I HAVE endeavoured in the following pages to give
in a popular manner as full an account of the lives
and opinions of three great heathen philosophers as
was possible in the space at my command. In the
title of the book they are called " Seekers after God,"
and surely they deserve that title if it may be given
to men who, amid infinite difficulties and surrounded
by a corrupt society, devoted themselves to the
earnest search after those truths which might best
make their Hives " beautiful before God."
Perpetua was a Christian noblewoman who, at the end of the second century, lived in Carthage (North Africa). Her Christian courage and steadfastness so impressed the famous theologian Augustine that he preached four sermons about her witness for Christ.
THE
MALLEUS MALEFICARUM
PART I.
QUESTION VI.
Concerning Witches who copulate with Devils. Why is it that Women are chiefly addicted to Evil
superstitions?
Why it is that Women are chiefly addicted to Evil Superstitions.
There is also, concerning witches who copulate with devils, much difficulty in considering
the methods by which such abominations are consummated. On the part of the devil: first, of what
element the body is made that he assumes; secondly, whether the act is always accompanied by the
injection of semen received from another; thirdly, as to time and place, whether he commits this
act more frequently at one time than at another; fourthly, whether the act is invisible to any who
may be standing by. And on the part of the women, it has to be inquired whether only they who
were themselves conceived in this filthy manner are often visited by devils; or secondly, whether it
is those who were offered to devils by midwives at the time of their birth; and thirdly, whether the
actual venereal delectation of such is of a weaker sort. But we cannot here reply to all these
questions, both because we are only engaged in a general study, and because in the second part of
this work they are all singly explained by their operations, as will appear in the fourth chapter,
where mention is made of each separate method. Therefore, let us now chiefly consider women;
and first, why this kind of perfidy is found more in so fragile a sex than in men. And our inquiry
will first be general, as to the general conditions of women; secondly, particular, as to which sort
of women are found to be given to superstition and witchcraft; and thirdly, specifically with regard
to midwives, who surpass all others in wickedness.
Why Superstition is chiefly found in Women.
As for the first question, why a greater number of witches is found in the fragile feminine sex
than among men; it is indeed a fact that it were idle to contradict, since it is accredited by actual
experience, apart from the verbal testimony of credibly witnesses. And without in any way
detracting from a sex in which God has always taken great glory that His might should be spread
abroad, let us say that various men have assigned various reasons for this fact, which nevertheless
agree in principle. Wherefore it is good, for the admonition of women, to speak of this matter; and
it has often been proved by experience that they are eager to hear of it, so long as it is set forth
with discretion.
For some learned men propound this reason; that there are three things in nature, the Tongue,
an Ecclesiastic, and a Woman, which know no moderation in goodness or vice; and when they
exceed the bounds of their condition they reach the greatest heights and the lowest depths of
goodness and vice. When they are governed by a good spirit, they are most excellent in virtue; but
Part I, Question VI - P.1
file:///C|/!!witch/part_I/mm01_06a.html (1 of 5) [2002-01-20 12:02:58 PM]
when.
I HAVE endeavoured in the following pages to give
in a popular manner as full an account of the lives
and opinions of three great heathen philosophers as
was possible in the space at my command. In the
title of the book they are called " Seekers after God,"
and surely they deserve that title if it may be given
to men who, amid infinite difficulties and surrounded
by a corrupt society, devoted themselves to the
earnest search after those truths which might best
make their Hives " beautiful before God."
Perpetua was a Christian noblewoman who, at the end of the second century, lived in Carthage (North Africa). Her Christian courage and steadfastness so impressed the famous theologian Augustine that he preached four sermons about her witness for Christ.
THE
MALLEUS MALEFICARUM
PART I.
QUESTION VI.
Concerning Witches who copulate with Devils. Why is it that Women are chiefly addicted to Evil
superstitions?
Why it is that Women are chiefly addicted to Evil Superstitions.
