- definition of monotheism

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- definition of civilization
lingual definition
The word civilization comes from the Latin civilis, meaning civil, related to
the Latin civis, meaning citizen, and civitas, meaning city or city-state
Will Durant's definition
"Civilization is social order promoting cultural creation. Four elements const
itute it: economic provision, political organization, moral traditions and the p
ursuit of knowledge and the arts. It begins where chaos and insecurity end. For
when fear is overcome, curiosity and constructiveness are free, and man passes b
y natural impulse towards the understanding and embelishment of life".
language
if you can't communicate, how can you write laws?
how can you write your scientific work
economic provision / agriculture surplus
lack of food keeps one busy
if they're not busy (surplus) allows them to do other things
division of labor
urban population is general not engaged in agricultural work
priests guide spiritual belief
artisans make crafts
governments can be established
rule of law can be established
administrators, record keepers
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- how well did judaism and brahmanism respond to outside influence?
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- how is judaism and brahmanism different after 400?

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- Why might monotheism have been considered an unusual religious view in the anc
ient world?
contact with the gods had to go through priests
The reason for this pessimism was because the belief in one God could not explai
n why natural disasters regularly occurred. People did not understand how an omn
ipotent God could let catastrophic events and terrible occurrences exist, leadin
g them to conclude that a number of gods controlled certain sectors of the globe
. They also could not understand why the good suffered and bad prospered. Polyth
eism, the belief in more than one God, nourished what people wanted to believe a
nd it was the primary form of religion for many years. But more importantly, pol
ytheism provided explanations of the fundamentals for understanding religion dur
ing the fourth millennium B.C.
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Two world historians, Jerry Bentley and Herbert Ziegler, have pointed out that a
long with bringing positive results, civilizations also have "exacted costs from
their inhabitants." Explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.
I agree that it has SOMETIMES exacted costs from their inhabitants, I cannot see
an argument of how civilization and conformity is against human nature but at th
e same time it is human nature to group (herd mentality)
advantages Civilization:
 Pros of civilization: Comfort
Protects men against nature.
Invokes cleanliness and order as ideals so that we have space and time to purs
ue our good.
Provides us with examples of beauty.
Esteems and encourages the use of man s higher mental activities.
Regulates mutual relations; without civilization there would only be the rule
of the stronger.
o Laws are created to protect the community from destructive individuals.
disadvantages
Cons of Civilization: Conformity
racism
slaves
inequality
caste system, priesthood, warriors, crafts (indian)
But what must each person do, or what must each undergo, so that (s)he may be th
e beneficiary of civilization? What does it require of man?
we must renounce our instincts, our desires, so we may be members of society a
nd receive the benefits of being members. But it is the satisfaction of our inst
incts and desires that constitutes our happiness. How, then, can we both a) be m
embers of society, which is necessary for happiness, and b) satisfy desires, whi
ch is also necessary for happiness, when (a) requires that we renounce (b)?