Dear George,

You wrote: “oriental-like stagnation”

My view is that “oriental-like stagnation” is a product of western historiography rather than reality. Until about 1760 China was probably the most advanced country in the world technologically. Western writing of that time acknowledged it. Two nineteenth century theoreticians had a great influence in the adoption of the view of “oriental-like stagnation”. They were Marx and Weber. Marx saw capitalism as a vital organising force which would be replaced by socialism. He saw China as never having advanced to a capitalist system. Marx was influenced by Hegel who saw history going through a series of stages. His highest stage was embodied in the Prussian state. Marx and Hegel dismissed developments in the East as oriental despotism. Weber saw Protestantism as inspiring the capitalist economy of the West and saw no similar driving force in the East.

My reading has convinced me that both Marx and Weber were compelling propagandists who have succeeded in creating a false view. The present upsurge in the east Asian economies as far as I am concerned is just that area taking back the position that it has held for most of history.

Some books that counter the common western view are:

The Eastern Origins of Western Civilisation by John M. Hobson

Orientalism by Edward W. Said

Science and Civilisation in China (1954–2008) - a series of books initiated and edited by Joseph Needham

The Man Who Loved China by Simon Winchester (It's a bio of Needham & summary at end of book lists devices China developed before west)

george said..<<I once asked a theologian where came the female complement to the “male” God in Judaism, and I was given two examples: Israel is His “daughter”, and the Spirit of God (ruach Jahweh?) is of female gender in Hebrew.>>

its just a few words..but of huge import..but clearly its not even a question..apart from having the right name..so lets go the search.

Showing results/for ruach Yahweh
Search instead.for ruach Jahweh

Hebrew Roots/Trinity/Holy Spirit - Wikibooks,

The divine designation also apparently has
an intensifying function in a few..passages:..ruach elohim (Gen 1:2) and ruach yhwh (Isa 59:19)” (Theologica/Lexicon ...

Isaiah 11:2 NOG - The Ruach Yahweh will rest on him—the Ruach of wisdom and understanding,..the Ruach of advice and power,.the Ruach of knowledge/of Yahweh.

Ruach haKodesh Of YAHWEH in YAHSHUA - Yahweh's Sword

The Ruach haKodesh the comforter of YAHWEH
which will lead and guide in all/truth and is the most important and precious part..of YAHWEH that HE has given ...

Ruach Yahweh..on/the....breath/of..god

Ruach Yahweh..My spirit..wants to dance.
my wings..take flight and soar...I want to/cast myself upon the winds...and glide..the breath of God...Up and up,..in a spiral...

The Ruach HaKodesh: Him Or Her? - YAHWEH & YAHSHUA ...
www.joyintheworld.info/teachings/ruachkodesh.html

Ever wondered..just what Ruach HaKodesh,..the set apart spirit..really is? Because..the Heavenly Father..is depicted throughout Scripture..as masculine,..it is...[the being/by which i am..reveals all being...being..all being][think/like a hologram]

RUACH (Hebrew,meaning spirit)..Who Is The I Am?
whoistheiam.wordpress.com/2011/11/.../ruach-hebrew-meaning-spirit/

Since life begins with breath,.the word Ruach conveys the idea of entry..into..the 'Lord's/Spirit'..(Ruach Yahweh),..and 'the Spirit of God'..(Ruach Elohim)...which enters..in.

"Please explain your understanding of the Holy Spirit" -Yahweh's...
www.yrm.org/holy_spirit_doctrine_qa.htm

The Holy Spirit..in an extension of Yahweh's power
and not..the third person of..THE SON...Note the definition of the word ruach..(Heb.for "spirit"):.."The basic meaning o..[search/will reveal].
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=ruach+Jahweh&

.

Dear George,

.

You wrote:

" ... a respectable professor of mathematics would hardly say about a Cambridge professor of mathematics that his “wide-ranging prestige” was “balanced on a tiny platform of achievement” or about his research that he was tempted to “view it as a somewhat primitive piece”. That is not the language they use to criticise their colleagues".

I guess that is the difference between the solid ground of the exact sciences and the troubled waters of the humanities which is what we are dealing with here.