There is also, concerning witches who copulate with devils, much difficulty in considering
the methods by which such abominations are consummated. On the part of the devil: first, of what
element the body is made that he assumes; secondly, whether the act is always accompanied by the
injection of semen received from another; thirdly, as to time and place, whether he commits this
act more frequently at one time than at another; fourthly, whether the act is invisible to any who
may be standing by. And on the part of the women, it has to be inquired whether only they who
were themselves conceived in this filthy manner are often visited by devils; or secondly, whether it
is those who were offered to devils by midwives at the time of their birth; and thirdly, whether the
actual venereal delectation of such is of a weaker sort. But we cannot here reply to all these
questions, both because we are only engaged in a general study, and because in the second part of
this work they are all singly explained by their operations, as will appear in the fourth chapter,
where mention is made of each separate method. Therefore, let us now chiefly consider women;
and first, why this kind of perfidy is found more in so fragile a sex than in men. And our inquiry
will first be general, as to the general conditions of women; secondly, particular, as to which sort
of women are found to be given to superstition and witchcraft; and thirdly, specifically with regard
to midwives, who surpass all others in wickedness.
Why Superstition is chiefly found in Women.
As for the first question, why a greater number of witches is found in the fragile feminine sex
than among men; it is indeed a fact that it were idle to contradict, since it is accredited by actual
experience, apart from the verbal testimony of credibly witnesses. And without in any way
detracting from a sex in which God has always taken great glory that His might should be spread
abroad, let us say that various men have assigned various reasons for this fact, which nevertheless
agree in principle. Wherefore it is good, for the admonition of women, to speak of this matter; and
it has often been proved by experience that they are eager to hear of it, so long as it is set forth
with discretion.
For some learned men propound this reason; that there are three things in nature, the Tongue,
an Ecclesiastic, and a Woman, which know no moderation in goodness or vice; and when they
exceed the bounds of their condition they reach the greatest heights and the lowest depths of
goodness and vice. When they are governed by a good spirit, they are most excellent in virtue; but
Part I, Question VI - P.1
file:///C|/!!witch/part_I/mm01_06a.html (1 of 5) [2002-01-20 12:02:58 PM]
when.
Collection 6.1Angelina Grimke, Appeal to the Christian Women of.docxmonicafrancis71118
Collection 6.1
Angelina Grimke, "Appeal to the Christian Women of the South" (1836) "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place: but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:-and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to law, and if I perish, I perish." Esther IV. 13-16. Respected Friends, It is because I feel a deep and tender interest in your present and eternal welfare that I am willing thus publicly to address you. Some of you have loved me as a relative, and some have felt bound to me in Christian sympathy, and Gospel fellowship; and even when compelled by a strong sense of duty, to break those outward bonds of union which bound us together as members of the same community, and members of the same religious denomination, you were generous enough to give me credit, for sincerity as a Christian, though you believed I had been most strangely deceived. I thanked you then for your kindness, and I ask you now, for the sake of former confidence, and former friendship, to read the following pages in the spirit of calm investigation and fervent prayer. It is because you have known me, that I write thus unto you. But there are other Christian women scattered over the Southern States, a very large number of whom have never seen me, and never heard my name, and who feel no interest whatever in me. But I feel an interest in you, as branches of the same vine from whose root I daily draw the principle of spiritual vitality-Yes! Sisters in Christ I feel an interest in you, and often has the secret prayer arisen on your behalf, Lord "open thou their eyes that they may see wondrous things out of thy Law"-It is then, because I do feel and do pray for you, that I thus address you upon a subject about which of all others, perhaps you would rather not hear anything; but, "would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly, and indeed bear with me, for I am jealous over you with godly jealousy." Be not afraid then to read my appeal; it is not written in the heat of passion or prejudice, but in that solemn calmness which is the result of conviction and duty. It is true, I am going to tell you unwelcome truths, but I mean to speak those truths in love, and remember Solomon says, "faithful are the wounds of a friend." I do not believe the time has yet come when Christian women "will not endure sound doctrine," even on the subject of Slavery, if it is spoken to them in tenderness and love, therefore I now address you... ...But perhaps you will be ready to query, why appeal to women on this subject? We do not make the laws which perpetuate slavery. No legislative power is vested in us; we c.
