Age of Enlightenment

Enlightenment means "improvement due to a new way of thinking . Scientific knowledge and skills has brought drastic changes to our daily life since the 18th century.

Every informed person is aware of the amazing accomplishments of scientists in many fields, and it is right to respect the scientific skills that have added greatly to our knowledge. But did it make our world a better place to live?

Enlightenment was suppose to make a better world, but it has brought more questions and enslavement to corruption.

Today people communicate lesser than before. Everyone one is more and more connected to their so-called intelligent -phone, that has made mankind more and more unaware of their environment.

We are more aware of events worldwide than how our neighbours are doing.

Here is what the Bible has to say in 2 Timothy 3: 1-5 People will become lovers of themselves, lovers of money, unthankful, having no natural affection, without self-control and so forth... Many have come to the conclusion and wonder if life is worth living.

People have to understand that knowledge without wisdom can only fail. Psalms 37: 5 ,6 in the Old Testament reads. " Commit your way to Jehovah God; rely on him, and he will act in your behalf. he will make your righteousness shine like daybreak, And your justice like midday sun.

The Bible which is a letter from our great Creator, has our best interest. Isaish 48: 17,18 reads. " I, Jehovah, am your God, The One teaching you to benefit yourself, The One guiding you in the way you should walk. If only you would pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river And your righteousness like the waves of the sea. "

Micah 6: 8 reads: "He has told you, O man, what is good. And what is Jehovah requiring of you? Only to exercise justice, to cherish loyalty, And to walk in modesty with your God. Which means with practical wisdom that implies respecting him in a wholesome way.

So to answer your question, enlightenment without wisdom that comes from higher intellegence can only fail. We are affected by our, not using our knowledge with wisdom.

Have you ever wondered, why is there so much war if everyone wants peace? Here is what you can read in 2 Peter 3: 13 in the New Testament. " But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise( God's promise ) and in these righteousness is to dwell.

Psalms 37: 29 reads. " The righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it, which has always been God's purpose, when he created mankind. Confirmed in the first Book of the Bible in Genesis 2: 17, where God gave the choice of life or death to Adam. The rest is history written in Genesis chapter 3 and Romans 5: 12.

Enlightenment according to Oxford dictionary: ' Period in the 18th century in Europe when some thinkers and writers believed that reason and science , would advance human progress.

Here is what the Bible has to teache. Psalms 37: 5,6 "Commit your way to Jehovah God; rely on him, and he will act in your behalf.

He will make your righteousness shine like daybreak, And your justice like the mid-day sun".

FACTS:

Scientific study has dramatically increased our knowledge of the universe and of the earth and of living things. Studies of the human body have opened up improved ways of treating illness and injuries. Rapid advances in electronics have ushered in the computer age. So it is only right to respect the skills that have added so greatly to our knowledge of the world around us, from minutely small things to infinitely large ones.

But has it advanced human progress? Is our world a better place to live?

The Book of Jeremiah 10: 23 has this to say. " It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his way".

So was it wise of humans to set aside God's wisdom?

Here is what you can read in the Book of Isaiah 48: 17,18 in the Old Testament. " This is what Jehovah God says, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: " I, Jehovah, am your God, The One teaching you to benefit yourself, The One guiding you in the way you should walk.

If only you would pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

Jehovah God promises that our righteousness can be ' like the waves of the sea.' Waves roll in endlessly, one after the other for thousands of years, and they will surely keep on that way.

So what Jehovah God is telling us is: To first consider what Jehovah would want us to do.

Mankind, right from the beginning has chosen to do things their way. Genesis Chapter 3 and Romans 5: 12 is mankind's history, which shows why life on earth went from bad, to the worst.

Human life is unique. As humans, we possess characteristics that enable us to enjoy life to the full--and in ways that no other species can. We fully appreciate tastes, smells, sounds, colours, and sights. We plan for the future and search for the meaning of life.

Isaiah 45: 18 reminds us that God did not create our beautiful planet Earth for nothing, but formed it to be inhabited.

Psalms 37: 29 reads: " The righteous will possess the earth, and they will forever on it.,

Titus 1: 2 reminds us that Jehovah is a God that cannot lie. And our hope of everlasting life is based on his promise long ago.

So it is high time that the human race come to the conclusion written in Jeremiah 10: 23 that we need someone more intelligent that any human is, who has the wisdom that we do not possess. Human were not created to rule themselves. They do a poor job of governing other people and solving their problems.

I suggest you read Psalm 119: 165; Isaiah 32: 18; Isaiah 66: 12

The influence of the Enlightenment in America was evident through the proliferation of Enlightenment ideas in literature, philosophy, and politics. Key figures like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson championed rational thought, scientific inquiry, and individual rights, which were reflected in documents such as the Declaration of Independence. Additionally, the establishment of institutions like public libraries and universities promoted education and critical thinking, further embedding Enlightenment principles in American society. The rise of the First Great Awakening also showcased a shift towards personal interpretation of faith, aligning with Enlightenment ideals of individualism and reason.

