Another aspect to the problem that I think is worth familiarizing oneself with, is the Clintons’ “RussiaGate” scandal. In the 1980’s the Soviet Union ...
Clearly, you didn't think that question through, because "uncritically accept religious narratives" is exactly what you are doing - when it suits you:...
Perhaps we should also add here that I never said that “modern Turkish is spoken in Russia”! That’s another straw man of yours. I said “TURKIC” by whi...
I think it is necessary to have some understanding of the complexities of the situation. “We’re in an information war with the Russians and we have be...
Well, it's a well-known fact that Ehrman woz there. And with eye-witnesses like him, who needs scholars, right? :smile: IMO things could perfectly wel...
I get it. By that logic, if a scientist writes a paper that fits into a framework that he wants, then it's all lies. I know you did. Not very convinci...
Well, perhaps you should look at yourself first before commenting on other people's looks. :wink: More generally, I think you are getting carried away...
Scholarly opinion is divided on this: Josephus - Wikipedia Not at all. People could have spoken Greek and Aramaic and used each language in different ...
Well, truth be told, the exact teachings of Jesus are difficult if not impossible to reconstruct. All we have is an account of how he was perceived by...
He wasn't "left to rot and thrown into an unmarked mass grave" at all. The body was taken by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus by express permission o...
But he did write in Greek, for people who could read Greek, no? Not necessarily. There could have been a number of other reasons. The text may be simp...
But Josephus did write some of his works in Greek. And Aramaic phrases in a Greek text do not show that Greek wasn't spoken. We need to remember that ...
I don't think the matter is quite as simple as that. 1. It is not known to what extent all Jews had the same concept of "messiah". 2. Jesus was not ne...
"Possibly", yes. Which is "speculation", as you say. A degree of speculation is always involved when interpreting historical events. But how does Jose...
Well, of course Putin has a strategic plan. But we need to avoid focusing exclusively on Ukraine if we want to avoid missing the wood for the trees. A...
Not really. I have always been of the opinion that there was considerable outside influence on Judaism, which however, points back to some key element...
Correct. But the issue is the Jews who were so inclined. When Paul says: he is clearly addressing Jews, not Pagans. And the Talmud speaks of a traditi...
Well, I'm not convinced that Hellenistic Judaism was restricted to places like Alexandria. After all, people traveled throughout the area and maintain...
I wasn't aware that we were "casting stones" here. And I didn't "cry foul", either. I found your comment amusing, actually. I'm sure it doesn't. I sti...
Sure. But this didn't apply to all Jews. Otherwise, the existence of figures like Paul would have been impossible. So, we have to assume that a number...
Is there a need for Judea to have been a bastion of Hellenistic philosophy? I think it is quite sufficient for the Ten Greek Cities (Decapolis) in the...
Correct. But we mustn't forget (1) that Greek thought and language were common in the region and (2) there was an established Jewish tradition that us...
Well, I did say "IF he was the son of God", etc. Plus, even for the early Christians, Jews included, Christianity was not a "new" religion but the res...
The exact percentage is probably difficult to establish. But let's not forget that Greek influence was sufficiently strong to give rise to the cultura...
Of course they are logical. Hellenistic culture was dominant in the eastern parts of the Roman empire, especially in Alexandria (Egypt), which had a l...
Correct. America and Britain's wars are always "just" and "holy" (and never have anything to do with oil :smile: ). Anyone else's wars are "evil". Thi...
Wars aren't always fought by military means. There are culture wars, economic wars, propaganda and info wars, some wars are overt, others are covert, ...
Well, if America wins, you might have to say "panties" instead of "knickers" :smile: But the reality is that Ukraine is located right on Russia’s sout...
Not only that, but the same people systematically manipulate and distort media reports and even historical records in order to paint Russia as the “in...
Interesting topic. But I think we must be careful not to insist on linking lucid dreams with medical conditions, in the same way we need to be careful...
Totally correct. Putin has said that the West wants to destroy Russia, and I believe he is right. What is important to understand is that NATO’s (and ...
I’m sure that this is part of it. However, it isn’t unconnected with your observation that they can’t organize together. And they can’t organize toget...
I totally agree. Frankly, I find it quite surprising that on a philosophy forum it is difficult to exchange views without people losing their temper (...
It isn't "beyond reason" at all. Though I admit that it may be beyond the reason of those with limited powers of reason! :grin: Ukraine itself may be ...
My statement clearly refers to the fact that historically, Turkey has been the enemy of Europe and Turkey invaded Europe and continues to do so as evi...
That's exactly what I'm saying. We've established that it was a lie, and it's good that you agree! :grin: Really!? This is your statement: That was yo...
Well, just because you are a troll, it doesn't mean that others must be trolls. :grin: I NEVER said that Ukraine is the aggressor. So, clearly, that i...
Of course, the “bad guy” is always me. How predictable. But I’ve never claimed to be “spiritual”, have I? Besides, why would you want me to be spiritu...
Well, I think first we would need to establish why it is “dangerous”. Do you see it as a danger to yourself, to people in general, or … ? Second, it i...
What you need to understand is that there is a difference between stating your personal opinion and denying or misrepresenting the facts. I think it i...
Correct. One typical objection is that if those truths were forgotten, then we have no means of knowing what they were and therefore we can't claim th...
This only demonstrates that you don't know. And that your earlier question about who the rightful owners of Tibet are was a rhetorical one, which seem...
That’s just more weasel words and straw men, isn’t it? Of course Tibet should belong to the Tibetans! Who do you think Finland should belong to? Swede...
Not quite. In 1951, China invaded, occupied and annexed Tibet. In 1974, Turkey (a NATO member!) invaded and occupied North Cyprus. I think Tibet and C...
Of course, Plato should ideally be read in the original Greek. But I think even an English (or any other modern) translation will convey enough of Pla...
Sure: Essentially, the release or liberation of consciousness from the body-mind complex, i.e., from conditioned experience or existence, is common to...
:rofl: I think it is you who has no understanding of how international relations work and that it is a give-and-take process in which the party that h...
The way I understand Greek philosophy and, in particular, Platonism, philosophy, by definition, is the quest for wisdom or knowledge (sophia), where "...
:smile: That Lysis is a personal name! For the noun I would try dictionaries like Liddle Scott (Greek-English): https://lsj.gr/wiki/%CE%BB%CF%8D%CF%83...
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