Therefore, since we
are the offspring
Of God, we ought not
to think that
The Divine Nature is
like gold or silver
Or stone, something
shaped by art and
Man’s devising.
Truly, these times of
ignorance God
Overlooked, but now
commands all men
Everywhere to repent,
because He has
Appointed a day on
which He has ordained.
He has given
assurance of this to all by
Raising Him from the
dead.
Acts 17:29-31
A simple
examination of history will reveal that man has been a devisor of many
religious thinking, from their consciousness that there is a god, they have
developed theologies which have the existence of many gods. Some in our day,
especially the Mormons have followed suit and propose that God was once a man,
that man existed from all eternity, and then the existence of man to earth then
back to heaven is a form of transmigration. Others follow men who taught that
Jesus Christ was not God, maybe a god, and was a created being. Further they
take some of the ideologies of the men I will list and make those ideologies to
become part and parcel of their theologies, often with a twist to make it seem
as their own theology. The thinking of the Greek philosophers, poets, writers,
and historians developed a particular thinking in regards to God, how God
operates, and about the existence of men. They all did not agree on every point
but they all did not follow the truth that exists in this world: “For the
wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what
my be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since
the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so
that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not
glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and
their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:18-21). God has determined a
time in which He will call to account all those who foolishly followed a god(s)
that were false and removed far from the God and creator of this universe. Many
will way: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the
kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will
say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord,’ have we not prophesied in Your name, cast
out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ “And I will
declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23). Greek philosophy has and is the most
influential ideology of the Western World, even affecting the Eastern thinking
as well. I will maintain in these blogs who the Western World has been
influenced by Grecian philosophy and even affecting Christianity.
Thales of
Miletus (624-546 B.C.) was considered to be on of the Seven Sages of Greece and
even Aristotle regarded him as the first philosopher in the Greek tradition.
Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) considered himself, at least at times, to be a
liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, described himself as both an agnostic and
an atheist. Bertrand Russell clung to a belief that religion is little more
that superstition, and even with the good that religion may produce, it is in the
most part harmful to people. He was noted to have said; “No one can sit at the
bedside of a dying child and still believe in God.”[1]
According to Bertrand Russell, “Western philosophy begins with Thales.”[2]
Thales attempted to explain natural phenomena, this without any reference to
mythology. Other philosophers attempted to follow the lead of Thales in their
attempt to provide an explanation of the universe, changes that occur, and the
ultimate source, God. The philosophy of Thales became the essential idea for
the scientific revolution and he was the first to define general principles and
set forth hypotheses and due to that he became known as the “Father of
Science,” although many argue that this title should belong to Thales used
geometry to solve problems and he is credited with the first use of deductive
reasoning applied to geometry (Thales’ Theorum). He is hailed as the first true
mathematician. As can be seen in this walk back into history ancient men and
their theories changed the world and its thinking, and even today we use
geometry and deductive reasoning. Many still, though, use mysticism in their
development of their religious views and only in the New Word, the age of
technologies have they accepted the Western World’s culture. We are affected
now by men of old.
Pythagoras
(570?-495? B.C.), and the system of esoteric and metaphysical beliefs called
Pythagoreanism were influenced greatly by mathematics and had a great influence
on Plato, Platonism. The Pythagorean thought while dominated by mathematics was
profoundly mystical. It is thought, and it is too central to Pythagoras, that
he held to the idea of the transmigration of the soul. In idea found in may
Eastern religions and even with the Mormons today.
A
well known name, Socrates (469-300 B.C.), a classical Greek Athenian
philosopher is credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy. Socrates
is known for his contribution in the field of ethics, the Socratic method. This
method is used commonly as a tool in a wide range of discussions whereby a
series of questions are asked to not only to draw answers by an individual, but
to encourage fundamental insight into an issue at hand. We use this method, in
some form or another in today’s discussions. The ideas of Socrates and Plato
that contribute much to the fields of epistemology and logic and followed by
many in our world today.
Hippocrates
of Cos (460-370 B.C.) is well known by the Hippocratic oath taken by physicians
and other medical individuals. He is referred to as the Father of Western
Medicine. Prior to Hippocrates there is to be found in Greek mythology the Rod
of Asclepius, a serpent entwined around a rod. As a Navy Corpsman my insignia
was such a symbol. As can be seen Grecian thought has had an impact on the
Western World and upon the present world as well.
Homer
(Place by Herodotus to have lived around 850 B.C., some scholars place him
around the time of the Trojan War in the early 12th century B.C. He
is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey and is revered as the greatest of
ancient Greek poets. This epics are at the foundation of the Western canon of
literature and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature. The
writings of Homer influenced the shaping of Greek culture.
Why this is
important to learn? It is to show that the past has great influence on the
present. We as people influence other people, even those who we do not know
often are influenced by us indirectly. As a parent you have an opportunity to
teach and influence you children. What are you, if you are, using to teach your
children about God, the existence of mankind, sin, and the removal of sin? Are
you having a positive influence, other than a secular influence, that is, to
get ahead, drive for the “American Dream,” or some other pursuit? Are you
inculcating your family, friends, with the truth of God? Or, are you following
a theology that is not of God, that is false, even though it may sound pious?
What is your priority? As seen up to this point, men of the past with
ideologies and theologies have impacted the present. Yes, they did theorize and
develop good things, but at the core, their theologies were not of the true
God, only a god they developed to meet their own ideas. We must study, there
are false teachers in this world attempting to draw you away from the truth
God, from Authentic Biblical Faith: “Now this I say lest anyone should
deceive you with persuasive words. For
though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing
to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you
therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built
up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in
it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty
deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of
the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:5-8).
And do not be conformed
To this
world, but
Be transformed by the
Renewing of
your
Mind, that you may prove
What is
that good
And acceptable and perfect
Will of
God.
Romans 12:2
Spend time in God’s Word: There is where truth resides
Richard L. Crumb
[1]
Kunkle, Brett (15 March 2011).”Problem of Evil is
Everyone’s Problem,” Truth Never Gets Old. conversantlife.com. Retrieved 30 June 2012.; Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertrand_Russell#cite_note-Problem_of_Evil-63;
November 15, 2012.
[2]
Russell, Bertrand (1945). The History of Western
Philosophy. New York: Simon and Schuster. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thales#cite_note-2;
November 15, 2012.
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