Are we human the most civilizely uncivilized lot?

This has been a major concern for me. The education that I value is the one I had to seek out for myself, the one that can be found, but only between the lines of what passes for education today. The following is taken from an article describing the problem. I hope it helps.

"Intimately associated with the hierarchical view of traditional cosmology is the notion that Nature is a theophany, an emanation of the divine, the best possible image of divine reality within the confines of time and space. With the so-called Enlightenment, however, a linear, reductionistic, and materialistic view of the universe arose. For most people, this eclipsed the perennial vision of a multidimensional, hierarchical cosmos, in which the various levels of being are linked together by universal harmony and sympathy. All of a sudden, we were left stranded in Flatland. And within the new, two-dimensional cosmos, Nature came to be seen not as an already perfect theophany, but as a “natural resource,” ready to be developed by human technology. Traditional cosmology had always approached the transformation of nature through art and consciousness in an alchemical sense, which implied a corresponding transformation of both individual and culture; the new approach, on the other hand, was dictated by exploitative, commercial motives.

The Enlightenment can be seen as a backlash against centuries of Christian repression of free intellectual inquiry. The Christian Church appropriated the hierarchical universe of traditional cosmology, but it did so with a political agenda, proclaiming itself the sole custodian of universal truth. Under the Church’s auspices, the path of philosophical inquiry was replaced with theological dogmatism, and politically enforced belief triumphed over reason and knowledge.

The modern era began when European intellectuals rebelled and demolished the dogmatic stranglehold of “theological certainty,” but one evil was replaced with another. Fueled by centuries of pent-up potential, science and technology broke loose from ecclesiastical constraint. But because the view of a multidimensional cosmos was lost, there was little left to guide the hand of science and technology, which became subservient to the interests of business and commerce and established itself as a new, materialistic faith.

This two-dimensional philosophy of materialism had little use for the vertical dimension of value and meaning, and limited its sights to the Promethean manipulation of the natural world through technology. Thus the guiding principles of science and commerce came to be dictated by entirely “pragmatic” concerns: empiricism on the one hand and “improving the bottom line” on the other, a financial dictum that gave rise to the modern economic ethos of “unlimited growth.”

Only against this historical backdrop is it possible to diagnose the ills of the modern educational system, which we can now see as synonymous with those of the modern world itself. The fact that education is in trouble should not surprise us, for if true education is rooted in the old hierarchical view of reality, it simply cannot flourish—or perhaps even survive—in the current cosmological climate. Our culture, while often proclaiming high ideals, is essentially indifferent to beauty, art, education, and the spiritual dimensions of life. For example, politicians claim that we need to “raise the level of education so that we can remain globally competitive in a world economy,” but what they are really saying has nothing to do with true education, or the expansion of awareness, and everything to do with expanding economic interests. If we lived in a world that really did value education, the world itself would look and feel like a different place than it does today.

Excerpts From: Stranded In Flatland—A Critique of Education in Modern America Concluded [By David Fideler, Gnosis Magazine/Summer 1994]

I think this is a very good and deep question.

Actually was listening to a lecture recently and the scholar was saying if you ask someone who is the most civilized they'd say, America!

Why? Because they have so many computers and high technology.

Then he goes on and says actually if you look closely its mostly Indians and Pakistanis and such people behind it making it work and providing it.

Then he states, then what makes people civilized? the answer, Morals. Values. Character.

Of course like you've said education plays some role it it, but still you could have the most highly educated people, but if they don't have any good character, they're gonna go on and corrupt and ruin themselves basically.

So education, has a somewhat lower role in this idea of being 'civilized.' And if you look, our school systems have no character classes. They all teach math, science, history, english, and other electives; some schools (like the ones i attended) had something called character counts. (the teachers would keep an eye out for student who've displayed 'good character' such as kindness, trustworthiness, respect, etc and give them a character counts buck. Anyway how many of the students actually cared about this is another story :p... But like i said education plays a lower role.

Families are supposed to encourage good behaivor. Right? Well how when you've got drunken parents beating their kids. MANY examples of how society itself has lost character and morals and education wont help them improve much.

Unless you wanna say, that if they were educated, they'd know better than to drink.? But again this is all kinda one big cycle, isn't it?

In some ways yes.

What, then, is the basic flaw of this world’s wisdom, including its plans for a new world order?

It is that the world ignores what can never successfully be ignored—the supreme sovereignty of Jehovah God.

It arrogantly refuses to recognize divine sovereignty. The world purposely leaves Jehovah out of all its calculations and relies upon its own ability and schemes. (Compare Daniel 4:31-34; John 18:37.)

The Bible makes it clear that “the fear of Jehovah is the start of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9:10; Psalm 111:10) Yet, the world has not even learned this basic requirement of wisdom. Without divine backing, therefore, how can it succeed?—Psalm 127:1.

Yes, true to some extent. Our education is only culturing only the Head, Heart and Hand is untouched. That is why, there is intellectual monsters but pygmy as human beings, heartless and indifferent to fellow beings. A person with a PhD in Jurisprudence and another with MD in Paediatrics are the close associate of terrorist that committed worst and heinous attack on sept 11. What use in education? Civilized being is the one whose has grown to his full stature intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and in conduct and puts his assets in the service of fellow beings.

Great Question my dear Xavier L

it is what CHURCHILL had to assert approximately Islam: "How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries!" - commencing up of a quote from Winston Churchill... "How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! besides the fanatical frenzy, that's as risky in a guy as hydrophobia in a dogs, there is that this frightened fatalistic apathy. the outcomes are obvious in lots of international locations. Improvident conduct, slovenly structures of agriculture, sluggish strategies of commerce, and lack of self belief of property exist everywhere the followers of the Prophet rule or stay. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the subsequent of its dignity and sanctity. the reality that for the period of Mohammedan regulation each woman would desire to belong to 3 guy as his absolute property, the two as a toddler, a spouse, or a concubine, would desire to postpone the best extinction of slavery till the religion of Islam has ceased to be an excellent capacity between adult males. man or woman Moslems would coach appropriate traits - however the impact of the religion paralyses the social progression of people who shop on with it. No better retrograde tension exists in the international. far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already unfold in the time of helpful Africa, elevating fearless warriors at each step; and have been it no longer that Christianity is sheltered in the reliable palms of technology, the technology against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern-day Europe would fall, as fell the civilisation of historical Rome." -Sir Winston Churchill (The River conflict, first version, Vol. II, pages 248-50 (London: Longmans, green & Co., 1899).

as we are in R & S i take it that you mean as fr as this subject is concerned? i believe yes! majority of schools only teach Christianity and many state still only with RI lessons! our society is made up of so many diff cultures, ideals, spiritualities and religions many/most of which are ignoredd! example: a child is in RI - the teacher mentions that Jesus had the most beautiful aura. child comments on teachers aura thinking she has just complimented her teacher? teacher says thats nonsense no one but Jesus has an aura. child walks away from RI clss never to return. thus, misses out on valuable history lessons and knowledge of the principles our society is based on.

all othr 'types' are not discussed except as pieces in SOCE and only very briefly if they are lucky. yes, parents shold take more respjonsivilitiy but where is the encouragement and how will our children know their choices? some will try out in Uni but what of the rest? Left Flailing! yes humans are uncivil (ised) and extremely ignorant and our education systems are failing us dismally..