How Christianity spread the world over, has to be understood by one and all. Mass murders, burning of women. Force, fear, fraud and Finance every course has been used by the missions to make people Christians.
Acme, LtdThe general manager of the manufacturing division of Ac.docxbobbywlane695641
Acme, Ltd
The general manager of the manufacturing division of Acme, Ltd is preparing for an upcoming P&L meeting with her boss and representatives from corporate accounting. She begins by reviewing the date she has collected.
Category Last year This Year
Sales 25,000,000 30,000,000
CPGS 21,250,000 25,500,000
S,G & A 2,000,000 2,400,000
Net Profit 1,750,000 2,100,000
Prices for the company’s products and cost have remained relatively constant for the past year.
As she digs a little deeper, she became concerned about rising quality costs. Total COQ last year was 3,187,500. This year is has gone up to 3,825,000-a 637,500 increase. She is certain that the accountants will see this as an unreasonable increase in quality cost. She is concerned about the best way to present the COQ figures at the meeting to show the true picture. How do you interpret this increase and what advice would you offer her about the best way to present the information?
THE LIFE OF ANTONINUS HELIOGABALUS
by Aelius Lampridius
Translated by David Magie, Ph. D.
I. The life of Elagabalus Antoninus, also called Varius, I should never have put in writing, -- hoping that it might not be known that he was emperor of the Romans --, were it not that before him this same imperial office had had a Caligula, a Nero, and a Vitellius. But, just as the selfsame earth bears not only poisons but also grains and other helpful things, not only serpents but flocks as well, so the thoughtful reader may find himself some consolation for these monstrous tyrants by reading of Augustus, Trajan, Vespasian, Hadrian, Pius, Titus and Marcus. At the same time, he will learn of the Romans' discernment, in that these last ruled long and died by natural deaths, whereas the former were murdered, dragged through the streets, officially called tyrants, and no man wishes to mention even their names.
II. He was wholly under the control of his mother, Symiamira, although she lived like a harlot and practised all manner of lewdness in the palace. For that matter, her amour with Antoninus Caracalla was so notorious that Varius, or rather Elagabalus, was commonly supposed to be his son. The name Varius, some say, was given him by his school-fellows because he seemed to be sprung from the seed of "various" men, as would be the case with the son of a harlot. . .
III. . . .As soon as he entered the city, however, neglecting all the affairs of the provinces, he established Elagabalus as a god on the Palatine Hill close to the imperial palace; and he built him a temple, to which he desired to transfer the emblem of the Great Mother, the fire of Vesta, the Palladium, the shields of the Salii, and all that the Romans held sacred, purposing that no god might be worshipped at Rome save only Elagabalus. He declared, furthermore, that the religions of the Jews and the Samaritans and the rites of the Christians must also be transferred to this place, in order that the priesthood of Elagabalus migh.
The soviet saints (1968) - Richard WurmbrandIulian
The soviet saints (1968) - Richard Wurmbrand
"For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
"Car Dieu a tant aimé le monde qu'il a donné son Fils unique, afin que quiconque croit en lui ne périsse point, mais qu'il ait la vie éternelle." Jean 3:16
"Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, daß er seinen eingeborenen Sohn gab, auf daß alle, die an ihn glauben, nicht verloren werden, sondern das ewige Leben haben." Johannes 3:16
"Fiindca atat de mult a iubit Dumnezeu lumea, ca a dat pe singurul Lui Fiu, pentru ca oricine crede in El sa nu piara, ci sa aiba viata vesnica." (Ioan 3:16)
Presentation by Al Midrar Institute
To contact us- Website: www.almidrar.com
Email: sawafai@almidrar.com
Phone number: (+92)21-358-92292
Facebook.com/almidrar
Facebook,com/almunadi
SACRED TEXTS (THE WORD OF GOD)Table of ContentsSECTION 1.docxagnesdcarey33086
SACRED TEXTS (THE WORD OF GOD)
Table of Contents:
SECTION 1: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK (FAITH AND REASON)
AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
· FUNDAMENTALISM
· ANTI-MODERNISM
· ANTI-SEMITISM
SECTION 2: SOME KEY BIBLICAL TEXTS
I. On the Divinity of Jesus
II. The Essence of Christianity
III. Major Corpus of Biblical Laws
IV. On Forbidden Food and Dietary Laws
V. Sexual Ethic
VI. Women
VII. Slaves
VIII. Political Theology (attitude toward governments and rulers)
IX. On War and other forms of violence
X. Religion and the Economy (Business Ethic and Social Justice)
XI. Nationalism/Patriotism versus Universalism
XII. Idolatry and Forbidden gods and religions
SECTION 3: TEXTS FROM THE KORAN
SECTION 1: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
“Man cannot live by the bread of science and politics alone; he also needs the vitamins of ethics and morals, faith and hope, love and security, comfort and attention in the face of death and misfortune, a feeling and experience that as a person he matters infinitely, and assurance that he is not immediately ‘forgotten’ or even annihilated when he dies. These are the elements that religion tries to offer… Religion makes a contribution in man’s search for identity and security... Invisible, unnoticed and even unofficially, the religious traditions of Africa contain the only lasting potentialities for a basis, a foundation and a direction of life for African societies.”
