Roman culture similar to our own??
I continue to read in Book 2 items 1-5.
Consider these exerpts; I shall meet people who are meddling, ungrateful, aggressive, treacherous, malicious, unsocial. . . I cannot be harmed by any of them, as none will infect me with their wrong. . . beings are made up flesh, breath and the directing mind. . . do not let this directing mind of yours be enslaved any longer - not more jerking to the strings of selfish impulse, no more disquiet at your present or suspicion of your future fate. . . The works of the gods are full of providence. . . so thirst in true grace and heartfelt gratitude to the gods. . . as a Roman and a man, every hour give vigorous attention, to the performance of the task in hand with precise analysis, with unaffected dignity, with human sympathy, with dispassionate justice - and to vacating your mind from all its other thoughts.
Reflect:
These thoughts are very similar to central Christian ideas. Rome was certainly not a Christian haven in the 2nd century. Could it be that God reaches out in certain truths common to humankind. Doesn't the thought of impartial justice, independent strength, gracefulness and gratitude for all around us, having sympathy for humans and precision in work appeal to you? These are Christian believes as well as Marcus Aurelius'.
I have heard it said that the conversion of Rome under Constantine was a little spurious. They report the record that says he saw a flaming sword in the shape of a cross and heard 'you will conquer under this banner' or something like that. Thus people don't want to talk about Constantine too much because of the negative 'conquest' part of the story.
It is not consistent with the God of the Bible to force followers. He wants our heart, not our pretending alliance. That is clear. I have had to place this incongruous thought on the shelf and wait for more information. This is it. It is in the providence of God to draw people to Himself. Is it possible that God used people like Marcus Aurelius and other Roman's to prepare Rome for the switch from gods to God? That tempers the whole flaming cross idea. Maybe the flaming cross goes into the not sure category and the influence idea becomes more certain? Romans were more than half way to Christianity, certainly in the early 2nd century.
This goes to show that we need to be patient with ideas and formation of opinion. Stay open, face questions head on and have the courage to struggle with ideas instead of forcing an early opinion. We are people that like conclusions. Are you willing to reserve the idea to settle on until you get more information. Some things just ring true and don't violate other settled ideas. Maybe they cause us to rethink settled ideas. Maybe our ideas should be in buckets of really sure, pretty sure, somewhat sure, not settled at all, don't care right now etc.
Marcus passively encourages deep thought and action. Would like to have met him.
Thoughts?
Consider these exerpts; I shall meet people who are meddling, ungrateful, aggressive, treacherous, malicious, unsocial. . . I cannot be harmed by any of them, as none will infect me with their wrong. . . beings are made up flesh, breath and the directing mind. . . do not let this directing mind of yours be enslaved any longer - not more jerking to the strings of selfish impulse, no more disquiet at your present or suspicion of your future fate. . . The works of the gods are full of providence. . . so thirst in true grace and heartfelt gratitude to the gods. . . as a Roman and a man, every hour give vigorous attention, to the performance of the task in hand with precise analysis, with unaffected dignity, with human sympathy, with dispassionate justice - and to vacating your mind from all its other thoughts.
Reflect:
These thoughts are very similar to central Christian ideas. Rome was certainly not a Christian haven in the 2nd century. Could it be that God reaches out in certain truths common to humankind. Doesn't the thought of impartial justice, independent strength, gracefulness and gratitude for all around us, having sympathy for humans and precision in work appeal to you? These are Christian believes as well as Marcus Aurelius'.
I have heard it said that the conversion of Rome under Constantine was a little spurious. They report the record that says he saw a flaming sword in the shape of a cross and heard 'you will conquer under this banner' or something like that. Thus people don't want to talk about Constantine too much because of the negative 'conquest' part of the story.
It is not consistent with the God of the Bible to force followers. He wants our heart, not our pretending alliance. That is clear. I have had to place this incongruous thought on the shelf and wait for more information. This is it. It is in the providence of God to draw people to Himself. Is it possible that God used people like Marcus Aurelius and other Roman's to prepare Rome for the switch from gods to God? That tempers the whole flaming cross idea. Maybe the flaming cross goes into the not sure category and the influence idea becomes more certain? Romans were more than half way to Christianity, certainly in the early 2nd century.
This goes to show that we need to be patient with ideas and formation of opinion. Stay open, face questions head on and have the courage to struggle with ideas instead of forcing an early opinion. We are people that like conclusions. Are you willing to reserve the idea to settle on until you get more information. Some things just ring true and don't violate other settled ideas. Maybe they cause us to rethink settled ideas. Maybe our ideas should be in buckets of really sure, pretty sure, somewhat sure, not settled at all, don't care right now etc.
Marcus passively encourages deep thought and action. Would like to have met him.
Thoughts?
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