(no subject)

[gothwalk]

Here's an interesting blog entry. Quoting one part: "The invention of the phonetic alphabet changed us from a primarily oral culture to a primarily literate culture (starting in ancient Greek times, and accelerated by Gutenberg). The effect of this transition was, among other things, to create private, silent reading (via books), hence private ideas and therefore personal identity and individuality." (The blogger in question doesn't state this, btw, it's a po statement from a class.)

That seems to imply that personal identity and individuality didn't exist before that. While one part of my mind is calling that nonsense, I'm wary of applying modern ideas to history - we have enough trouble these days thinking in a feudal model, let alone older forms. What do people - particularly the history buffs out there - think of the idea?

Comments

[sciamachy.livejournal.com]

Ah, but it could be said that the Jewish religion (and indeed all others) was invented as a way to politically unite a number of disparate tribes with different identities themselves, faced with a technologically superior civilisation (the Philistines). Together, the tribes were stronger & continued to survive in a climate where it was considered normal to wipe out one's enemies to the last man, woman or child (See the Hebrews vs the people of Ai for example). It could be said that without the threat of an angry God making life impossible for them, and the potential rewards of a happy God making their lives easier, they would have reverted to a more common tribal structure.

[iresprite.livejournal.com]

*grins* Many things could easily be said, but we'll never know the full extent of their veracity.

In any case, I don't tend to think religion comes out of politics. I think politics naturally emerges from any group dynamic, and religion is an incubator for that. Religion is the bus stop. Politics is scrambling to get inline so you get on the bus first. Faith is knowing there will always be an open seat for you.