John S. Mbiti, African Religions and Philosophy. London: Heinemann, 1989, 2nd edition; p.270.
But what kind of Religion?
MACHT VERDUMMT
(Power makes you stupid)
(Nietzsche)
Is ours a stupid religion?
“Più Sai Più Sei”
“He who knows one knows none” (Max Müller)
THE DANGER OF ANTHROPOMORPHISM
Mortal men believe that gods are begotten, and that they have the dress, voice,
and body of mortals...
If Oxen, horses, or lions had hands with which to sketch and fashion works of art as men do.
Then horses would draw the forms of gods like horses, oxen like oxen, and they would each make their gods’ bodies similar in frame to the bodies that they themselves possess.
Indeed, the Ethiopians claim that their gods are snub-nosed and black;
the Thracians, that theirs are blue-eyed and red-headed. ...
One god there is! Greatest among gods and humankind,
in no way like mortals in body or in the thought of his mind.
In his entirety, he sees;
in his entirety, he thinks;
in his entirety, he hears.
Always in the same place, he remains, moving not at all; it is not fitting that he should shift about now here and, then, elsewhere. But holding aloof from toil, he sets all things aquiver with the thought of his mind.
(Xenophanes, ca. 560-478 B.C.E.)
Stanley Rosen, ed., The Examined Life: Readings From Western Philosophers From Plato to Kant. (New York: Random House, 2000); pp.6-7.
FAITH AND REASON: THE INDISPENSABLE ROLE OF CRITICAL THINKING
KORAN
The Koran begins (after the Exordium) wit.
BOOK IIAn Excerpt from The Republicby Plato (360 B.C.) Link.docxAASTHA76
BOOK II
An Excerpt from
The Republic
by Plato (360 B.C.) Link (Links to an external site.)
translated by Benjamin Jowett
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kindly provided by Project Gutenberg.org Some business organizations are actively trying to block student access to free literature such as this, even though the copyrights for these publications expired many, many years ago. This battle occurs in the world's commercial courts. If you feel strongly that students should be allowed to read copyright-free literature, please consider making a donation to Project Gutenberg ---->Link (Links to an external site.)
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GLAUCON speaks:
They say that to do injustice is, by nature, good; to suffer injustice, evil; but that the evil is greater than the good. And so when men have both done and suffered injustice and have had experience of both, not being able to avoid the one and obtain the other, they think that they had better agree among themselves to have neither; hence there arise laws and mutual covenants; and that which is ordained by law is termed by them lawful and just. This they affirm to be the origin and nature of justice;—it is a mean or compromise, between the best of all, which is to do injustice and not be punished, and the worst of all, which is to suffer injustice without the power of retaliation; and justice, being at a middle point between the two, is tolerated not as a good, but as the lesser evil, and honoured by reason of the inability of men to do injustice. For no man who is worthy to be called a man would ever submit to such an agreement if he were able to resist; he would be mad if he did. Such is the received account, Socrates, of the nature and origin of justice.
