Gate of Wisdom - The Past and Present of Religion and Philosophy

Author: Linda Smith
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2006-12-01
Features: Inside each of us, there is a complex mixture of thoughts about ourselves and the world, coming from here and there. This book takes us on a journey through the spiritual phenomena of different eras, places, and people. The author attempts to show us why these thoughts were conceived and the importance they hold. In this way, you can observe yourself and your thoughts against the backdrop of historical context, as our reflections on things form part of the ongoing history of philosophy from ancient times to the present. This book primarily focuses on the Western context, so we have chosen Christianity and Western philosophy for examination, as these two have influenced and shaped Western society. The book barely touches on Eastern philosophy and non-Christian religions, but even if you are a follower of another religion or have no religious beliefs, reading this book may still be useful to you. If you live in the West and familiarize yourself with these deeply rooted Western ideas, it will help cultivate a Western way of thinking. The scope of this book is not sufficient to cover all the important thoughts of Western philosophy, for example, it does not explore Wittgenstein or Spinoza. This book can serve as both a personal read and a school textbook. Throughout, the relationship between philosophy and Christianity is examined in this book.