Origins

The true origin of humanity is widely debated and a very sensitive subject. There are many different outlooks and opinions on whether human beings evolved from primitive primates millions of years ago or were created by a supernatural being thousands of years ago. Even with today’s great advancements in technology, it does not seem like this question will be answered for some time. More than likely, even if someone could come up with a theory that majority of scientists would agree upon, the strong religious beliefs that billions of people hold would make it almost impossible to change their minds and get them to believe different.

Science tells us that human beings began to evolve over two hundred thousand years ago. Historians say the idea of right and wrong was a major subject as human beings began to gather and form societies. I once saw a study where three groups of children were giving the same tasks to complete and asked to do so in an orderly manner and they would receive a reward at the end. Group one had someone present in the room, group two had no one present in the room, and group three was unattended but the children were told there was a magic princess watching them. Amazingly the group that had the best results was group three. I think this says a lot about mankind, religions, and societies. The one major thing that separates mankind from animals is our ability to make rational decisions. I think the idea of there is always someone looking compels people to do right.

I was raised in a Southern Baptist household and was taught from a very young age that being a Christian and believing in God and Jesus was the only way to reach a peaceful afterlife. As an adolescent I never thought to question that idea. As I have gotten older, traveled the world, and had more life experiences I can honestly say I do not believe there is one correct belief. I have not lost my faith in Christianity or my personal beliefs that there is a God or Jesus, but the belief that Christianity is the sole religion that is correct. I believe that God comes in any form needed for a person to do right, including those who do not believe. I know some atheist who had better values than some dedicated church goers I know.

There has not been one religion that has lasted since humanity has stared. But for thousands of years, almost all societies have feared, praised, and acknowledged some type of higher being. The main similarity in all of the different religions is that there is a belief in a non-present supernatural being or beings. Most modern day religions tell its believers there is a peaceful afterlife. Before these religions became the, Greek and Roman religions portrayed there gods as supernatural beings who toyed with humans lives because it was of very little value to them and there was nothing mankind could do about. I believe this is why it was so easy for current religions to grow. For most life was generally bad and the new religions promised it would get better because there was a being that actually cared. 

Mythology/Iconography

Mythology is the body of stories associated with a culture or institution or person. Mythology was best through the ancient Greek culture. Every Greek culture compared everything such as, rain, crops, sunlight, etc., to the gods reasoning. When cities would go to war with one another, they would pray to Ares, the god of war, for aid to win the war. Zeus, the god of all gods, was the superior, and was always the most feared. Mythology also entailed creatures called demi-gods, were humans that were half human and half god. All of these gods were highly worshiped and glorified throughout the Greek culture. Gods were the reason humans were successful, poor, lucky, alive or even dead. If you were to mock the gods, it was believed that they would show no mercy in showing who is dominant. If you were to owe a favor to Poseidon for example, after he does something for you and you fail to comply, he would send a tidal wave to flood your land to make you suffer. Each culture has their own version of their gods, but none of them is seen better through the Ancient Greek culture. As followed by the famous book, The Odyssey, the main character Odysseus, is challenged and tormented by the god because he went against them. He had to spend years and countless challenges until he returned home. The Gods taught him a lesson to appreciate his life and never take anything for granted.

- Rex Sainz

Iconography - the traditional or conventional images or symbols associated with a subject and especially a religious or legendary subject. Iconography has been dated back since around 3000 B.C. Another meaning of Iconography is the allegorical paintings and arts of icons in the Byzantine and Orthodox Christian traditions.

Most Greek Gods have their own depiction of iconography and symbolism. For example, according to classical Greek iconography the paintings, art, and sculptures of Zeus depict him as not a tyrant, but a fair and even minded God that sits on a throne, holding a sceptre, with the power to heave lightning bolts. Poseidon is always shown with a trident, and usually seen near underwater animals.

Iconography, also known as the language of symbols, was very important in the eras where only a few of the people were literate. These illustrations were intended for the audience to easily recognize and understand the subject immediately. Consistency when using symbols is one of the most important factors in understanding Iconography.

Regions in Africa, China, Rome, and Egypt are among some of the other past civilizations which we know for a fact that have used Iconography.

In Egypt, one of the Gods they worship is a mother goddess named Hathor that is always associated with the cow and usually appeared in relief sculpture and wall paintings as a woman with a cow head. Some of the other Egyptian gods that the Egyptians worship is Ra, the sun god, and Ptah the creator. While Ra takes form of a hawk head, Ptah takes form of a bull.

