epicureanism vs christianity

The Epicureans began as a school of philosophers in the Hellenistic period of Ancient Greece. I may not agree with her metaphysics, epistemology or ethics, but I can certainly appreciate the difference she made to the lives of those around her. I was brought up as a Christian and was taught that Christianity came with moral and ethical rules of conduct, kindness and generosity. But no less important was the practical action in living by the virtues taught by him and in honouring the obligations of reciprocal help in the name of friendship. The moral divide is wide and deep, and across it two cosmologies two incompatible visions of the universe, of nature and human nature confront each other. They also believe that a person should not believe in supernatural forces or divine beings. We should never feel constrained by the opinions and expectations of others. . As you can see, Epicureanism disagreed with Christianity on an awful lot: cosmology, theodicy, the meaning of life. Those who govern and employ exploitatively, those who ostracize others and those who damage the earth in pursuit of profit need to reflect that there is one who establishes authorities, is the creator of human beings and the earth, and will return one day as a judge. 7th or 6th century BC), which forms part of the verse: They fashioned a tomb for you, holy and high one, Cretans, always liars, evil beasts, idle bellies. This is generally known as classical theism. Empiricism, atomism, extreme individuality, fear of death as the root of all anxietywhat makes these parallels really interesting is that they arent straighforward lines of influence. Philosophically, it's the death of Aristotle: they died within a year of each other, so that lines up rather neatly. This belief was not in the beginning the result of positive teaching. (I dont know much about the Evangelical Church except for that Dallas Jenkins guy who produces/directs The Chosen is a member of that church, and a lot of them seem to convert to Judaism for some reason.) Like dude, if youre gonna talk about Epicurus, talk about Epicurus. For example, the Old Testament makes it clear that the righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern (Proverb 29:7). As the psychopath cannot see the Epicureans point, what can be done? If the Epicureans ethics are the result of evolutionary forces, so too are the psychopaths and therefore no less justified. Even in the United Kingdom, where the Church of England is relatively benign, Christianity still affirms the doctrine of blood sacrifice because it is essential to the Christian message. From the third century AD to the sixteenth, Epicureanism was almost entirely forgotten. "Epicurus is occasionally described as as a saviour (str) or messenger (kryx), terms which are also used by Epicureans themselves and are reminiscient of Old Testament expressions. Epicurus (341-270 B.C.) Founded around 307 BC, the philosophy emerged originally as a challenge to Platonism. In ancient polemics, as often since, the term was employed with an even more generic (and clearly erroneous) meaning as the equivalent of hedonism, the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the chief good. The stoic has no fear of death, while the Epicurean struggles with being alone in the world. Christianity does so no less. Being extinct may not be a problem to the inexistent one, but it is the anticipation of being inexistent that is so painful to the existent one. Epicureanism and Christianity Norman DeWitt https://doi.org/10.3138/utq.14.3.250 Abstract PDF It has long been a fixed belief in the cultural tradition of western Europe that of the ancient moralities it is Stoicism that exhibits the closest affinity with Christianity. As a child, I was taught that I could never be perfect (or even good enough since Gods standard is perfection.) Epicurean Philosophy vs. Christianity; User Menu; Login; Register; This site . People today tend to think it represents ultimate, decadent . Some Christians would claim that Christianity, or at the very least formalised religion, is a pre-requisite for living a truly moral life, though that isnt a view held by all. The Stoic school was founded by Zeno of Citium (cir. 1. When we let our worries and stress take over, we are not being stoic. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'mindbydesign_io-leader-1','ezslot_11',125,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-mindbydesign_io-leader-1-0');The Epicurean will live an easy life with lots of free time while the stoic is usually busy achieving virtue. Amen. Brian Duignan is a senior editor at Encyclopdia Britannica. This philosophy holds that virtue is the only good, everything else is indifferent (meaning its neither good nor bad), and no external thing or circumstance can ultimately affect ones character. Like you really missed the mark. However, the psychopath problem reveals a serious problem with Epicureanism. There not that extreme. Jimmy might enjoy listening to heavy metal music in the early hours, but he wears headphones so as