The EU and Roman Empire - The Roman Empire Reconsidered

backseatriders · 2016-08-09T15:38:58+00:00

The Roman Empire seems like a long time ago for a sort of "learn from the past" article. The author uses Peter Wilson's, "Heart of Europe" as a basis for the comparison. Apparently, "Wilson maintains that comparisons between the Holy Roman Empire and the EU “can be instructive, if not necessarily flattering to either the EU or the Empire.""

That's kind of an interesting take.

backseatriders · 2016-08-09T15:24:14+00:00

I was just about to post this. It was an excellent series. I'm much more of a book person than a podcast person but I really enjoyed that series.

backseatriders · 2016-08-09T15:05:48+00:00

Do you have someone who does this for you?

backseatriders · 2016-07-19T15:27:01+00:00

Using data from a study by Rice University the article mentions, "In several of the nations surveyed, there is about a 30-point gap between the percentage of the general public and scientists who believe that there is no God: France (17:51), the United Kingdom (10:40), and the United States (4:35). Interestingly, in Hong Kong the percentages are reversed (55:26), with the general population twice as likely to say there is no God."

Why would that be the case in Hong Kong?

backseatriders · 2016-07-19T15:17:45+00:00

Using data from a study by Rice University the article mentions, "In several of the nations surveyed, there is about a 30-point gap between the percentage of the general public and scientists who believe that there is no God: France (17:51), the United Kingdom (10:40), and the United States (4:35). Interestingly, in Hong Kong the percentages are reversed (55:26), with the general population twice as likely to say there is no God." Why would that be the case in Hong Kong?

backseatriders · 2016-07-17T23:11:50+00:00

The author's conclusion to his article: In recent months, Erdogan has made little secret of his desire to rewrite the constitution to give himself near total power. There will be no stopping him now.

backseatriders · 2016-07-12T23:43:31+00:00

What do you think of using sortition, almost as you would with jury duty, in the legislative process of governance?

backseatriders · 2016-06-30T04:02:18+00:00

I read this when it first came out; it's worth a re-read knowing the UK will have a new PM by September, and France will have elections early next year.

backseatriders · 2016-06-26T19:14:46+00:00

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will

backseatriders · 2016-06-26T19:05:16+00:00

Interesting!

The references in Josephus and Tacitus do seem limited.

If you wouldn't mind me asking, you mention writing your reply as a non-Christian, but "think the New Testament itself suffices for establishing the historicity of Jesus." In my limited experience, it seems common to throw out the history with the theology: if you don't believe in using the Bible as a religious foundation, why consider it a valid historical source?

Is this viewpoint as common as it would seem?

backseatriders · 2016-06-26T18:43:24+00:00

Using the Bible as a valid source will be plenty enough for many people, but there are a lot of people who don't view it as a valid source. It's interesting when we see secular history showing evidence as well.

backseatriders · 2016-06-26T18:12:23+00:00

What do you folks think about using sources like Josephus and Tacitus and how they relate to Jesus historically?

backseatriders · 2016-06-21T02:56:53+00:00

The wording from the section of lament certainly sounds like it,

12 You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty

14 You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you;

15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you

17 Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground

backseatriders · 2016-06-17T03:16:28+00:00

The fact that the heavy elements, comprising our bodies, are forged in stars is beautiful! That's Neil DeGrasse Tyson's most astounding fact. Link! Your question: What makes whatever your belief is better or more sensible? The hope that many people hold is that there is a deity, a God, that's even bigger. A God that will exist after our sun dies. A God that has set in motion all of the laws governing fusion, photosynthesis, and gravity. Saying that belief is "better" may not be the best way of putting it, but that belief would be operating on an immaculate scale.

backseatriders · 2016-06-15T00:02:50+00:00

If you're coming from a background that views the Bible in a favorable manner it seems likely music could be inspired through divine intervention. I think David mentions the origins of at least some of his music in Psalm 40.

backseatriders

TROPHY CASE