond the grave they will find nothing but death."
"And we alone shall feed them" the Inquisitor continues, "Oh, never,
never can they feed themselves without us! No science will give them bread
so long as they remain free. In the end they will lay their freedom at our
feet, and say to us, 'Make us your slaves, but feed us.'"
Jay