not to cause his housemates and neighbors the pain of disturbed sleep. Is it best to pursue wisdom or pleasure? Christianity kept me afraid and anxious for many years. But you are not dead: you live and abide forever, He is unwilling to stop evil. Philosophy Apophatic Ascetical Cataphatic Catholic spirituality Hellenistic Mystical theology Neoplatonic Henosis Practices Monasticism Monasticism Asceticism Spiritual direction Meditation Meditation Lectio Divina Invoking of Mystic Saints Active asceticism Contemplation Hesychasm Jesus prayer Quietism that pleasure is the end and aim, we do not mean the pleasures of the prodigal or the pleasures of sensuality. We should try to make our own path through life, but its okay to use the paths that others have made before us. Sources Or do I claim either that; firstly I need no help , or secondly perhaps I can help myself. Christianity still has an anti-scientific streak. His subject areas include philosophy, law, social science, politics, political theory, and some areas of religion. Dr Peter Harris is the author of two books: The Rage Against the Light: Why Christopher Hitchens Was Wrong and Do You Believe It? Some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" The exhibition of integrity in word and deed. One of the great losses in Christian modernity is that first Deism, and then Epicureanism itself, have eaten away at our worldview to the point where many have tried to reassert Christian truth but within a split-level world, with a 'god' who is normally, or even permanently, out of the picture. IV. Epicureanism taught that the highest state a person could attain was ataraxia absolute peaceand aponia complete absence of mental, emotional, and physical distress or need. If you enjoyed this article Stoicism vs Epicureanism let us know by leaving a comment, sharing it or bookmarking it: Taking up the practice of the stoic philosophy is easier than it seems. Refresh the page, check Medium 's site status, or. My only hope was to believe in Jesus and follow whatever the Bible says, or else be guilty of disobeying God. So which philosophy is best? The first confrontation I had on my Spiritual journey, was being faced with my own lack of goodness. This is a totally immoral and depraved doctrine. However, the argument from intrinsic value grounded in God may well prick the consciences of selfish, but non-psychopathic people more quickly. What Christianity offers to those who cling to Jesus as his or her sins atoning sacrifice is not personal extinction of all and the universes heat death, but an everlasting enjoyment of relationship with God and his people. That means these two philosophies both encourage people to be mindful of their actions, live in the present moment, cultivate equanimity (even towards things that cant be changed), and accept what they cannot control. The Stoics tell us that we should never feel bad for being different from other people. The big brother, or sister, who stands up for a younger sibling against bullies is taking away the pain of being bullied. Maybe they were ill-tempered, or even violent. We can turn our worries and fears into a source of motivation that helps us to become better people in this world. Blood sacrifice was the norm in those days, as was crucifixion, the most cruel of deaths. Epicureanism and Stoicism compared. There are many beliefs that are similar in both Christianity and stoicism. Stoics believe that we have to live a stoic existence, where we are able to leave behind our troubles and focus on ourselves. He was always getting at the Pharisees who were keeping to the rules and rituals of their religion as if their lives with depended on it. The psychopath could argue that he adheres to another moral philosophy called violent hedonism. Epicureanism and egoism in modern philosophy, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Epicureanism, Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Epicureanism, Verywell Mind - Using Epicurean Philosophy for Finding Happiness, Epicureanism - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). For Epicureans, Christian theology is imbalanced and the Christian mind morbid in contrast to Epicureanisms healthy embrace of pleasure and avoidance of pain. For those who have not come across Epicureanism, Wood is an expert guide. Many people are under the false impression that there is more to life than what is right in front of them. . Epicureans refuse to believe in gods and an afterlife. Dont let fear rule your life. But be prepared for blowback from the rest of us. Other conspiracies, like 9/11 being a hoax, or the Federal Reserve being owned by the Rothschilds, are disproportionately common amongst the Christian community. Stoics [N] [S] a sect of Greek philosophers at Athens, so called from the Greek word stoa i.e., a "porch" or "portico," where they have been called "the Pharisees of Greek paganism." The founder of the Stoics was Zeno, who flourished about B.C. You barely even mention those ethics throughout this post. He will have restored their self-esteem. Nothing less could