You wrote (page 19) that there is [only one way of doing mathematics “properly” ]. Whereas, it would seem that there are many ways of doing the humanities “properly” - and "ne'er the ways shall meet".

If we accept for all practical purposes the brief definition of the term “insights” (which you mention) as : “the faculty of seeing into inner character or underlying truth”, we are obviously looking at a can of worms and seeing whatever it is we want to see. There are as many interpretations and as many “truths” as there are observers.

So-called authorities confront each other, each from the height of his elevated podium, declaring that it is he alone who perceives the truth, the "insights" of all others being blackballed as simple brags of mountebanks.

So, all things considered, let us, as Kant suggests, exercise our own power of discernment and decide for ourselves, and as you suggest … "leave it at that".

.

 

OK EVERYONE SEEMS FINE IGNORING EACH OTHER
so STUFF EM JOHAN..its their comfort zone
continue/EDIT/FIRST SEARCH RESULT

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Hebrew_Roots/Trinity/Holy_Spirit

the word..'Ruach'..cannot be construed..as a person...It is a force[PRESSURE..like osmosis//from where there is much..to where THERE IS LESS/..think accretion like gravity/by osmosis]...lack CREATES VACUUM..[MUCH CREATES MASS/Weight/gravity/pressure]

It is invisible..and like wind,..because it can be felt..[think consciousness/logic/COGNITION/logus]...or experienced,..[felt/sensed/heard.EMOTED..recognized..APPRECIATED..EVEN Rejected/feared hated despised..but not seen.

It is the breath/life sustenance[PROCESS/progress..INGRES]...
..even of of God..which disperses olistiCLY/THE HOLY SPIRIT/the holy life-force, His energy's..our[life/LIVING]..collectivLY and His intentions/mind..IS OURS/COLLECTIVLY..WE=ME*.

It is Wholly/WHOLE totality..of living/Spirit..which is is omnipresent,..Going from/cumming to..do what living spirit CAN DO..but also can be directed in specific ways for specific purposes...by the recievers of hIS living gift.

It is not..His actual Person/NOR PERSONA..NOR OF HIS WILL/NOr his reason..WHICH SUSTAINS EACH LIVING AWARENESS..ITS AWARENESS Of being..(which remains incorporeal..and outside of..the physical dimension)..as reflected/BY THE LIFE Livings/lived WITNESS..

WE EACH ARE SEEING/HEARING/LIVING REVEALING..Concealing...CONGEALING..being..SUSTAINING awareness/presence/vacuum..[UNSEEN]..INTO BEING..[SEEN]

that..living animus..MOST HOLY..manifests itself..in the world,
or..RATHER..which comes to dwell..LITERALLY..in the hearts..and lives of His people...[AND WHICH LIVING..IS NOT SUSTAINED..by him...who is not his..be iT..beast/flora/fauna/or humane]

His spirit..can be said..to be the emanation..of THis life-force - i.e. breath..The word for “spirit”..(rucha, ruach).in Aramaic and Hebrew,..is feminine whereas..in Greek (pneuma),.it is neuter in gender.

In some occasions in the Greek text, masculine verb endings and pronouns are used with the neuter gender word “Spirit" when speaking about the holy Spirit, and sometimes it is without the definite article - i.e. just “holy Spirit”.

selected extracts

Being often addressed as “it" and “the", also confirms that it is not another “Person" in a trinity of ‘gods’. The term, “holy Spirit" is a descriptive title and not a name.

It is a description given for a specific manifestation of the Father’s Spirit Being. The absence of a personal name indicates that the holy Spirit is not a Person in and of itself, nor is it ever addressed as a third “Person”.

Very significant also that the Holy Spirit is never worshipped. “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sits upon the throne,[heart]..and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:13

Neither is there any evidence in the scriptures that..There is no instance either of anyone praying to or fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit or ‘ruach’ by itself, is the breath of Yahweh which carries His life-force, but not necessarily the Presence of His Person.

When the term “holy Spirit” is used,..it denotes the special emanation of the Spirit of/life.. which originates from His throne..[THE HEART..YOUR HE-Art/MIND..in your body]..into our physical world to convey..His personal Pres*ence..and power.

