Where we came from; why we’re here

Bookworm on Apr 23 2006 at 10:32 am | Filed under: Uncategorized

Fascinating. This is one bookI'll be looking for.

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4 Responses to “Where we came from; why we’re here”

on 23 Apr 2006 at 10:44 am 1

Ymarsakar

The opening music to Civilization IV would probably be good background music while reading that book.

on 23 Apr 2006 at 11:04 am 2

Patrick O'Hannigan

That does look good. Thank you for the pointer!

on 23 Apr 2006 at 2:47 pm 3

James Fletcher Baxter

Consider:
The missing element in every human ‘solution’ is
an accurate definition of the creature.

The way we define ‘human’ determines our view
of self, others, relationships, institutions, life, and
future. Important? Only the Creator who made us
in His own image is qualified to define us accurately.
Choose wisely…there are results.

Many problems in human experience are the result of
false and inaccurate definitions of humankind premised
in man-made religions and humanistic philosophies.

Each individual human being possesses a unique, highly
developed, and sensitive perception of diversity. Thus
aware, man is endowed with a natural capability for enact-
ing internal mental and external physical selectivity.
Quantitative and qualitative choice-making thus lends
itself as the superior basis of an active intelligence.

Human is earth’s Choicemaker. His title describes
his definitive and typifying characteristic. Recall
that his other features are but vehicles of experi-
ence intent on the development of perceptive
awareness and the following acts of decision and
choice. Note that the products of man cannot define
him for they are the fruit of the discerning choice-
making process and include the cognition of self,
the utility of experience, the development of value-
measuring systems and language, and the accultur-
ation of civilization.

The arts and the sciences of man, as with his habits,
customs, and traditions, are the creative harvest of
his perceptive and selective powers. Creativity, the
creative process, is a choice-making process. His
articles, constructs, and commodities, however
marvelous to behold, deserve neither awe nor idol-
atry, for man, not his contrivance, is earth’s own
highest expression of the creative process.

Human is earth’s Choicemaker. The sublime and
significant act of choosing is, itself, the Archimedean
fulcrum upon which man levers and redirects the
forces of cause and effect to an elected level of qual-
ity and diversity. Further, it orients him toward a
natural environmental opportunity, freedom, and
bestows earth’s title, The Choicemaker, on his
singular and plural brow.

Human is earth’s Choicemaker. Psalm 25:12 He is by
nature and nature’s God a creature of Choice – and of
Criteria. Psalm 119:30,173 His unique and definitive
characteristic is, and of Right ought to be, the natural
foundation of his environments, institutions, and re-
spectful relations to his fellow-man. Thus, he is orien-
ted to a Freedom whose roots are in the Order of the
universe.

Let us proclaim it. Behold!
The Season of Generation-Choicemaker Joel 3:14 KJV

– from The HUMAN PARADIGM

on 24 Apr 2006 at 5:43 pm 4

Earl

This is fascinating stuff — just before we left California, my son and I attended a Cal Academy of Science lecture by the guy who uses the Y chromosome to track human movements out of Africa (and they went to Australia AWFULLY fast!).

I get a little queasy reading this quote, however:

“Wade covers the genetic evidence bearing on Neanderthals, race, language, social behaviors such as male-female pair bonding, and cultural practices such as religion.”

Before anyone buys into the genetic determination of behavior, however, you need to read another book: What It Means to Be 98% Chimp
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520240642/qid=1145928965/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-7449769-2959963?s=books&v=glance&n=283155)
Not only will you learn a tremendous amount (I’ve taught Biology for almost 30 years but this is the first guy to write a rationale that convinces me there is no biological basis for “race”), but it’s a thumping good read. The author is VERY entertaining, and his arguments are compelling.

The amount of harm that has come from the pseudo-scientific blatherings of those (including many otherwise eminent scientists) who allege a genetic basis for cultural prejudices and stereotypes is pretty appalling. Do yourself (and society) a big favor and read Marks’ book.

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