The Christian Commandment of Love Is a “New” Commandment: Chapter 1 - Comparison With Pittacus, Solon and Thales

Mosaic of the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece

...Chapter One: A)

Chapter One: B) Comparing the Christian Commandment of "Love" With Pittacus, Solon and Thales

a) Pittacus of Mytilene died in 570 BC. This "sage" from among the famous "seven" is credited with many edifying sayings, instructive for any time. Among these are, for example, are the following: "forgiveness is better than revenge", "do not slander not only a friend, but also an enemy", "do not do what you condemn in others", "love your neighbor, even if he slightly oppresses you", "forgiveness is better than repentance", "even the thought of evil will not be hidden from the gods", "know thyself" and many others.[28][29] Honor to this pagan thinker, who rises against revenge, against slander, against even evil thoughts. This is a profound sermon! Honor to him, who preaches forgiveness, love for one’s neighbor (even if one does not reciprocate love in return), self-knowledge, and an equal standard for evaluating one’s own and others' actions.

All of this is remarkable, provided that the aforementioned sayings truly belong to Pittacus,[30] and not to a later period, as some suppose — namely, not to any other individuals (for instance, the saying 'know thyself' is also attributed to Chilon, 560–556 B.C.).[31] However, what is interesting for us is the very content of the sayings, which we will now turn to.

Proof That God Is One and Not Many (St. John of Damascus)

 

 By St. John of Damascus

We have, then, adequately demonstrated that there is a God, and that His essence is incomprehensible. But that God is one and not many is no matter of doubt to those who believe in the Holy Scriptures.

For the Lord says in the beginning of the Law: "I am the Lord your God, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt. You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:2-3).

And again He says, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord" (Deuteronomy 6:4).

And in Isaiah the prophet we read, "For I am the first God and I am the last, and beside Me there is no God. Before Me there was not any God, nor after Me will there be any God, and beside Me there is no God" (Isaiah 43:10).

And the Lord, too, in the holy Gospels speaks these words to His Father, "And this is life eternal, that they may know You the only true God" (John 17:3).

Mysticism (1 of 3)

By Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania

Definition – Characteristics

The purpose of mysticism is an experiential, existential quest, direct relationship and spiritual union with God or the divine. This is sought with concentration, prayer, dispassion, contemplation and ecstasy. Mysticism is usually the intuitive element in the religious experience and manifests itself in almost all religions, from the primitive to the most highly-developed. Sometimes it springs up in the stony regions of external piety, giving fresh impetus to religious sentiment.

Because of the variety of forms it has assumed in the history of religions and the contradictory features it has been imbued with, there is no generally accepted definition. As a rule, mysticism, which expresses people’s immediate relationship with and experience of the Numinous, differs from the arcane occult and from apocryphal beliefs and techniques.