be expected from an omnibenevolent, omnipotent, and everlasting God who desires ceaseless relationship with people. Is Atheism just another religion? He also holds a certificate in apologetics from Biola University. The occasion was the vision of the editor, Troels Engberg-Pedersen, to provide something like a synoptic account of philosophy in the so-called post-Hellenistic period of about 100 BCE to 100 CE, roughly from Panaetius (185-109 BCE) to Plutarch of Chaeronea (c. 45-125 CE). God musn't exist because evil does. . : the philosophy of Epicurus who subscribed to a hedonistic ethics that considered an imperturbable emotional calm the highest good and whose followers held intellectual pleasures superior to transient sensualism They recommend that individuals not believe in supernatural forces or divine beings. He only had two basic rules. There is Scriptural warrant for agreeing that the great majority of people condemn murder as wrong for Romans 2:14, 15 states that generally people, whether they know God or not, have a conscience. His materialism led him to a general attack on superstition and divine intervention. Lol. From my youth I had an awareness of the divine. Christ demands perfection he says. There are other reasons, however, for why Christian culture is legitimately so deeply concerned with suffering. One is the Epicurean, the other is the Christian, and between them the differences go all the way down. God makes perfect even you. In contradiction to Stoicism that holds the pleasure principle responsible for reducing humans down to the level of primal sensuality, Wood argues that pleasure drives our rational thinking and communication because they are in themselves pleasurable. An epicurean on the other hand focuses on having a good time through friendship, food, wine and other material pleasures of life. The wise man will wish to die when he is weary of life when he has lived his life and achieved his purposes; for there is no greater evil than death, nor any pain that can be compared with it.. The consequences, however, are the same: in the end, the Epicurean is forced to live with the same temperance and justice as the Stoic. Adam and Eve enjoyed friendship with each other and with God, something that Wood says Epicureans value highly (1:28; 2:18-25). This is a wonderful and heartfelt critique of Christianity. I appreciate most Christians arent that extreme. The being counted right (or righteous) by God. The main difference between the philosophies is that Epicureans value pleasure and tranquillity while stoics value virtue and wisdom. Human enjoyment of God and the Edenic paradise were lost by Adam and Eves injudicious choice of eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil (3:1-the end). Fundamentally, Epicureans believe people value the natural delights derived from sex, companionship, acceptance, and love. Fundamentalism in any political or religious discourse seems to generate division and above all, fear. This impaired Christianity is, to be blunt, Liberal Christianity. As the living are not dead, they cannot experience death either. Christian teaching is clear: a life of judicious moral choices prevents people from falling into dangers. I became a Christian at 40 years of age. 548, 554. ; as opposed to the layman's understanding of hedonism eat, drink, and be merry. Born in 341 BCE, only six years after Plato's death, Epicurus came of age at a good time to achieve influence. I certainly am. So how do you break free from the dependence on, Read More How To Stop Relying on One Person for Happiness (13 Ways to Independence)Continue, The difference between a mindset vs mindfulness is in the why. Instead, the stoics tell us to accept the situation as it is and do our best with what is in our control at the time. Epicureanism is an ancient Greek philosophical system taught by Epicurus. molar enthalpy of combustion of methanol. It's titeled "You will not taste death: Jesus and Epicureanism" by Jack W. Hannah. . Peter is a freelance writer who has been published in publications such as Christianity Magazine and online for Patheos. At 19, he went to Athens to study at the Academy. However, despite this popular conclusion, Christianity was too deeply rooted as the Roman Empires official religion for it to be supplanted. We already know that the Stoics had much in common with the early Christians; not so the Epicureans, for whom lifes highest goal was individual pleasure. Love your children and never mistreat them. They had meaningful work such as the supervision of Gods creation, the pleasure of reproduction, a plentiful supply of healthy food and leisure due to the institution of the Sabbath (1:28-30). Paul Elmer More comments aptly: "Gregory's apology might seem almost to be a sermon on the Epicurean text 'Live concealed,' which no doubt he had heard discussed from every point of view during his student days at the university of Athens. Christian Approval of Epicureanism - Volume 31 Issue 3. Epicureanism gets its name from the philosophy of Epicurus, another ancient Greek philosopher. Youre