Okay, this post is going to contain two subjects because I did NOT put a post up for the class meeting that was held on 10/06/11, which was the day of the Blackout Game. Since many people did not come to class that day, we did not have a group discussion pertaining to the last topic in "A Passion for Wisdom," and thus I deemed it best to wait and post "Postmodernism and New Age philosophy" with the "Gnostics" topic, which we talked about on last (Tuesday's) meeting.
Topic 1 - 10/06/11
Postmodernism is the philosophy that centers around the everyday discourses of people - published (typed) communication, broadcasting, social chit chat, etc. Because there are so many factors weighing in on this process, because there is no longer a singular side to any aspect of reality now, those who follow postmodernism claim that it (postmodernism) signals the end of the traditional Western philosophic tradition. Consequently, the long-lasting search for truth so easily familiarized with Western philosophy is thus lost. Postmodernism argues that it should no longer exist. (In my opinion, I guess you can say that postmodernism is really a rebellion against philosophy, but in so doing it becomes a philosophy itself.)
New Age philosophy is the combination of all ideas and confrontations. The exchange of ideas, through conversation, creates an eternal flow of learning, and this learning - in particular - rests on the notion of a "new global awareness."
Factual question: True or false?... Both Postmodernism and New Age philosophies have lost the search for truth, and by so doing they simply accept the flow of ideas that spreads across the globe.
(Answer: True.)
Discussion question: What is one way in which we can encourage the flow of ideas while still retaining a search for truth?
Topic 2 - 10/11/11
Gnosticism stems from "gnosis," which is the special knowledge of spiritual truth, so the gnostics were/are people who claimed to have spiritual insight into a transcendent world. One such insight they claimed to have was that human beings had a natural "spark" in them, an essence that is inherent in humans and is present in "an unimaginable God." They also said that the creator God was evil and that we should not worship Him. He created an evil universe so that He could play out on the whims of his mind. Human beings, then, have more value because they contain good morals. However, there is also a true God outside of the universe that has the same good values and is thus worthy of praise.
JMH states that Gnostics were prominent in the early Christian Church, and that their ideas and doubts and important because they question how things are (e.g., Why should we celebrate God's creation when humans could have done better?) Gnosticism is thus also a celebration for humanity.
Factual question: True or false? Gnositicism has elements of spirituality and mysticism in it.
(Answer: True.)
Discussion question: JMH classifies Gnostics as believers. Do you agree with this? Why or why not?
I don't know why this didn't come up in class, but when learning some Theology, I recall that there were Gnostics who believed in Jesus. The only thing was that they refused to acknowledge the divinity of Christ, instead stating that he never claimed a relationship with God, merely that his disciples had instead foisted any claims of Godliness upon him posthumously.
ReplyDeleteCan there be another zeitgeist if new age philosophy is centered around a separation from Unitarianism? The spirit of the times has become a separation from having a singular spirit of the times. Where is philosophy headed?
ReplyDeleteIf the gnostics believed that the one creator god was evil why would that god create the world? How can you explain the good that is in the world? This goes back to the good vs evil claims first started in Zarathustrianism.
1: I'm highly intrigued by Postmodernism. Most, if not all, of the other notions we have discussed are incredibly hard to totally identify with. I would even say that it's hard to find two people anywhere with the exact same beliefs, so Postmodernism seems very natural. It's ironic that by being a Postmodernist you are identifying with a specific philosophy...Just as by being nondenominational, you are identifying with a denomination.
ReplyDelete2: The idea that a God would create a world of evil just for his own "shiggles" is slightly ridiculous to me. It seems as though someone just came up with the idea of Gnosticism just to make a point about religions that assume a higher power is good.