Philosophy
Please also see: ‘Wisdom.’ ‘Born again.’ ‘Mind & Thought.’ ‘Truth.’
Seek the Truth with all your heart.
German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) said all TRUTH goes through three stages: First TRUTH is ridiculed, then TRUTH is violently opposed, finally TRUTH is widely accepted as self evident.
Mahatma Gandhi also held a similar belief that: Firstly, people ignore truth, then they laugh at truth, then they fight truth, then TRUTH wins.
The original meaning of the word philosophy comes from the Greek roots ‘Philo’ meaning ‘love,’ and ‘Sophos’ meaning ‘wisdom.’ Wanting to know the meaning of life.
Philosophy is a field of wandering around, chasing thoughts, exploring what may or may not be so, exploring possibilities of reality; and, as in all fields of science, theories are only proven by proof in practice.
Philosophy is the study of proper behaviour, of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline. It is a theory or attitude that acts as a guiding principle for behaviour; a search for wisdom.
One student’s philosophy is: ‘Don't expect anything and you won't be disappointed.’
|
|
It is good for people to think, muse, consider, ponder, ruminate, cogitate, reflect, and meditate on life, ideas, situations, philosophies, relative theories, and on whatever they choose. However without a point of reference which is based on absolute truth - not on relative truth - it can all be rather futile, and only by slim chance can it arrive at the point of absolute TRUTH.
The truth of GOD is the only answer to, and for, ultimate and absolute truth.
Psalm 94:11 ‘The LORD knows the thoughts of people; HE knows that they are futile.’
Colossians 2:8 ‘See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.’
Mankind thinks they have wisdom, and yet still descends into the incredible futility of wars; fighting, killing, maiming, cruelty and destruction; and many vowing, after the horrors of each war, to learn from it and to never let it happen again; but it does; most people have short memories and a dominating greed for more and more money, control and ownership.
Truth and philosophy might or might not agree. GOD’s truth is absolute and therefore cannot be contradicted, whereas philosophy is entirely relative because it is a series of opinions based on analytical thought, observation or experience, which may or may not be accurate or true.
However I suggest that instead of arriving at our own truths and moral standards, which at best can only be based on relative principles, opinions and theories; it is far more beneficial to use our minds and energy to seek, learn, and apply the absolute principles of Life, Love and Truth, as written under the Creator’s guidance and influence in the Bible, and as displayed in Jesus’ life and teachings.
Christian knowledge bears its own stamp of unmeasured superiority in all that concerns the preparation for future immortal life. Do not study the philosophy of human conjecture, but study the philosophy of Jesus who is Truth. Other literature is of little value in comparison. The Earthly mind finds no pleasure in contemplating the Word of GOD; but for the mind renewed by the Holy Spirit, comes divine beauty and celestial light. Whatever is desolate and meaningless to the earthly mind, becomes alive and meaningful to the Spiritual mind.
There are writings about Socrates, but he himself did not write anything.
Lucretius, Plutarch, Marcus Aureliius, Dr. Taghi Arani (1904–1940), Descartes, Franklin, Kant, Pierre-Simon Laplace, Hegel, Stendhal (real name: Marie-Henri Beyle 1783-1842), the epic poems of Nizami Ganjavi. (also spelt Giandzhevi) (1141–1209), all attempted to learn the central essence of things and to fathom the laws of the Universe.
William James Durant (1885 – 1981) an American philosopher, historian and writer of French - Canadian heritage, wrote, (amongst others), ‘Philosophy and the Social Problem,’ ‘The Story of Civilization’ (1935-1975) and ‘The Story of Philosophy’ (1962). He said of such people as those above: ‘The history of philosophy is essentially an account of the efforts that great men have made to avert social disintegration by building up human designed moral sanctions to take the place of the supernatural GOD-given sanctions, which they themselves have destroyed.’
Nikolai Fyodorovich Fyodorov (also recorded as Nikolai Fedorovich Fedorov) was a Russian Orthodox Christian philosopher, who was part of the Russian cosmism movement and a precursor of transhumanism. Fyodorov advocated radical life extension, physical immortality and even resurrection of the dead, using scientific methods.