The chart on page 198 highlights several major Enlightenment views that significantly influenced America, including the ideas of individual rights, rationalism, and the social contract. These principles inspired the Founding Fathers to advocate for liberty and equality, leading to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The emphasis on reason and scientific inquiry also encouraged democratic governance and the questioning of traditional authority, fostering a culture of intellectualism and innovation in America.

The Enlightenment significantly influenced democracy by promoting ideas of individual rights, reason, and the social contract. Philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued for the inherent rights of individuals and the idea that government should derive its authority from the consent of the governed. These concepts laid the groundwork for modern democratic principles, encouraging movements for political reform and the establishment of representative governments. Ultimately, the Enlightenment fostered a belief in equality and justice, which became central tenets of democratic societies.

I have my own concept on enlightenment. Enlightenment is a state of mind created by the people's own spirits when they regularly indulge in pious activities. There are exceptional cases. Some spirits choose certain people who have seen all ups and downs in their lives. Some people might have been bad people or lived indecent lives. Whatever they had been, they might have had a good philosophical conscience which never had been active in the beginning.

Human beings are ruled by spirits but humans must learn to control and rule the spirits. Spirits possess people according to the mental state of the human beings and keep them in the same state until they are rejected and replaced by another. This is an all time phenomena occurring in all humans. Human beings are always under the influence of spirits. Certain situations and circumstances cause the possession of certain type of spirits. Often thinking and talking about bad subjects or bad imaginations even for fun can take serious turns on one who think and talk. Often thinking and talking about good subjects with good imaginations can create positive effects in your life. Your favorable thoughts and beliefs can bring favorable spirits by your side. The more you think the more would be the possession of that spirit. All spirits (good and bad) have the possessing and dominating nature. Only because of this nature a drunkard dies as a drunkard and a scholar reaches a top position by studying more and more. They can take you to the extent of sacrifice or suicide.

All of your activities, talks and even thoughts determine what kind of spirits you will have for your life. Only these spirits are the reason for the good and bad happening in your life. These spirits determine your destiny from your daily activities, talks and thoughts too. Spirits are separate elements. A human being doesn't have a spiritual body. A human being during his/her life time is living with many spirits which have joined one by one since birth. They are knowledge, skills, feelings, emotions, interests and everything. Further there will be always some spirits on behalf of your parents, friends, relatives and other people. These spirits are your consciousnesses and memories. Even thoughts are not your own. For example, when you want to take a decision on a subject, one after another the spirits think and you just listen, choose or reject the ideas which they transmit to your mind through your brain in the form of thoughts. Brain is a device used by your spirits to control your body. A mind is a combination/formation of many spirits which have joined one by one since birth. A mind is just a computer's mind. After the destruction of a computer completely you will not get its mind. The same is the case with the human beings. Soul is nothing but an energy needed for the functionality of a body. It is not a spirit or anything else. A body's functionality is based on the auto mechanism. After death all spirits which accompanied a person quit and go to different places searching new bodies. No one lives after death in any form and there is no afterlife. All human beings are just robots made of flesh and bones and toys of the spirits for their games.

You must not leave your mind in its own way. If you do, the spirit will take full control of your mind, then controlling it is not so easy. First of all you must think and believe that it's not you. Then you must command that spirit both mentally and orally to go. Whenever you are possessed by that thought you must divert your mind at once towards some other subject and stay in it for a while and then continue your duty. This is a mental exercise. You may also bring at once an opposite feeling through your imagination. For example if the depression is about your future then you may think, imagine and believe that you are going to live a healthy, wealthy and happy life in future. You must continue this exercise for few days. While doing this exercise you are creating an opposing spirit, i.e., a positive force. Soon this new spirit gets stronger and eliminates the negative force. Within a few days you will be alright.

The Enlightenment significantly influenced the U.S. government by promoting principles such as individual rights, liberty, and the social contract, which were foundational to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Thinkers like John Locke emphasized the idea of government as a protector of natural rights, shaping the belief that authority derives from the consent of the governed. Additionally, Enlightenment ideals encouraged the separation of powers, as advocated by Montesquieu, leading to the establishment of a system of checks and balances within the U.S. government. These concepts fostered a commitment to democracy and justice that remains central to American political philosophy.

The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment were both pivotal periods that emphasized reason, observation, and empirical evidence over tradition and religious dogma. Both movements challenged established authorities and encouraged critical thinking about the natural world and human society. Additionally, they fostered a spirit of inquiry that led to significant advancements in knowledge, influencing philosophy, politics, and science alike. Ultimately, both sought to improve the human condition through rational thought and discovery.

