Do not engage in formalism

Braeden 2022-10-05 08:56:49

"Agora" is the most worth watching film in the first half of the year, and it is based on the history of the Greek philosopher Hypatia's murder by Christians. Don't think that Burning Books, Trapping Confucianism and Boxer Rebellion are unique to China. This film tells everyone that the West has also developed in this way. As the saying goes, put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot. Christianity can also talk about benevolence. There is nothing impossible in this world.

Under this premise, keeping a low profile is the right way. A true atheist should not mind being baptized in the face of life and death. Hypatia discovered the ellipse of the heliocentric orbit and said, if she could publish a book, how helpful would it be to world civilization? Don't engage in formalism. A person's neck-to-neck is not meaningful to mankind, but the clarification of facts has a great impact on mankind.

PS. The Christian symbol in the movie is not a cross, but a ☧ (X and P overlap). This symbol is called Labarum, which is composed of the first two letters of the Greek word for Jesus (ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ).

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Extended Reading

Agora quotes

  • Heladius Dignitary: The majority of us here... have accepted Christ. Why not the rest of you? It's only a matter of time and you know it.

    Hypatia: Really? It is just a matter of time?... As far as I am aware, your God has not yet proved himself to be more just or more merciful than his predecessors. Is it really just a matter of time before I accept your faith?

    Heladius Dignitary: Why should this assembly accept the council of someone who admittedly believes in absolutely nothing?

    Hypatia: I believe in philosophy.

  • Hypatia: Ever since Plato, all of them - Aristarchus, Hipparchus, Ptolemy - they have all, all, all tried to reconcile their observations with circular orbits. But what if another shape is hiding in the heavens?

    Davus: Another shape? Lady, there is no shape more pure than the circle; you taught us that.

    Hypatia: I know, I know, but suppose - just suppose! - the purity of the circle has blinded us from seeing anything beyond it! I must begin all over with new eyes. I must rethink everything!... What if we dared to look at the world just as it is. Let us shed for a moment every preconceived idea - what shape would it show us?