Mostly hang out at the Quora and X, mainly like history and some politics, don't have an ideology except maybe being a fan of original intent, prefer discussions to advocacy and agenda peddling. Jewish grandparents on father's side, Cherokee and Irish on mother's side, atheist with an appreciation for Christianity and it's social revolution, philosophy, and history, same for the U.S., warts and all. Hope for some interesting discussions.
Hello
- Thread starter EdwinA
- Start date
I'm 70.
It's only 'dark' because of all the propaganda from factions that need to sow horror and discontent for their own warped reasons. Technology and affluence in the West brings with it vast improvements in everything from diet to medicine, famines are now much more of a political failure than an agricultural one, for instance. So much info can be overwhelming for many, since no one can know all things, and makes some people crazy and prone to adopting simplistic ideologies and ingraining fear.
The thing that is most disturbing is how infantile and neurotic our alleged elites and leading politicians are, and that people are actually voting for them en masse.
I am more concerned about the cruelty....the sadism.
Yes. For example this fad of 'cage boxing' and shows like 'Survivor' as entertainment seems to be heading toward the history of the decline in the Roman Empire, with its gladiator death matches, and even stage plays featuring the grisly murders of slaves for amusement. Very disturbing. And the imbecilic road warrior games daily on the freeways.
Interesting analogy...that "decline in the Roman Empire."
For over 600 years, Rome was extremely decadent and licentious. During the time of its ascendency to one of the greatest world powers...Rome was extremely decadent and licentious. When it was at strongest...when it made its best contributions to laws, politics, literature, science, and art...Rome was extremely decadent and licentious.
Then Christianity came along and began reforming Rome from its decadence...and the Great Roman Empire almost immediately started the decline that finally ended its existence as an empire...and made almost no further contributions.
Yet people still equate its fall with the decadence rather than with the introduction of Christianity.
Do you have any idea of why that is?
By the way...WELCOME to the forum. You'll have fun here.
It seems more like the decadence and collapse made Christianity more appealing, and it was paganism that aggravated the decline. Population growth reversed, Imperial taxes grew to be heavy, Imperial bread and circuses more expensive, and the Legions relying more an more on 'barbarian' mercenaries. Christianity was rather passive, admired more for their willingness to be martyred for their beliefs, which few pagans seem to have been willing to do. Constantine didn't come along til much later, and the Empire was still largely pagan at the time, the other three co-Emperors of the Tetrarchy liked persecuting them and killing them for sport.
BOTTOM LINE:
Rome was strongest when it was at its most decadent. It was strong for over 600 years...while essentially as pagan and debauched. It dominated its world to an extent not seen since.
During that time, Rome contributed essentials of law, science, architecture, politics, arts, and literature.
Christianity was introduced...and the decline of Rome began almost immediately. In fact, after the introduction of Christianity, a period of intellectual ineptitude came into being so great...that the time is now known as The Dark Ages.
If you want to think that misstates things, fine with me.
But check out any history book...and you will see it pretty much sums up the reality.
You are going to have a tough time here, Edwin, if you cannot acknowledge something as clear as 2 + 2 = 4 in base ten. If you want to assert that Rome was stronger after the influence of Christianity than before...you will be able to do it.
But if you do that kind of thing, nobody here will take you seriously.
Good luck. I'm sure we will have many discussions.
Never said that, so my 'tough time' is merely going to come from strawmen and poor reading skills, so I'm okay, that's normal these days.
We'll see.