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A Mistake That I Shall Not Repeat In 2012
Shortly before Christmas I encountered one of my neighbors while out walking my dog. She began to tell me that we were in the end times and the present world situation had been foretold in the Bible.
This is a woman who leads her family on daily prayer walks, has no faith in technology or science, and is an ultra-conservative. She claims that God talks to her and provides here with advice on every matter that confronts her in life.
I then made my big mistake and tried to engage her in a rationale discussion concerning belief, faith and an inability to explain that which we don’t understand. I usually debate this issue once or twice a month as an intellectual exercise but never before with her. You know where this little story is leading and my complete failure to impart a little knowledge.
I tried to explain that for many centuries prior to Christianity, mankind had tried to rationalize its being and purpose. These, for the most part, were unlettered individuals who came up with rational but unproven theories about man’s existence. Perhaps this was the birth of what we call ‘philosophy’. In any event certain of these theories became beliefs and there emerged over a long period of time something known as ‘Greek Theology’. Today we call it Greek Mythology but it has the distinct aroma of present day Christian theology. However one would never refer to it as Christian Mythology for fear of instant stoning by angry mobs.
Most of us probably recall Greek mythology as a body of stories concerning the gods, heroes, and rituals of the ancient Greeks. Even though in the 5th and 4th centuries BC many of the prominent philosophers of the day considered most of the tales to myths created out of fiction but the populace wouldn't hear of it. To most Greeks the events were viewed as true accounts. In much the same way as my neighbor had informed me on numerous occasions that the Bible is a true record of actual events and that the Bible is absolute proof of what really happened.
When asked, she informed me that she had never heard of Prometheus. Like the fool that I’m wont to be, I explained that Prometheus was the Titan god of forethought and crafty counsel who was entrusted with the task of molding mankind out of clay. [Sound familiar]
Apparently Prometheus fell out of favor with the big boss Zeus. This leader of all gods ordered the creation of Pandora (the first woman) as a means to deliver misfortune into the house of man, or as a way to cheat mankind of the company of the good spirits. [Hmm interesting]
Prometheus meanwhile, was arrested and bound to a stake on Mount Kaukasos where an eagle was set to feed upon his ever-regenerating liver (or, some say, heart). Generations later the great hero Herakles came along and released the old Titan from his torture. [It's only a myth]
My neighbor spat on the ground, said she would pray for my soul and departed stage right.
Guest contributor
Irving Sears
