last class, we descussed Maimonides' veiws on What can be known about god and his belief in a midway between rationalism and prophecy. Whe concluded that Maimonides' claim that all that can be known about god is that he/she/it exists has some truth to it. I think that all we can know about god is that he/she/it does, or has at one point existed. We were puzzled at his view of a midway between rationalism and prophecy because of the seeming contradiction between the two.
Factual Question: What was Japanese Zen master Ikkyu Sojun's view on enlightenment? Realising and enjoying the pleasures of life is enlightenment.
Discussion Question: Do you agree with Ikkyu Sojun's vision of Zen (it being an intense consentration on life)? Why or Why not?
Last class we talked about if anything can be known about God, including if God even exists. We decided that if there is a God, then all we can know for certain is that he/she/it exists, but beyond that it's all based on our observations.
ReplyDeleteQ: What book did Niccolo Machiavelli write?
A: "The Prince"
What do you think of Luther's idea that before we were even born, we have already damned ourselves, or saved ourselves?
I think if anyone looks at the world around them, they would have to accept that this world was created by some superior being. I was told that there are about 400 calculations about the Earth in terms of rotations, distance from the Sun, and how long it takes us to revolve around the sun, if any of those numbers were a tenth off of what they were, then life on Earth could not be possible.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: What cause China to have such a increase in western religion during the Tang dynasty? The silk road
Discussion Question: Why do you think Muslims destroyed many Buddhist monasteries and sacred text during their invasions?
I agree with Corbin. By looking around at all the living things in the world and how complex life is, it leads me to believe that all things were made with a purpose and design.
ReplyDeleteFQ- What was the most cosmopolitan daynasty that China has known?
Tang Dynasty
DQ- Ikkyu Sojun insists that enlightenment is consciousness of the pleasure of life. What does this mean to you?