Born: 7 June 1829, Klyuchi, Russia.
Died: 28 December 1903, Moscow, Russia.
Books written among others: ‘What was Man Created For?’ ‘The Philosophy of the Common Task: Selected Works.’
(Russian cosmism is a philosophical and cultural movement that emerged in Russia in the early 20th century. It could be referred to as a religious philosophical position from the writings of Hugo de Garis.)
(Transhumanism is the belief or theory that the human race can evolve beyond its current physical and mental limitations, especially by means of science and technology. A class of philosophies of life that seek the continuation and acceleration of the evolution of intelligent life beyond its currently human form and human limitations by means of science and technology, guided by life-promoting principles and values. Extension of life, but no immunity to eventual death. All theoretical thought.)
Nikolai Fiodorovich has several degrees, taught philosophy at a prestigious Moscow university, and has a huge mansion, practically a palace, near Moscow, designed in the best European style, with half the ground floor taken up by his study, and multitudes of library shelving containing expensive leather bound books in a variety of languages, and mostly on philosophy, where, in later years, he spent most of his time reading and reflecting. He has produced many philosophical publications in his name and has worked hard to achieve what he has. However he saw all his achievements as being nothing in the light of GOD, and GOD’s true meaning and purpose in and for each person’s life. He said “Man dies the moment he is no longer useful to others and is no longer in charge of anything.” He also said “Great thinkers have attempted, each in their own way, to get closer to the concept of the absolute. Their philosophical concepts gave rise to religious-like philosophical tendencies which in turn passed into history. Eventually, having defied all the timid, counter attempts, the dominant concept in our lifetime has turned out to be the concept of subjection to a Supreme Mind.”
Our intuitive, fundamental, pedestrian logic must surely attest to this; which leaves GOD alone, to be the only point of Absolute reference.
We cannot know the unknowable. We can understand many things, we can know what they mean, we can know their function, without being able to comprehend how that meaning or function is actually able to be as it is. We need to be aware of the genuine limitations of the real depth of comprehending what we can actually understand.
Therefore it is - mostly - futile to create a theoretical assumption or presumption and to extrapolate a conclusion or understanding.
We should - and are strongly advised to - ask GOD for understanding and knowledge, but in the absence of it, the best thing we can seek and ask GOD for, is wisdom.
Nikolai’s collections include Nostradamis’ prophecies which, he says, “taken as a whole, constitute a philosophical concept that man is perishable, corruptible and insignificant, and that he has a lot to learn. This concept is precisely what distorts and destroys the soul of a person, and no-one who adheres to this concept can be truly happy. Not a single person on the Earth can be happy as long as such a concept is dominant in Mankind’s consciousness.
It weighs equally upon the philosopher and the one who has never gone near philosophy in his life; it weighs equally upon the newborn and the aged, and it weighs upon the foetus in the mother’s womb. Adherents of this concept have been around at different times, including many in the present, and many are their followers, they are proselytising human society with their beliefs in the frailty and insignificance of Man’s (humanity’s) essence.”
The one book which is worth far more than all the volumes together ever published on philosophy, is ‘GOD’s Book,’ the Bible; and the unwritten version of it which is woven together in the rustlings of the leaves, singing of the birds, sound of the waves, mountain breezes and natures magnificent beauty in all of it’s forms and variations. Through this divine language which includes fragrance and colour, GOD responds to each one’s request and gives His prayerful response to our prayers. How can we have let it go unheeded for so long. Logic dictates that if GOD created the Earth and the nature that exists all around us, then every blade of grass, every flower, every tree and cloud, the water and the stars, can only be His materialised thoughts. We trample on them, break them and disfigure them, and we cannot even keep our water clean, which every day seethes with more and more contaminants, even the air becomes more polluted and less healthy to breathe.
What kind of faith does humanity have, and who or what are we really worshipping. The parade of worldly rulers and influencers, no matter what grand temples and structures they might have built, will be remembered by the compromises they have bequeathed to their descendents.
GOD is talking with us every moment, but it is our spiritual apathy, ignorance or stubbornness that makes us unable or unwilling to hear Him.
