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Enlightenment Quotes

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Enlightenment Quotes

“Still - and for all Obama's heavy hinting to the contrary - Islam has no "human rights." The ideas of individual rights and the dignity of man are distinctly Western, an outgrowth of the Enlightenment. And while dialogue is dignified; dhimmitude is not, even if it achieves a desired, if temporary, effect.”

Ifs Men Humans Stills Ideas Individual Rights Achieve Effects Enlightenment Dignity Islam Western Human Rights Heavy Contrary Dialogue Temporary Individual Rights

Author:Ilana Mercer

“The great achievement of Western culture since the Enlightenment is to make many of us peer over the wall and grant some respect to people outside it; the great failure of Western Culture is to deny that walls are inevitable or important.”

People Important Culture Wall Achievement Enlightenment Western Deny Inevitable Grants Peers Great Achievement Western Culture

Author:James Q. Wilson

“Technology isn't fulfilling its promise of unlimited progress and solving every problem through technology. With the Enlightenment and its aftermath, there already was a general loss of confidence in the Western religions.”

Problem Loss Technology Progress Promise Enlightenment Western Fulfilling Unlimited Aftermath

Author:Thomas Keating

“So he [Shoko Asahara] was insane but managed to convince a couple thousand people that he was enlightened. Western culture, which Japan is now definitely a part of, doesn't have an understanding of what Enlightenment is.”

People Culture Understanding Couple Thousand Enlightenment Western Insane Convince Japan Enlightened Western Culture

Author:Brad Warner

“In a post 9/11 world, in which the uncritical essentializing of people from the "Third-World" has been legitimized; Iraq and Afghanistan have been dehumanized in an attempt to disseminate enlightenment in those "dark" regions; the discourse of "honor killings" is prevalent in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan and has carved a niche in Western academic discourse as another instance of the incorrigible bestiality of the Orient.”

“I realize that I've had a very idyllic vision of what spirituality looks like. Honestly, most of Western culture has an idyllic and simplified idea of what enlightenment entails.”

Looks Ideas Culture Spirituality Realizing Vision Enlightenment Western Honestly Western Culture Idyllic

Author:Alexander Weinstein

“There was this famous clash of civilization thesis from Samuel Huntington, a political theorist. And the idea was that Western civilization is at war with Islam and maybe some of the other civilizations around the world. And I don't agree with that. But I do think there is such a thing as Western civilization. I think it starts with the Greeks and the Romans. Then it goes through the Enlightenment - or the Reformation, the Enlightenment. It goes through the scientific age. And it somewhat defines some of the cultures and mores of Europe and North America and some other countries.”

Thinking World War Country Age Political Culture Enlightenment Agree Islam Western Greek Clash Thesis

Author:David Brooks

“Flawed as they may be, science and the secular Enlightenment values expressed in Western democracies are our best hope for survival.”

May Values Democracy Survival Enlightenment Western Secular Flawed Hoping For The Best

Book:The Believing Brain: From Spiritual Faiths to Political Convictions – How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths.

Source: The Believing Brain: From Spiritual Faiths to Political Convictions – How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths.

“If western culture is shown to be rich it is because, even before the Enlightenment, it has tried to "dissolve" harmful simplifications through inquiry and the critical mind.”

Ifs Mind Culture Rich Enlightenment Western Critical Inquiry Western Culture Simplification

Author:Umberto Eco

“In short, the enlightenment privatized marriage, taking it out of the public sphere, and redefined its purpose as individual gratification, not any 'broader good' such as reflecting God's nature, producing character, or raising children. Slowly but surely, this newer understanding of the meaning of marriage has displaced the older ones in Western culture.”

Children Character Light Christian Purpose Culture Individual Understanding Enlightenment Western Spheres Gratification Reflecting Raising Children Western Culture Slowly But Surely

Book:The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God

Source: The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God