Michael Harney wrote:
<< Nice try, but no, sorry. The invention that separated us from base natural
selection was agriculture, without which, we never could have settled in one
spot long enough to invent anything. >>
I agree that agriculture was pivotal as well, but the original criteria (that
others have also overlooked) was "What is the most important invention in the
past two thousand years?"
<< Theism has existed since prehistoric times, and there is even some evidence
that some animals too might have
beliefs about deities and even afterlife. No solid evidence of course about
the animal think about deities, because it is impossible to ask what the
animal is thinking. Codes about acceptable behavior encased within religions
contributing to the stabilizing of society is ancient as well, and evidence
suggests that such codes of behavior can also be found in primates, wolves,
and other animals. My point is, that has nothing to do with separating
humans from natural selection. >>
You missed my point entirely. I think that the kind of compassion embraced by
Christ has changed the nature of humanity itself. I am not arguing in favor
of religion, which I think is often divisive and destructive. But I think
Christ's forgiveness and his humility, separate from religion or theism, once
institutionalized, had a rather profound effect on Western society. Not that
it happened all at once, or even that his ideas are fully accepted today -
hell, we're still killing people for their "sins" in the U.S. - but I think
that it was a cultural sea change that continues to have a profound effect to
this day.
<< If you really want to know what invention has driven humans to progress so
far, it's the invention of war. War has forced us to compete at a level far
faster than our evolution, so, we were forced to create innovation to out
compete our neighbors. What drove the space race? War. What drove the
development of atomic power? War. What drove the development of submarines?
War. What drove the development of the telegraph? War. What drove the
invention of rockets? War. War is the ultimate driving force in human
society. The "Us Against Them" attitude. Whether that war be waged against
other humans, or predators, or insects, or etc., the goal is always the
same: out fight them until they are obliterated so that we might benefit.
Unfortunately, that attitude has proven dangerous in dealing with diseases,
insects, etc., which evolve faster than our technology and knowledge does.
And the benefits of waging such wars typically prove to be much less than we
originally thought. >>
You make my point for me.
Doug
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