- By Ricky Young

Art and Culture

The Cultural Philosophy of the Japanese samurai

By

Jeremiah Putney & Nate Cooper



The Samurai of Japan where basically warriors who were also noble men the best thing to relate them to would be the medieval knights of Europe. But these men where more devout to there masters even the translations of the word samurai means those who serve in close attendance to the nobility. The thing I want to talk about in this blog thou is there code of honor there philosophy of life or what we would call there code of honor. The reason I chose to talk about this topic is that every since I saw the movie the last samurai I have had a fascination with the samurai of Japan and want to learn more about them



Its name is Bushido what means the way of the Warrior-Knight. It originates from the samurai moral code that stresses frugality, loyalty, martial arts mastery, and even honor unto death the virtues of bushido in total there are seven virtues of Bushido and they are Rectitude, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honor and Loyalty. But what to each of these values mean to them well rectitude means to be Righteous and for them courage meant to be brave in battle but to also have courage in making the hard choices in life. Benevolence was give charity to those who were in need .Respect they needed to respect those above them those that where there master Honesty was to never lie. Honor is adherence to what is right and the last is Loyalty which is meaning they stay loyal to there family friends and finally to there lord. Samurai were the honored warrior they were men and even woman who spent there whole life training with a sword and practicing these core values to fight for there master or lord.



But what would happen if a samurai failed to uphold one of these codes you ask well if a samurai failed to uphold his honor by breaking one of the tenets he could only regain his honor by performing seppuku which means a ritual suicide where they took a short blade, traditionally a tantō, and plunge it into there abdomen and then moving the blade from left to right in a slicing motion, then there kaishakunin or also know as the second would perform a kaishaku with there Katana a cut in which the warrior was decapitated with part of the skin would still be attached so the head would not go flying to the officials who were presiding over the execution



Today in Japan you will still find a lot of influence left behind by the samurai a lot of people still use bushido as a way of living there life in modern day Japan its funny to think that what most people would call outdated here in the west is still used today kind of shows you that even thou its old beliefs there still something that we can live by today. Well here it is hope you enjoyed this blog post we put together and that maybe you even learned something from reading it.

Comparative-Civilization

     One of the more recent claims or ideals that has become increasingly more prevalent in today's society is the comparative nature of the ancient Roman empire with that of modern day America; and the U.S. to be more exact. While this can appear to be true at first glance, the truth is that ancient Rome and modern day America are quite different from each other in terms of an empire.

     Obviously, the U.S. is still considered the current Hegemon, however, in a world where democracy is becoming ever-more prevalent, the power and relevance of this Hegemonic status begins to dwindle. At this point you could argue that Rome underwent a similar decline after their prime but you would in fact be describing every major human civilization from past to present. For example, the Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, British, French and even the Germans all had a similar type of empire that both rose and eventually fell. The primary difference between The U.S. and Rome is that Rome did not share power. They simply conquered those who stood in their way while the U.S. has never really taken an imperialistic stance. This is vastly different from modern day where building alliances is now the most effective strategy in the global theater.
     Another common comparison that is made between Rome and the U.S. is that of a similar social stratification between the two. To this I would say that unless you live in a communist country, you will always experience some sort of social stratification. By now we are all familiar with the 1% and 99% or the wealthy and 'poor' respectively within the U.S. Historians have discovered that ancient Rome had a far more complex social structure involving as many as seven or eight different social classes. Also, to expand upon this, the only requirements to vote in the U.S. is that you must be a citizen over the age of eighteen. In ancient Rome however, only a roman-born male was able to vote and regardless of age.

     Personally, I can only find and agree with two similarities between the U.S. and ancient Rome; the first being within the arts and sciences. Undoubtedly, both these civilizations have made profound discoveries and innovations within these realms. Aside from the extraordinary advances on the military front, both civilizations have paved the way for others and quite literally with the Romans. The U.S. equivalent of the Romans paved roads would be the space exploration program. Yet again though, this type of logic is flawed because other countries have also made similar advancements; in this case it would be Russia.
     The second area in which these two civilizations share a similarity would be in their dynamic populations. Both ancient Rome and America are comprised of individuals from various parts across the globe. Where Romes population consisted of the Roman-born and the conquered, America's current population is the result of European imperialism. Either way, both civilizations experienced an extremely diverse set of cultures, religions and ideals.
     Overall, is the U.S. considered the new Rome? Largely no, with a few exceptions. The simple truth is, any Hegemony inherently shares similarities with other previous Hegemonies.


For further reading, please visit: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/political-bookworm/2010/04/america_as_a_new_rome.html

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/socialculture/tp/Roman-Society.htm


   
   

Science and Reason