trying to open your mind to other ways of thought as perhaps the Evangelical church nailed it into you too hard. The term Stoic comes from the stoa, or porch, where students of Stoicism used to gather. The Epicurean Paradox is one formulation of the problem of evil. What evidence is there that Christianity not only seeks to prevent suffering, but promotes pleasure? But the similarities are just as important as the differences. Having decided that I did indeed like boys, and since their tones where cruel, I must be this bad thing. Torture and murder are profoundly wrong. No, its conclusions are familiar for another reasonthey sound like those of modern secular culture. What is common to crises is that they provoke societies into reviewing their worldviews and asking whether they need to be modified or rejected because they are the cause of their difficulties. Whether we are interested in understanding Epicurean philosophy or want to learn how to live a better life, this website is full of information on the topic. The former is a materialist philosophy, claiming that nothing exists beyond the empirical realm that humans can know about. Owen, I fully understand your point of view and how you arrived at it. Both these assurances reveal a contradiction in Woods thinking. The Book of Proverbs is filled with advice and admonitions about the importance of being wise and discrete. The term "Epicureanism" means the philosophy of Epicurus (b. Samos c. 342-341 BCE, d. Athens c. 271-270 BCE) and the school founded by him.Epicurus was one of the most famous Greek philosophers of the Hellenistic period (which traditionally dates from the death of Alexander the Great [323 BCE] to the Battle of Actium [31 BCE]) and its influence on the history of Western . Of utmost importance, however, is one point of divergence: the walls of the Stoics city are those of the world, and its law is that of reason; the limits of the Epicureans city are those of a garden, and the law is that of friendship. In these endeavours, continuous assistance was rendered by Epicurus himself, who, even when old and ill, was occupied in writing letters of admonishment, guidance, and comforteverywhere announcing his gospel of peace and, under the name of pleasure, inviting to love. Tomorrow is the big event on Stoicism for Everyday Life in London, at which Mark Vernon and I will be discussing the relationship between Stoicism and Christianity. We have no control over when this happens and so we should remember that as stoic, accepting things that happen can actually be beneficial to us and those around us. Basically, the complex question fallacy occurs when someone presents a statement or claim and then asks a question that presupposes either all or part of what, Read More What is the complex question fallacy?Continue, Youre interested in learning about the law of attraction and how to boost your manifestation habits. Gain knowledge, be better, etc. Describing Diatheke: Covenant Centrality in the Bible, Pets in the Bible and Their Exegetical Significance, Dr. Carl Sanders: Logos Mobile Education Faculty Profile. Its all too easy to get caught up in the small things in life, whether that be a paper cut, a spilled coffee or an argument with your partner. The image of hell was frightening for a child, who like most, had a vivid imagination. So sorry that you have arrived at such extreme conclusions about Christianity. We are merely running around like a chicken with its head cut off. My theme in this chapter is the presence of . Making perfect the corrupted.I. CAN ONE CHURCH PEW HOLD TWO MORAL UNIVERSES? Your opening statement created strong judgments towards his view. Luckily for scholars, weve built Logos editions of both. Wood values Epicureanisms courage in the face of realities that we cannot change. As we do not think not existing before we were born a terrible thing, so we ought not to think that our non-existence after death is a terrible thing. They both encourage people to pursue wisdom, even though its subjective and oftentimes leaders prey on others ignorance. All of the above is conditional upon Christianity being true, of course, but the arguments for Christianity are arguments for another time and one which I should heartily recommend the unbelieving reader to investigate. As I said before, Christianity is fundamentally about the death and resurrection of Jesus. In the case of Christianity, you have a god that demands perfection, knowing that humans are now incapable of obeying his every whim. It is healthy for anyone to make fun at themselves and their beliefs, be they religious or otherwise. Or, maybe its that youve been trying for a while but arent, Read More The Science of Manifestation: How and why it worksContinue, Relying on one person for happiness is a dangerous game. What is The Difference Between Leadership and Motivation? 3. If people are willing to accept it, Christianity offers quantitatively and qualitatively pleasure and the absence of suffering on a scale beyond the Epicureans imagining.

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