enlightenment <http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=enlightenment> [image: Look up enlightenment at Dictionary.com]<http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=enlightenment>1660s, from enlighten <http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=enlighten> + -ment<http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=-ment>. Only ever used in figurative sense, of spiritual enlightenment, etc. Attested from 1865 as a translation of Ger. Aufklärung, a name for the spirit and system of Continental philosophers in the 18c.
The philosophy of the Enlightenment insisted on man's essential autonomy: man is responsible to himself, to his own rational interests, to his self-development, and, by an inescapable extension, to the welfare of his fellow man. For the philosophes, man was not a sinner, at least not by nature; human nature -- and this argument was subversive, in fact revolutionary, in their day -- is by origin good, or at least neutral. Despite the undeniable power of man's antisocial passions, therefore, the individual may hope for improvement through his own efforts -- through education, participation in politics, activity in behalf of reform, but not through prayer. [Peter Gay, "The Enlightenment"] On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 4:00 PM, Bob1357 <[email protected]> wrote: > "We know what is the meaning of protesting. You don't have to give the > latin > roots for everything". > > Roomsearching ...Derived from the Latin Roa meaning redundant, and the > Latin serc meaning Jackass. > > On Aug 3, 9:07 am, Marcus <[email protected]> wrote: > > . > > > > Yep ……….. I am with you Bob. Religion, for too long, has been the > > excuse for discrimination, war, murder and greed. I still don’t > > think Moses, Jesus and Mohammed where mistaken. When we see human > > corruption and realise how fundamental it is to mankind. We must do > > all within our power to counter balance. The corruption will always > > be there, regardless of the shifting and changing of human > > behaviour. Because corruption exists then so too does purity. With > > all due respect and humility to the illusion of conscious awareness, > > we must strive to shine light into the darkness. > > > > Emancipation, liberation and freedom where never designed for the > > collective human society. The corruption constant throughout our > > history will ensure this. > > > > Emancipation, liberation and freedom is designed for the individual. > > It’s there for the self to create and experience, not the masses. > > > > But don’t spread this knowledge around, it will spoil the global > > businesses of religion, and they may just try to nail you to a cross, > > stick spears in your heart then ridicule and condemn you. Then > > build a religion your edited teachings. > > > > Freedom is seeing the essential paths through darkness to light. > > Then living freely today. > > > > . > > > > On Aug 3, 2:19 pm, Bob1357 <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Painfully conditioned to be Protestant (Christian). > > > From the Latin protestari meaning publicly declare/protest. > > > Mainly protesting Roman Catholic orthodoxy. > > > We don't like your church rules so we are going to start are own > > > church and create rules that "suit us" you know, rules that we can > > > follow that don't burden our everyday lives. > > > Rules that might get us to God with the least resistance. > > > Were going to scream hell fire into our children s ears until they > > > bleed. > > > The concept of burning in hell will be so deep seeded that they will > > > listen and obey to all of our rules throughout their entire adulthood. > > > Now to finance all this ----- oh here ----- 10% ------ Yes 10% of all > > > income should be given to the church. > > > You know it's a sin to be greedy. > > > Remember hell? > > > > > Huh? ....wha? ........I blacked out ........what happened? > > > > > On Aug 3, 6:50 am, Marcus <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > . > > > > > > Present Opinion .......... > > > > > > Born a Christian but now see ugliness and beauty in all religions. > > > > Dogma is power, power is corruption, ultimate powered is ultimate > > > > corruption. In this, business and religion are the same. > > > > > > My religion is now. My temple is here. > > > > Circumstance dictates therefore, circumstance is God. > > > > > > “I am” convinced that this is the true metaphorical message of all > > > > the great enlightened masters, throughout all of our history. From > > > > the beginning of humans. > > > > > > There is only God (what ever name you prefer) ………………………….. no other. > > > > > > . > > > > > > On Aug 3, 12:09 pm, roomsearching <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > Just to remind you that Advaita is a part of Hindu religion. > > > > > > > But to be honest, everybody follows his own religion because no two > people's > > > > > minds are the same. > > > > > > > On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 10:04 AM, Mark Ty-Wharton > > > > > <[email protected]>wrote: > > > > > > > > Here we all are, from different countries, discussing > spirituality. > > > > > > > > And I am wondering... > > > > > > > > What Religion were you brought up with? > > > > > > > > What do you believe now? > > > > > > > > Sent from an iPhone- Hide quoted text - > > > > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > > > - Show quoted text - >