Now that those who practise justice do so involuntarily and because they have not the power to be unjust will best appear if we imagine something of this kind: having given both to the just and the unjust power to do what they will, let us watch and see whither desire will lead them; then we shall discover in the very act the just and unjust man to be proceeding along the same road, following their interest, which all natures deem to be their good, and are only diverted into the path of justice by the force of law. The liberty which we are supposing may be most completely given to them in the form of such a power as is said to have been possessed by Gyges the ancestor of Croesus the Lydian. According to the tradition, Gyges was a shepherd in the service of the king of Lydia; there was a great storm, and an earthquake made an opening in the earth at the place where he was feeding his flock. Amazed at the sight, he descended into the opening, where, among other marvels, he beheld a hollow brazen horse, having ...
This is a study of the cross and the crucifixion of Jesus. There is difficult language in this study of His painful death, and we need to be constantly thankful that He was willing to endure it for our salvation.
Collection 6.1Angelina Grimke, Appeal to the Christian Women of.docxmonicafrancis71118
Collection 6.1
Angelina Grimke, "Appeal to the Christian Women of the South" (1836) "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place: but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:-and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to law, and if I perish, I perish." Esther IV. 13-16. Respected Friends, It is because I feel a deep and tender interest in your present and eternal welfare that I am willing thus publicly to address you. Some of you have loved me as a relative, and some have felt bound to me in Christian sympathy, and Gospel fellowship; and even when compelled by a strong sense of duty, to break those outward bonds of union which bound us together as members of the same community, and members of the same religious denomination, you were generous enough to give me credit, for sincerity as a Christian, though you believed I had been most strangely deceived. I thanked you then for your kindness, and I ask you now, for the sake of former confidence, and former friendship, to read the following pages in the spirit of calm investigation and fervent prayer. It is because you have known me, that I write thus unto you. But there are other Christian women scattered over the Southern States, a very large number of whom have never seen me, and never heard my name, and who feel no interest whatever in me. But I feel an interest in you, as branches of the same vine from whose root I daily draw the principle of spiritual vitality-Yes! Sisters in Christ I feel an interest in you, and often has the secret prayer arisen on your behalf, Lord "open thou their eyes that they may see wondrous things out of thy Law"-It is then, because I do feel and do pray for you, that I thus address you upon a subject about which of all others, perhaps you would rather not hear anything; but, "would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly, and indeed bear with me, for I am jealous over you with godly jealousy." Be not afraid then to read my appeal; it is not written in the heat of passion or prejudice, but in that solemn calmness which is the result of conviction and duty. It is true, I am going to tell you unwelcome truths, but I mean to speak those truths in love, and remember Solomon says, "faithful are the wounds of a friend." I do not believe the time has yet come when Christian women "will not endure sound doctrine," even on the subject of Slavery, if it is spoken to them in tenderness and love, therefore I now address you... ...But perhaps you will be ready to query, why appeal to women on this subject? We do not make the laws which perpetuate slavery. No legislative power is vested in us; we c.
How Christianity spread the world over, has to be understood by one and all. Mass murders, burning of women. Force, fear, fraud and Finance every course has been used by the missions to make people Christians.
Acme, LtdThe general manager of the manufacturing division of Ac.docxbobbywlane695641
Acme, Ltd
The general manager of the manufacturing division of Acme, Ltd is preparing for an upcoming P&L meeting with her boss and representatives from corporate accounting. She begins by reviewing the date she has collected.
Category Last year This Year
Sales 25,000,000 30,000,000
CPGS 21,250,000 25,500,000
S,G & A 2,000,000 2,400,000
Net Profit 1,750,000 2,100,000
Prices for the company’s products and cost have remained relatively constant for the past year.
As she digs a little deeper, she became concerned about rising quality costs. Total COQ last year was 3,187,500. This year is has gone up to 3,825,000-a 637,500 increase. She is certain that the accountants will see this as an unreasonable increase in quality cost. She is concerned about the best way to present the COQ figures at the meeting to show the true picture. How do you interpret this increase and what advice would you offer her about the best way to present the information?
