Why Create Us?

[ananda]

I admittedly have a low tolerance for Buddhist thought. My history studies on India were the most interesting to me in that respect, so if you have a reference along that vein, I'd take a look.

This may be of interest to you.

 

[Resha Caner]

This may be of interest to you.

OK. It looks like the closest copy to me is at U Chicago. I like how the link refers to "authentic" Buddhist history. That was something we discussed in my MA program. For example, Jonathan Spencer is considered the Western expert on Chinese history … James McClain for Japan. It is an odd thing. If you try to read Chinese history by a Chinese historian, it's hard to understand. It might be more "pure", but there is a sense in which a westerner needs that history translated. Even reading Spencer I remember having a really hard time wrapping my head around the essence of Chinese history. When it clicks, though, it's cool.

That was a huge influence in me changing my focus. Since I was a little kid, I've been fascinated by the history of the eastern Mediterranean: Greeks, Turks, Byzantines, etc. But after getting a dose of the cross-cultural issues of an American studying Byzantine history, I moved into other things.

 

[ananda]

OK. It looks like the closest copy to me is at U Chicago.

The page I linked to had freely downloadable copies in PDF, HTML & EPUB formats, just click the "X". The vast majority of the publications at bps.lk are likewise freely downloadable.

I like how the link refers to "authentic" Buddhist history. That was something we discussed in my MA program. For example, Jonathan Spencer is considered the Western expert on Chinese history … James McClain for Japan. It is an odd thing. If you try to read Chinese history by a Chinese historian, it's hard to understand. It might be more "pure", but there is a sense in which a westerner needs that history translated. Even reading Spencer I remember having a really hard time wrapping my head around the essence of Chinese history. When it clicks, though, it's cool.

That was a huge influence in me changing my focus. Since I was a little kid, I've been fascinated by the history of the eastern Mediterranean: Greeks, Turks, Byzantines, etc. But after getting a dose of the cross-cultural issues of an American studying Byzantine history, I moved into other things.

Did you study Greco-Buddhism, or Emperor Ashoka and his missionary initiatives towards the middle east?

 

[Resha Caner]

The page I linked to had freely downloadable copies in PDF, HTML & EPUB formats, just click the "X". The vast majority of the publications at bps.lk are likewise freely downloadable.

Ah. I didn't notice that.

Did you study Greco-Buddhism, or Emperor Ashoka and his missionary initiatives towards the middle east?

I know of Ashoka and the Maurya dynasty, but I can't honestly say I know a lot about it. Most of my knowledge centers in the British occupation. Once I gave up the idea of focusing on the Byzantines I went on an extensive search of what I would do instead. It meant trying to cover a lot of world history ... and there is a lot. I feel the biggest gaps in my knowledge are with respect to Russia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Once I began to focus back in, I had 3 offers for my MA: 1) Chinese history (specifically shipping between China and Britain), 2) Science history (specifically math education in the U.S.), and 3) American history (specifically slavery in Missouri). For reasons that didn't really relate to the topic, I chose #3 ... and then negotiated with my committee chair to slightly modify the topic.

If you ever get interested in Lutheran history, I've got some favorites to recommend:
1) History of Luther - Martin Luther as Prophet, Teacher, and Hero: Images of the Reformer, 1520-1620 by Robert Kolb
2) Theological history - From Luther to Kierkegaard: A Study in the History of Theology by Jaroslav Pelikan
3) Lutherans in colonial America - Palatines, Liberty, and Property: German Lutherans in Colonial British America by A. G. Roeber

 

[ananda]

Ah. I didn't notice that.



I know of Ashoka and the Maurya dynasty, but I can't honestly say I know a lot about it. Most of my knowledge centers in the British occupation. Once I gave up the idea of focusing on the Byzantines I went on an extensive search of what I would do instead. It meant trying to cover a lot of world history ... and there is a lot. I feel the biggest gaps in my knowledge are with respect to Russia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Once I began to focus back in, I had 3 offers for my MA: 1) Chinese history (specifically shipping between China and Britain), 2) Science history (specifically math education in the U.S.), and 3) American history (specifically slavery in Missouri). For reasons that didn't really relate to the topic, I chose #3 ... and then negotiated with my committee chair to slightly modify the topic.

If you ever get interested in Lutheran history, I've got some favorites to recommend:
1) History of Luther - Martin Luther as Prophet, Teacher, and Hero: Images of the Reformer, 1520-1620 by Robert Kolb
2) Theological history - From Luther to Kierkegaard: A Study in the History of Theology by Jaroslav Pelikan
3) Lutherans in colonial America - Palatines, Liberty, and Property: German Lutherans in Colonial British America by A. G. Roeber

Thank you for the recommendations.

 

[Rajni]

God created us and his omniscience entails he knew a vast number would accept Christ and end up in Heaven and a vast number would not accept Christ and end up in Hell. God does not need us. Why then, did God create us?

In my experience, a satisfactory answer will
continue to be elusive as long as the
questionable concept of "hell" is forced into
the mix.

-

 

[dlamberth]

God created us and his omniscience entails he knew a vast number would accept Christ and end up in Heaven and a vast number would not accept Christ and end up in Hell.

This reminds me of a knock knock meme I recently saw. It goes like this....

Knock, Knock...
Whose there?
It's Jesus, let me in.
Why?
I have to save you.
From what?
From what I'm going to do to you if you don't let me in.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

God created us and his omniscience entails he knew a vast number would accept Christ and end up in Heaven and a vast number would not accept Christ and end up in Hell. God does not need us. Why then, did God create us?

Truthfully, I'm not sure why God created us on the whole, 'Markus,' at least not short of setting up an appointment for a face to face interview with Him. But even with that being the case, and as a minor philosopher myself, I'm kind of thinking that it wasn't just so humanity could evolve to a certain point where one individual, then, could write the supreme book on "How to Create Atheists."

Peace.

 

[dlamberth]

Of course, and doing no wrong on every level would include thinking no negative thought, experiencing perfect awareness of our surroundings, and so on.

Lets not forget a matured and seasoned empathy.