i think if you want to be serious about this there are tons of arguments for many things. Lets say mathematics, newtonian physics, relativity, the telescope, the microscope, the computer, the telephone (lets not forget it ushered in the internet), fire, the written word (lets not forget before the printing press discoveries, including the greeks writings had to be written down ) and so on. Not to be an *** but I think its kind of a moot argument...... edit: lets not also forget the discovery of metal, tools, etc....
math and physics is a great one. without those, most of the list never happens. fire has to be #1 IMO. without it, no way we could populate as much of the earth as we do. also, we would all be vegetarians.
In no order: 1. Math 2. Physics 3. Chemistry 4. The written word 5. Fire 6. Meat 7. Farming (animals and plants) 8. Gunpowder 9. Wheel, fulcrum, lever, and pulley 10. Food storage (storing in the ground/dehydration, leading to iceboxes and canning)
I don't have a top ten, but the printing press traditionally tops most of these lists. It revolutionized communication, religion, and politics
4 should be 1 if Maths, Physics and Chemistry are your "most important". You can't really do any of them without 4. You could even go one step further and say ink and/or paint is one of the most important discoveries. Without it, we'd have little to no knowledge/record of human history.
I said in no order. They had animal blood and cave carvings for the written word before ink/paint. Both of which are included in my idea of the written word since you can't have the written word without it.
not to make this something it's not but just to counterpoint; many of the high arts and literature were destroyed and banned as well by the same "organized" religions. and the people you are refering to that started this country were the Puritans escaping persecution from the new founded liberals known as the Protestants. organized religions have done as much to create the darkness as bring to it a light. I'd say that's a push at best.
and many of the great literature was kept alive by monks during the middle ages muslims kept alive some of the greek art, etc.... I'd say its about even.
no one said religions dont do bad things. the point about the puritans is that their faith drove them here and the society that was created, which i think turned out pretty well historically, was based on their puritanical worldview and grew from there i think a broader and more agreeable argument to you may be one of religion or belief in god and not the "organized" part. but we would have to ignore the role of the catholic church in shaping western society, which is impossible to do none of this has anything to do with whether you believe in god or not or belong to a church or not its just history
Toilet paper is killing the environment. Besides, I, and many other countries, get fine with washable poo rags. Downside is that you tend to run out when mexican is on the menu for dinner.
I'm not about to have washable rags for myself, much less for guests that come over. no way in Hell I'm I gonna have those stinky things around for me to handle and put in my washing machine. I'll use charmin thank you!
I can assuredly agree that man's pursuit of obtaining oneness with God/source has been a true driving force behind man's creativity and invention. but to say religion is this or that without the whole picture is kinda meaningless. I would say the individuals behind the drive to further and expand are the ones to be lauded. not the individuals who sought limitation and control and power. and religion, unfortunately has both.
I think that there needs to be an admission that, religion, was invented or it doesn't belong on a list of the greatest inventions/discoveries.
i agree. but like i said, given all that, we still cant ignore the power of the catholic church and its role in shaping our world. the individual people who created great things or the higher thinkers are to be lauded, but they were a part of an organization or were affiliated with it. so its difficult to separate one from the other in many cases, though i do understand your point and its a good one and no, im not catholic lol