Reading the work of Marcus Aurelius, is showing me just how much we are like the Romans.
In Meditations, Marcus tells of the value of reason and comprehension - both your own reasoning abilities and the willingness to accept the reasoned out laws of the state ("do only whatever the reason of the ruling and legislating faculty of men may suggest..."). It is the same in America. In American schools of higher education we are evaluated on our use of reason in understanding the sciences, in seeking the truth - or questioning what is the "truth" through the use of reason - in theology - as we reason out what might be the truth of deity - and in many other disciplines. Moreover, through the Judicial system and the rule of law and America, we keep reason as the guiding principle of what each person should and should not do. The judges of the supreme court, through a process of reason, decide how our laws should be interpreted and what exactly is considered lawful and what is not.
Moreover, Marcus asserts that "life is opinion." And opinion has a similar importance in American society. In America it is understood that each person has their own opinion and special laws are even made to protect them - for example, religious laws.
I commented on Alexandra's Post
I like how you highlighted opinion in the last part of your post. I do believe that people are entitled to their own opinion, but sometimes I think this belief leads us to too tolerance. Opinions in America have replaced Truth. "Your truth is different from my truth" Doesn't that conflict with the basic meaning of a truth? I don't exactly know what to think about this issue. I just think it's an interesting part of American culture, influenced by the Romans. It also makes me sad because in a way this issue highlights how lost people are all over our nation.
ReplyDeleteWell said Callie. And Anna for that matter... Opinion has replaced truth often in American culture. This is where we get relativism. If it's true for YOU, it's true. This has lead to tolerance even within Christianity. Many "professing" Christians around the world do not actually believe is that Christ is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life. We are so afraid of seeming exclusive that we are willing to compromise the truth. The fact is, Christ is exclusive. The Gospel is inclusive in that anyone can receive it, but it is exlusive in that Christ is the ONLY way!
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