THE LIFE OF ANTONINUS HELIOGABALUS
by Aelius Lampridius
Translated by David Magie, Ph. D.
I. The life of Elagabalus Antoninus, also called Varius, I should never have put in writing, -- hoping that it might not be known that he was emperor of the Romans --, were it not that before him this same imperial office had had a Caligula, a Nero, and a Vitellius. But, just as the selfsame earth bears not only poisons but also grains and other helpful things, not only serpents but flocks as well, so the thoughtful reader may find himself some consolation for these monstrous tyrants by reading of Augustus, Trajan, Vespasian, Hadrian, Pius, Titus and Marcus. At the same time, he will learn of the Romans' discernment, in that these last ruled long and died by natural deaths, whereas the former were murdered, dragged through the streets, officially called tyrants, and no man wishes to mention even their names.
II. He was wholly under the control of his mother, Symiamira, although she lived like a harlot and practised all manner of lewdness in the palace. For that matter, her amour with Antoninus Caracalla was so notorious that Varius, or rather Elagabalus, was commonly supposed to be his son. The name Varius, some say, was given him by his school-fellows because he seemed to be sprung from the seed of "various" men, as would be the case with the son of a harlot. . .
III. . . .As soon as he entered the city, however, neglecting all the affairs of the provinces, he established Elagabalus as a god on the Palatine Hill close to the imperial palace; and he built him a temple, to which he desired to transfer the emblem of the Great Mother, the fire of Vesta, the Palladium, the shields of the Salii, and all that the Romans held sacred, purposing that no god might be worshipped at Rome save only Elagabalus. He declared, furthermore, that the religions of the Jews and the Samaritans and the rites of the Christians must also be transferred to this place, in order that the priesthood of Elagabalus migh.
The soviet saints (1968) - Richard WurmbrandIulian
The soviet saints (1968) - Richard Wurmbrand
"For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
"Car Dieu a tant aimé le monde qu'il a donné son Fils unique, afin que quiconque croit en lui ne périsse point, mais qu'il ait la vie éternelle." Jean 3:16
"Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, daß er seinen eingeborenen Sohn gab, auf daß alle, die an ihn glauben, nicht verloren werden, sondern das ewige Leben haben." Johannes 3:16
"Fiindca atat de mult a iubit Dumnezeu lumea, ca a dat pe singurul Lui Fiu, pentru ca oricine crede in El sa nu piara, ci sa aiba viata vesnica." (Ioan 3:16)
Presentation by Al Midrar Institute
To contact us- Website: www.almidrar.com
Email: sawafai@almidrar.com
Phone number: (+92)21-358-92292
Facebook.com/almidrar
Facebook,com/almunadi
SACRED TEXTS (THE WORD OF GOD)Table of ContentsSECTION 1.docxagnesdcarey33086
SACRED TEXTS (THE WORD OF GOD)
Table of Contents:
SECTION 1: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK (FAITH AND REASON)
AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
· FUNDAMENTALISM
· ANTI-MODERNISM
· ANTI-SEMITISM
SECTION 2: SOME KEY BIBLICAL TEXTS
I. On the Divinity of Jesus
II. The Essence of Christianity
III. Major Corpus of Biblical Laws
IV. On Forbidden Food and Dietary Laws
V. Sexual Ethic
VI. Women
VII. Slaves
VIII. Political Theology (attitude toward governments and rulers)
IX. On War and other forms of violence
X. Religion and the Economy (Business Ethic and Social Justice)
XI. Nationalism/Patriotism versus Universalism
XII. Idolatry and Forbidden gods and religions
SECTION 3: TEXTS FROM THE KORAN
SECTION 1: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
“Man cannot live by the bread of science and politics alone; he also needs the vitamins of ethics and morals, faith and hope, love and security, comfort and attention in the face of death and misfortune, a feeling and experience that as a person he matters infinitely, and assurance that he is not immediately ‘forgotten’ or even annihilated when he dies. These are the elements that religion tries to offer… Religion makes a contribution in man’s search for identity and security... Invisible, unnoticed and even unofficially, the religious traditions of Africa contain the only lasting potentialities for a basis, a foundation and a direction of life for African societies.”