The spread of Enlightenment ideas in the American colonies emphasized reason, individual rights, and the social contract, challenging traditional authority and promoting the notion that governments should be based on the consent of the governed. Intellectual leaders like John Locke inspired colonists to question British rule, particularly regarding taxation and representation. These ideas fueled a growing desire for self-governance and liberty, ultimately mobilizing colonists to resist British oppression and seek independence, paving the way for the American Revolution.

An interest in new area of study

Enlightenment is state of mind created by the people's own spirits when they regularly indulge in pious activities. These people are not powerful like sages. People to people the cult practices vary.

Sages dedicate themselves for the service of God. Most of them sit in penance whispering God's name in a remote solitary woods. They keep their bodies and minds clean. Often they do prayers. They are considered as powerful people and closer to God. People should not get their curses.

Human beings are ruled by spirits but humans must learn to control and rule the spirits. Spirits possess people according to the mental state of the human beings and keep them in the same state until they are rejected and replaced by another. This is an all time phenomena occurring in all humans. Human beings are always under the influence of spirits. Certain situations and circumstances cause the possession of certain type of spirits. Often thinking and talking about bad subjects or bad imaginations even for fun can take serious turns on one who think and talk. Often thinking and talking about good subjects with good imaginations can create positive effects in your life. Your favorable thoughts and beliefs can bring favorable spirits by your side. The more you think the more would be the possession of that spirit. All spirits (good and bad) have the possessing and dominating nature. Only because of this nature a drunkard dies as a drunkard and a scholar reaches a top position by studying more and more. They can take you to the extent of sacrifice or suicide.

All of your activities, talks and even thoughts determine what kind of spirits you will have for your life. Only these spirits are the reason for the good and bad happening in your life. These spirits determine your destiny from your daily activities, talks and thoughts too. Spirits are separate elements. A human being doesn't have a spiritual body. A human being during his/her life time is living with many spirits which have joined one by one since birth. They are knowledge, skills, feelings, emotions, interests and everything. Further there will be always some spirits on behalf of your parents, friends, relatives and other people. These spirits are your consciousnesses and memories. Even thoughts are not your own. For example, when you want to take a decision on a subject, one after another the spirits think and you just listen, choose or reject the ideas which they transmit to your mind through your brain in the form of thoughts. Brain is a device used by your spirits to control your body. A mind is a combination/formation of many spirits which have joined one by one since birth. A mind is just a computer's mind. After the destruction of a computer completely you will not get its mind. The same is the case with the human beings. Soul is nothing but an energy needed for the functionality of a body. It is not a spirit or anything else. A body's functionality is based on the auto mechanism. After death all spirits which accompanied a person quit and go to different places searching new bodies. No one lives after death in any form and there is no afterlife. All human beings are just robots made of flesh and bones and toys of the spirits for their games.

You must not leave your mind in its own way. If you do, the spirit will take full control of your mind, then controlling it is not so easy. First of all you must think and believe that it's not you. Then you must command that spirit both mentally and orally to go. Whenever you are possessed by that thought you must divert your mind at once towards some other subject and stay in it for a while and then continue your duty. This is a mental exercise. You may also bring at once an opposite feeling through your imagination. For example if the depression is about your future then you may think, imagine and believe that you are going to live a healthy, wealthy and happy life in future. You must continue this exercise for few days. While doing this exercise you are creating an opposing spirit, i.e., a positive force. Soon this new spirit gets stronger and eliminates the negative force. Within a few days you will be alright.

The Scientific Revolution laid the groundwork for the Enlightenment by promoting a new approach to knowledge based on reason, observation, and empirical evidence. Thinkers like Galileo and Newton challenged traditional beliefs and emphasized rational inquiry, which inspired Enlightenment philosophers to advocate for individual rights, liberty, and skepticism of authority. This shift towards rationalism and scientific thinking encouraged a reevaluation of society, politics, and religion, ultimately fostering ideas that shaped modern democratic thought.

A place where important cultural ideas begin and spread is known as a "cultural hearth." These areas are often characterized by the development of innovative practices, beliefs, and technologies that influence surrounding regions. Cultural hearths serve as focal points for the diffusion of ideas, customs, and social practices, significantly shaping the cultural landscape of societies.

The Declaration of Independence, adopted in 1776, is the American document that first prominently represented Enlightenment ideals. It reflects concepts such as individual rights, the social contract, and the belief in government’s responsibility to protect those rights, drawing heavily from Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke. The assertion that "all men are created equal" exemplifies the influence of Enlightenment philosophy on the foundational principles of the United States.

