Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: haqihana who wrote (78163)	4/15/2000 12:08:00 AM
From: Dayuhan	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

The events surrounding the fall of the Roman Empire are a wee bit more complex than your account, and by no means entirely attributable to moral decline. Edward Gibbon wrote a little book on the subject, a useful read if you're really interested. One interesting selection: As the happiness of a future life is the great object of religion, we may hear, without surprise or scandal, that the introduction, or at least the abuse, of Christianity had some influence on the decline and fall of the Roman empire. The clergy successfully preached the doctrines of patience and pusillanimity; the active virtues of society were discouraged; and the last remains of the military spirit were buried in the cloister; a large portion of public and private wealth was consecrated to the specious demands of charity and devotion; and the soldiers' pay was lavished on the useless multitudes of both sexes, who could only plead the merits of abstinence and chastity. Faith, zeal, curiosity, and the more earthly passions of malice and ambition kindled the flame of theological discord; the church, and even the state, were distracted by religious factions, whose conflicts were sometimes bloody, and always implacable; the attention of the emperors was diverted from camps to synods; the Roman world was oppressed by a new species of tyranny; and the persecuted sects became the secret enemies of their country. Yet party-spirit, however pernicious or absurd, is a principle of union as well as of dissension. The bishops, from eighteen hundred pulpits, inculcated the duty of passive obedience to a lawful and orthodox sovereign; their frequent assemblies, and perpetual correspondence, maintained the communion of distant churches: and the benevolent temper of the gospel was strengthened, though confined, by the spiritual alliance of the Catholics. The sacred indolence of the monks was devoutly embraced by a servile and effeminate age; but, if superstition had not afforded a decent retreat, the same vices would have tempted the unworthy Romans to desert, from baser motives, the standard of the republic. Religious precepts are easily obeyed, which indulge and sanctify the natural inclinations of their votaries; but the pure and genuine influence of Christianity may be traced in its beneficial, though imperfect, effects on the Barbarian proselytes of the North. If the decline of the Roman empire was hastened by the conversion of Constantine, his victorious religion broke the violence of the fall, and mollified the ferocious temper of the conquerors. There is a good deal more, dealing with numerous other causes, at: fordham.edu For a whole lot more, get a copy of the book. Smugness, BTW, is a problem on both sides of the biblical fence.

To: haqihana who wrote (78163)	4/15/2000 12:14:00 AM
From: Krowbar	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Smug has nothing to do with it. I got over believing in fantasy after I finished my childhood, and you didn't. How did you determine that no scientist has a clue how a pillar of salt exists in that area? Salt domes are in fact common throughout the world, but usually they don't have stories made up about them. Many have claimed finding the Ark from the flood, but there is no evidence of one whatsoever. I put the "sightings" in the same category as those who find the face of the Virgin Mary in a pizza. Show me the goods. I'm not interested in yet more fantasy stories to explain the first one. BTW, when did this flood happen? How is it that the Chinese missed it entirely? Where did all of that water come from, and where did it drain to? I hope that I'm not upsetting you with questions from the world of reality. Del