John S. Mbiti, African Religions and Philosophy. London: Heinemann, 1989, 2nd edition; p.270.
But what kind of Religion?
MACHT VERDUMMT
(Power makes you stupid)
(Nietzsche)
Is ours a stupid religion?
“Più Sai Più Sei”
“He who knows one knows none” (Max Müller)
THE DANGER OF ANTHROPOMORPHISM
Mortal men believe that gods are begotten, and that they have the dress, voice,
and body of mortals...
If Oxen, horses, or lions had hands with which to sketch and fashion works of art as men do.
Then horses would draw the forms of gods like horses, oxen like oxen, and they would each make their gods’ bodies similar in frame to the bodies that they themselves possess.
Indeed, the Ethiopians claim that their gods are snub-nosed and black;
the Thracians, that theirs are blue-eyed and red-headed. ...
One god there is! Greatest among gods and humankind,
in no way like mortals in body or in the thought of his mind.
In his entirety, he sees;
in his entirety, he thinks;
in his entirety, he hears.
Always in the same place, he remains, moving not at all; it is not fitting that he should shift about now here and, then, elsewhere. But holding aloof from toil, he sets all things aquiver with the thought of his mind.
(Xenophanes, ca. 560-478 B.C.E.)
Stanley Rosen, ed., The Examined Life: Readings From Western Philosophers From Plato to Kant. (New York: Random House, 2000); pp.6-7.
FAITH AND REASON: THE INDISPENSABLE ROLE OF CRITICAL THINKING
KORAN
The Koran begins (after the Exordium) wit.
BOOK IIAn Excerpt from The Republicby Plato (360 B.C.) Link.docxAASTHA76
BOOK II
An Excerpt from
The Republic
by Plato (360 B.C.) Link (Links to an external site.)
translated by Benjamin Jowett
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GLAUCON speaks:
They say that to do injustice is, by nature, good; to suffer injustice, evil; but that the evil is greater than the good. And so when men have both done and suffered injustice and have had experience of both, not being able to avoid the one and obtain the other, they think that they had better agree among themselves to have neither; hence there arise laws and mutual covenants; and that which is ordained by law is termed by them lawful and just. This they affirm to be the origin and nature of justice;—it is a mean or compromise, between the best of all, which is to do injustice and not be punished, and the worst of all, which is to suffer injustice without the power of retaliation; and justice, being at a middle point between the two, is tolerated not as a good, but as the lesser evil, and honoured by reason of the inability of men to do injustice. For no man who is worthy to be called a man would ever submit to such an agreement if he were able to resist; he would be mad if he did. Such is the received account, Socrates, of the nature and origin of justice.
Now that those who practise justice do so involuntarily and because they have not the power to be unjust will best appear if we imagine something of this kind: having given both to the just and the unjust power to do what they will, let us watch and see whither desire will lead them; then we shall discover in the very act the just and unjust man to be proceeding along the same road, following their interest, which all natures deem to be their good, and are only diverted into the path of justice by the force of law. The liberty which we are supposing may be most completely given to them in the form of such a power as is said to have been possessed by Gyges the ancestor of Croesus the Lydian. According to the tradition, Gyges was a shepherd in the service of the king of Lydia; there was a great storm, and an earthquake made an opening in the earth at the place where he was feeding his flock. Amazed at the sight, he descended into the opening, where, among other marvels, he beheld a hollow brazen horse, having ...
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3. Christians practiced charity toward the poor, freed
slaves, opposed infanticide and gladiatorial
games, and promoted liberty.
4. Apostolic Constitutions from the late 4th century:
IX . Say unto the people under you what Solomon the wise says: Honour the
Lord out of your just labours, and pay your first-fruits to Him out of your
fruits of righteousness, that your garners may be filled with fullness of
wheat, and your presses may burst out with wine. Therefore maintain and
clothe those that are in want from the righteous labour of the faithful. And
such sums of money as are collected from them in the manner aforesaid,
appoint to be laid out in the redemption of the saints, the deliverance of
slaves, and of captives, and of prisoners, and of those that have been abused,
and of those that have been condemned by tyrants to single combat and
death on account of the name of Christ. For the Scripture says: Deliver those
that are led to death, and redeem those that are ready to be slain, do not
spare.