Enlightenment ideals significantly influenced the creation of the American Constitution by promoting principles such as individual rights, the separation of powers, and the social contract. Thinkers like John Locke emphasized natural rights, which inspired the inclusion of protections for individual liberties in the Bill of Rights. Additionally, Montesquieu's concept of separating government powers into distinct branches shaped the Constitution’s framework, ensuring checks and balances to prevent tyranny. These Enlightenment concepts fostered a democratic governance structure that prioritized reason and justice.

The U.S. Constitution embodies Enlightenment principles by emphasizing individual rights, separation of powers, and the social contract. Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke influenced the framers with ideas about natural rights and government accountability to the governed. The Constitution's framework, including checks and balances among branches of government, reflects a commitment to liberty and rational governance. Additionally, the Bill of Rights safeguards personal freedoms, further aligning with Enlightenment ideals of protecting individual autonomy.

The Enlightenment emphasized reason, individualism, and empirical thought, which profoundly influenced the arts by inspiring artists and writers to explore themes of human experience, nature, and society. This period saw the rise of neoclassicism, where artists drew on classical ideals of beauty and harmony, reflecting Enlightenment values of order and rationality. Additionally, the focus on personal expression and the emotional depth in Romanticism emerged as a response to Enlightenment rationality, showcasing a broader spectrum of human experience. Overall, the arts during the Enlightenment became a vehicle for questioning traditional norms and celebrating the potential of human creativity.

During the Enlightenment, the two organizations that held significant control over the people were the Catholic Church and monarchies. The Catholic Church influenced social and moral norms, often dictating beliefs and practices, while absolute monarchies wielded political power, enforcing laws and governance. Together, they shaped the intellectual and societal landscape, often resisting the emerging ideas of reason, individual rights, and scientific inquiry championed by Enlightenment thinkers.

The Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution were similar in that both emphasized reason, empirical evidence, and the questioning of traditional authority. The Scientific Revolution laid the groundwork for Enlightenment thinkers by promoting the use of observation and experimentation to understand the natural world, which inspired Enlightenment ideals of rational thought and human progress. Both movements challenged established norms and encouraged a shift towards secularism and individualism in society. Ultimately, they fostered a spirit of inquiry that sought to improve human understanding and governance.

The Enlightenment was crucial to Americans in the 18th century as it promoted ideas of reason, individualism, and scientific inquiry, challenging traditional authority and inspiring revolutionary thought. Enlightenment philosophers like John Locke influenced American political ideology, emphasizing natural rights and government by consent. These ideas laid the intellectual foundation for the American Revolution and the subsequent formulation of the Constitution, fostering a spirit of democracy and liberty that remains central to American identity. Ultimately, the Enlightenment helped shape a society that valued rational thought and the pursuit of knowledge.

Enlightenment ideals profoundly influenced 18th-century governments by promoting concepts such as individual liberty, reason, and the social contract. Thinkers like John Locke and Montesquieu advocated for the separation of powers and the protection of natural rights, which inspired revolutions and reforms across Europe and the Americas. These ideas led to the development of constitutional governments, increased emphasis on democracy, and the questioning of absolute monarchies, ultimately paving the way for modern democratic institutions.

Mathematics played a crucial role in the Scientific Revolution by providing a precise language and framework for understanding natural phenomena. Thinkers like Galileo and Newton used mathematical models to describe motion and gravitational forces, enabling them to formulate laws that could be empirically tested. This quantitative approach not only enhanced the predictive power of scientific theories but also helped establish a more systematic method of inquiry, reinforcing the shift from qualitative observations to a rigorous, mathematical understanding of the universe. Thus, mathematics became essential in validating scientific claims and advancing knowledge.

Enlightenment thinkers advocated for reforms that emphasized reason, individual rights, and the separation of powers. They challenged absolute monarchy and proposed democratic principles, such as popular sovereignty and constitutional government. Thinkers like Montesquieu promoted the idea of checks and balances among branches of government, while Rousseau emphasized the social contract and the importance of civic participation. These ideas laid the groundwork for modern democratic systems and influenced revolutionary movements worldwide.

Key Enlightenment ideas that influenced the establishment of America's government include the concepts of natural rights, social contract, and separation of powers. Thinkers like John Locke emphasized that individuals have inherent rights to life, liberty, and property, which justified the pursuit of government to protect these rights. Montesquieu's notion of separating government powers into distinct branches aimed to prevent tyranny and ensure checks and balances. These ideas collectively shaped the U.S. Constitution and the principles of democracy and individual freedoms.

A major impact of economic ideas from the Enlightenment was the shift towards capitalism and market-oriented economies, emphasizing individualism, free trade, and competition. Thinkers like Adam Smith advocated for the "invisible hand" of the market, arguing that self-interest drives economic prosperity and efficiency. This laid the groundwork for modern economic theory and influenced policies that prioritize minimal government intervention in markets. Ultimately, these ideas transformed societal structures and contributed to the rise of industrial economies.