The holy Spirit..is not a separate being, but an emanation,..a LIFE/force/power..that proceeds from..source..to.need(goes out..from, or exits..AS)..the Father/THE Sun,or as u..and is poured out..upon His people..[all livING..(Isaiah 32:15,..44:3;.Acts 2:17).

“But when the Helper..comes,..whom..I/shall send to you..from the Father,..the Spirit of truth..who proceeds ..He will testify of Me. John 15:26

“the Spirit..of God..dwells in you”
1 Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:9

The holy Spirit.is the presence of the Father
which was also in the SUn;..(John 14:19-23; John 17:21,23; 1 John 1:3).

“Now there..are diversities..of gifts,[LIVING]
but..the same..[holy]..Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 12:4.

“For..by one Spirit..are we..*all baptized
into..one body,..[FOR WE ARE/ALL..OF THE ONE/MOST HOLY..life spirituous]..whether we..*be..Jews[AB'ORIGONAL]..or Gentiles..[Peace Nick's]..,.whether we be bond...[serve]..or free;..and have been all..made to drink..[MANY]../into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13.

BANJO/GIVES..ME THE STRENGTH..TO TRY AGAin
<<>..There are as many interpretations..and
as many.“truths”..as there are observers.>>

see we are each/even GOD JESUS/YOU Me..like sense organs..of the holy spirit seeking to know of himself..and all he can be[like any parent/LIVING THROUGH HIS KIDS.]..EXCEPT THE SUM Total of everything is he = we..SIMPLE BEING ALL THE MOST HOLY CAN BE

once we call our selves our true name..ie
me,,i am..part OF ALL SEEING hearing feeling being..ALL THAT I AM..iS..SIMPLY aLL..SEEING..THE Being...Sustaining of all we are being..BY SIMPLY BEING ME..sensory/SENSUAL..EVEN Nonsensical being

Stop/freewheeling..don't wast ya last..poST/..SEArCH-FIND*

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=ruach+Jahweh&

AT/THE BEGINNING..verse 2: ..“Now the earth..was formless and empty,>>

DONT/READ ON TILL YOU SEE THAT..IN YOUR MIND]

EARth/formless?=THE MINDS SEEINg..see god seeing form forming..in his mind..BUT wait..its still formless..[AND EMPTY]...<<.darkness was over the surface of the deep..and the holy/livING-Spirit of God was hovering..over the waters.”..OF the formless/empty/darkness...

to quote/from..whoisiam/

<<>>The images..in my mind were thick..and rich>>

nOTE THE WORDS/Solidifying..yet/again..taking form/firmING AFFIRMING..IN MIND/taking shape/forming

BEING..The seeing/feeling..of the formless/empty darkness

<<>.:..a formless mass..of deep,..dark water[with shades of midnight blue and charcoal gray.]Solidifying...FORMING/INFORMING..I AMS very being taking FORM

Hovering above this..“surface of the deep”
was a mist…but.one that was palpable/emanating [by osmosis]..FROM infinate plenty..[think like..life comming from the tap]....from here to THERE...and liKE ITS SOURCE..very much alive.

I could not move on..in the reading,..nor could I get..the image out of my mind. ..[DITTO..I-AM...'IN-the-beginning']...And so I just focused on it,..let it wash over me.

Who is this..Spirit of..Provisioning..this sun..as a 'living'..God?
Who is Ruach?..He is One..living EMBODIMENT..OF ALL..who existed before/the universe existed.

This..whoy/Spirit hovered over the surface..of the deep..when the world as we know it...was merely a formless void.[VISUALIZE..AN EMPTY BALLOON..THE SIZe of a full-stop..[.]..[sO SCIENCE SAys]..as long as he lookS/on...THE OSMOSIS GOES ON...life force..flows onto us/all..suns sons..institutions/EVOLUTIONS/light logic life love.

<<>.I do not imagine..the hovering as something that produces dread. The presence that I sensed was not one that produced fear. Respect, oh yes! Awe, certainly. And an overwhelming understanding that this God – Ruach- is infinitely bigger than anything I could comprehend or capture with my finite human intellect.