Plato & Christianity
These are a few conclusions I made last year in a Philosophy class that I found scribbled on a piece of graph paper. They relate Western Philosophy (Theory of Forms & the state) to Christian theology.
Plato’s perfect state compared with the Church
1. Preachers are Philosophers
- Lovers of Knowledge
- Knowledge = Forms
- Forms = Truth = God
2. Elders are auxillaries
- Bravery, spirit, anger
3. Members are craftspeople
- Each member contributes skill that they are naturally gifted with by God. Volunteer. Appetite. What church should be.
[ Corruption in churches happens when leadership deteriorates into oligarchy (fame, wealth, private jets) Democracy (no purpose, order, discipline.) Indulgence = anarchy. Dictatorship (pastor influences who to vote for, make members follow reules because they have to - not out of heart ]
The just individual will live the happiest life.
- Most of the pleasures money can buy are not true pleasures. You are selling yourself to the life of a pig, not that of a human.
- Soul is more real than human body, what satisfies body is less real than what satisfies soul.
What satisfies human soul is knowledge of Forms (God).
- The just person is free. They satisfy desires when necessary and have necessary desires to fulfill their soul, unlike a person who gives in to desires. They are a slave to lust etc.
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