Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Clivedurdle · 09-25-2008, 07:38 AM

Fascinating discussion on Radio 4 In Our Time.

(Was Hume a deist?)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/

Quote:

The parting of the Red Sea, the feeding of the five thousand, the turning of water into wine - miracles. Miracles? Yet Miracles have been part of human culture for thousands of years. From beliefs about the shin bone of a saint to ideas about the nature of creation and the laws of nature, miracles have been a measure of disputes within religion and between religion and rationality from St Augustine in the 4th century to David Hume in the 18th. They have also been used by the corrupt and the powerful to gain their perverse ends. Miracles have been derided and proved to be fraudulent and yet, for many, the miraculous maintain a grip on our imagination, our language and our belief to this day.

Contributors

Martin Palmer, Director of the International Consultancy on Religion, Education and Culture

Janet Soskice, Reader in Philosophical Theology at Cambridge University

Justin Champion, Professor of the History of Early Modern Ideas at Royal Holloway, University of London

Clivedurdle · 09-25-2008, 02:13 PM

The programme discusses St Catherine - (Catherine Wheels) and notes the main catholic book of saints notes she may not have existed.

Martin Palmer said there is an Irish concept of prayer saint - who were invented because they were needed.....

Clivedurdle · 09-25-2008, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Historians such as Harold Thayler Davis believe that Catherine ('the pure one') may not have existed and that she was more an ideal exemplary figure than a historical one.[4] She did certainly form an exemplary counterpart to the pagan philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria in the medieval mindset; and it has been suggested that she was invented specifically for that purpose. Like Hypatia, she is said to have been highly learned (in philosophy and theology), very beautiful, sexually pure, and to have been brutally murdered for publicly stating her beliefs. Catherine is placed 105 years before Hypatia's death, although the first records mentioning her are much later.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Alexandria

Now what did Boris Johnson say about Augustus and Jesus?

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09-25-2008, 02:13 PM	#2
Clivedurdle Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: London UK Posts: 16,024	The programme discusses St Catherine - (Catherine Wheels) and notes the main catholic book of saints notes she may not have existed. Martin Palmer said there is an Irish concept of prayer saint - who were invented because they were needed.....

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