6. Lactantius (c. 250 – c. 325) condemned
gladiatorial games and infanticide.
7. Divine Institutes Book VI Chapter 20
For he who reckons it a pleasure, that a man, though justly
condemned, should be slain in his sight, pollutes his conscience
as much as if he should become a spectator and a sharer of a
homicide which is secretly committed. And yet they call these
sports in which human blood is shed. So far has the feeling of
humanity departed from the men, that when they destroy the
lives of men, they think that they are amusing themselves with
sport, being more guilty than all those whose blood-shedding
they esteem a pleasure.
8. (continued)
I ask now whether they can be just and pious men, who,
when they see men placed under the stroke of death, and
entreating mercy, not only suffer them to be put to death,
but also demand it, and give cruel and inhuman votes for
their death, not being satiated with wounds nor
contented with bloodshed. Moreover, they order them,
even though wounded and prostrate, to be attacked
again, and their caresses to be wasted with blows, that
no one may delude them by a pretended death.
9. (continued)
They are even angry with the combatants, unless one of
the two is quickly slain; and as though they thirsted for
human blood, they hate delays. They demand that other
and fresh combatants should be given to them, that they
may satisfy their eyes as soon as possible. Being imbued
with this practice, they have lost their humanity.
10. Therefore let no one imagine that even this is allowed, to
strangle newly-born children, which is the greatest
impiety; for God breathes into their souls for life, and not
for death. But men, that there may be no crime with
which they may not pollute their hands, deprive souls as
yet innocent and simple of the light which they
themselves have not given. Can any one, indeed, expect
that they would abstain from the blood of others who do
not abstain even from their own? But these are without
any controversy wicked and unjust.
11. (continued)
What are they whom a false piety compels to expose
their children? Can they be considered innocent who
expose their own offspring as a prey to dogs, and as far
as it depends upon themselves, kill them in a more cruel
manner than if they had strangled them? Who can doubt
that he is impious who gives occasion for the pity of
others? For, although that which he has wished should
befall the child — namely, that it should be brought up
— he has certainly consigned his own offspring either to
servitude or to the brothel?
12. Theodoret (c. 393 – c. 457) in his Ecclesiastical History wrote of
the sacrifice of Telemachus:
A certain man named Telemachus who had embraced a
monastical life came from the East to Rome at a time when these
cruel spectacles were being exhibited After gazing upon the
combat from the amphitheatre he descended into the arena and
tried to separate the gladiators The sanguinary spectators
possessed by the demon who delights in the effusion of blood
were irritated at the interruption of their cruel sports and stoned
him who had occasioned the cessation On being apprised of this
circumstance the admirable emperor numbered him with the
victorious martyrs and abolished these iniquitous spectacles.
14. Here are quotes from two fierce enemies of
Christianity who nevertheless acknowledged the
good deeds of Christians.
15. Against the Christians by Porphyry (c. 234 – c. 305)
At any rate, no longer ago than yesterday, reading
these words to women of noble birth, "Sell what
thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt
have treasure in heaven," they persuaded them to
distribute to poor men all the substance and
possession which they had, and, themselves
entering into a state of want...
16. Letter from Emperor Julian the Apostate (reigned 361 –
363) to Arsacius, pagan High-priest of Galatia:
why do we not observe that it is their [Christian]
benevolence to strangers, their care for the graves of the
dead and the pretended holiness of their lives that have
done most to increase atheism [Christianity]?
For it is disgraceful that, when no Jew ever has to beg,
and the impious Galilaeans support not only their own
poor but ours as well, all men see that our people lack
aid from us.
17. The Christian patristic roots of religious liberty
Freedom of conscience and the right to choose
one’s own religion – two human rights extolled by
the modern, secular EU – grew out of the Christian
conception of human dignity.