Comments for The One and the Many: Devoted to the Universal and the Particulars

Comment on Ancient Roman Prayer by mealtime1211

mealtime1211 — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:45:11 +0000

For the most part the conflict resulted somewhat out of happenstance and somewhat out of political and sociological circumstance. Something to keep in mind though is that initially Christianity was under the radar (so to speak) from Roman control because it was seen as a sect of Judaism. Once Christianity began to distance itself from Judaism, then the Roman Empire began to treat the Christians differently. Within the Roman Empire, Judaism was respected for being an ancient religion, so for a while Christianity was under its umbrellas. Once the distinctions between Judaism and Christianity developed many Roman officials and citizens were skeptical of the new religion. And Christians often became scapegoats for empire problems, etc.

Comment on Ancient Roman Prayer by Herb Piper

Herb Piper — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:43:31 +0000

Thanks for the insight. I am personally intrigued by the dissonance between Roman religion and the new Christian God that it resulted in such persecution that followed. Why were the two belief systems so in conflict with each other. These kinds of questions are a result of joining bible study group just ordinary people.

Comment on Ancient Roman Prayer by Herb Piper

Herb Piper — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:32:19 +0000

Thank you for the insight. My personal interest is what happened at the origin of of Christianity that distinguished it from Roman religion. The entirely new belief in the Christian God had caused such dissonance that it resulted in thr persecution that followed.

Comment on Descartes (de’kart): I think therefore I am (cogito ergo sum), Extended objects and his “bait and switch” by mealtime1211

mealtime1211 — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:04:05 +0000

RE 1: the search of certainty does not constitute actual certainty (he was a rationalist… ). and I see no inconsistency here.

RE 2: the matrix comment was satirical (and highly anachronistic…) but it is more complicated as we both make it seem (I am writting a blog, not a book).

RE 3: Descartes was a Christian, he was in the church.. he read the bible. This is well established. He was attempting to defend the faith against skepticism, he helped to set into motion a rationalistic approach to knowledge and theology… and set the stage to human autonomy as the measure of all things. There is nothing wrong with a belief in God (I did not say there was, I assume things all the time, esp. my belief in God).

Comment on Descartes (de’kart): I think therefore I am (cogito ergo sum), Extended objects and his “bait and switch” by roger schmeeckle

roger schmeeckle — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:45:26 +0000

With regard to your first alleged assumtion: I consider it as what today would be referred to as a thought experiment. Descartes is seeking a method to obtain certainty, the kind of certainty that had impressed him from the study of mathematics. He did not, as he himself makes clear, doubt everything away.

Re 2) Computer programs only simulate external objects. Such simulations either presume the existence of external objects, or are themselves external objects.

Re 3) I think you are correct in suggesting that Descartes wanted his readers to believe in God. What is wrong with that? I doubt that Descartes would ever have used the expression “God of the Bible.”

But you seem to be approaching Descartes by thinking, therefore you are (an external object).