When all is thought, said, and done, there is ideally one fervent desire and that is ‘conjoint creation and relationship with the CREATOR, and joy for all of us from its contemplation,’ which are just a few words to express GOD’s aspiration and desire. None of our great philosophers have been able to give a more precise and accurate definition.
Some philosophers have said that in the light of GOD’s revealed truth, they may as well throw away all the books in their libraries of philosophy.
Conjoint or co-creation in this sense means GOD creates and we care for and do everything needed to look after what HE has created for us. We should do this with love, appreciation, and enjoyment, not as a burden. If one receives a gift, it is to be used and appreciated.
The strand that ties humanity individually and as a whole, to the Creator, needs only to be comprehended and felt by each person, and by the power of GOD’s Holy Spirit, allowed to bring awareness of, and relationship with, GOD. Then to each may be extended love and compassion.
The words of a dream can set a tremendous energy in motion. Man creates a future for himself through his dreams and through the thoughts that he cherishes.
The desires you hold as a passionate vision, and the more substantial, clear, and bright its goal, the more the powers of light are drawn to fulfil it; to bring it about.
It is all according to GOD’s will, but we need to know what we want and this is confirmed in the Bible book of James.
James 1:5-7 ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask GOD, WHO gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because whoever doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not think they will receive anything from the Lord; they are a double-minded person, unstable in all their ways.’
Psalm 46:10 ‘Be still and know that I am GOD; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the Earth.’
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear (‘awesome respect’ and ‘respectful awe’) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Matthew 11:25 ‘Jesus said, “I praise YOU, FATHER, LORD of heaven and earth, because YOU have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”
This means that GOD has hidden these things from those whose intellectual and academic egos would cause them to apply their own explanation and / or reject the GOD given truth.
‘Little children’ means people who are teachable and open to learn without having egotistical blockages which are usually the result of conditioning by human theory, and belief systems that exclude GOD.
1 Corinthians 1:20-25 & 27-31 “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not GOD made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of GOD the world through its wisdom did not know Him, GOD was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom GOD has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of GOD and the wisdom of GOD. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of GOD is stronger than man’s strength. But GOD chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; GOD chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from GOD – that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 3:19-20 ‘For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in GOD’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
Hebrews 11:6 ‘And without faith it is impossible to please GOD, because anyone who comes to HIM must believe that HE exists and that HE rewards those who earnestly seek HIM.’
Isaiah 5:20-21 ‘Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.’ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.’
King Solomon was considered to be the wisest man in history; he wrote:
Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 ‘I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden GOD has laid on mankind. I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.’
Many young people enrol at universities to study philosophy, hoping to find resolution to life’s many questions, only to discover that the discussion and debates among philosophers appear to just produce more inconclusive discussions and debates.
Ask GOD in faith, and He will answer you according to HIS will.
Philippians 4:8-9 ‘Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable; if anything is excellent or praiseworthy; think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from Me, or seen in Me; put into practice. And the GOD of peace will be with you.’
Humanity has no power to regenerate itself by its own efforts. People might think they can do so by self-improvement and so-called self-empowerment through many different courses and processes. However, humanity does not trend upwards toward the divine, but away from GOD and HIS divinity; and downwards towards imperfection, decay, and all the factors of this Satan-influenced-world. GOD has already ordained what is acceptable, and Christ is our only hope for us to attain it.
Fear creates a wall of obstacles and blockages. What we see and comprehend is limited.
Faith, Belief, Love and Forgiveness are the bridge to GOD’s unlimited supply.
GOD has laid out every-thing, we just need to walk in it with faith, belief, and acceptance.
Vain deceit fills the minds of people who think there is sufficient power within themselves to accomplish great works, and do not see any necessity for a higher power - a GOD of Creation. Their principles and faith follow the traditions of men and the rudiments of this world, instead of Christ.
A person will never rise higher than their own standards, purity, and goodness.
Left to themselves their path will be downward. The grace of GOD alone has the power to exalt them.
Ephesians 6:12-13 ‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of GOD, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.’
GOD’s law, when understood, is the most positive religion and philosophy there is.
One must see the perfect balance between what GOD approves of, and what GOD does not approve of, which together, comprise GOD’s instructions to humanity.