23 ms·

I'm not religous, but I do find it amazing that this was known back in the days of the bible 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abu

I'm not religous, but I do find it amazing that this was known back in the days of the bible 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away' - Matthew 25:29 I wonder if other religions have similar elements. It is understandable that both the size of an army, and the wealth of a ruler would lead to this conclusion, as PG states, but it's still surprising that it has been recognized with such clarity.

jjtheblunt 3y ago
you just made me think of hysteresis, and then realize that's an ancient Greek word somehow descriptive
edmundsauto 3y ago
I think most religions, at their core, have the element of philosophy. It’s a shame it gets bundled with institutional self preservation, growth, and belief in the supernatural. Those that can separate the less good attributes end up more like Stoicism or westernized Buddhism. But there is something deeply wise in most religions that can have profound effects on how we live our lives.
csomar 3y ago
Religions were created by natural selection through thousands of year; and they made it through multiple empires, times and even today. This might be very important to understand and recognize why they are very powerful if you are not religious.
TeMPOraL 3y ago
By New Testament the common people grokked investment to a degree, hence the Parable of the Talents you quoted. From Mathew 25:24-27, relevant bits: "He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘(...) I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! (...) you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest." For that parable to be useful when it was written, common people must have understood the idea of lending your money with interest. From that, it's not a big step for them to have figured out what happens if do it again, and again, having the interest compound. EDIT: Also, how old is that story about a smartass asking a king to give him a chessboard of grain, where on first field they have one single grain, and for every other field, 2x the amount on the previous one?
gniv 3y ago
What's even more remarkable to me is the other context where it's said, Matthew 13:11: "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away." This is harder to explain, but imo more relevant to TFA, since it seems to refer to knowledge and learning.

jjtheblunt 3y ago

you just made me think of hysteresis, and then realize that's an ancient Greek word somehow descriptive

edmundsauto 3y ago

I think most religions, at their core, have the element of philosophy. It’s a shame it gets bundled with institutional self preservation, growth, and belief in the supernatural. Those that can separate the less good attributes end up more like Stoicism or westernized Buddhism. But there is something deeply wise in most religions that can have profound effects on how we live our lives.

csomar 3y ago

Religions were created by natural selection through thousands of year; and they made it through multiple empires, times and even today. This might be very important to understand and recognize why they are very powerful if you are not religious.

TeMPOraL 3y ago

By New Testament the common people grokked investment to a degree, hence the Parable of the Talents you quoted. From Mathew 25:24-27, relevant bits: "He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘(...) I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! (...) you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest." For that parable to be useful when it was written, common people must have understood the idea of lending your money with interest. From that, it's not a big step for them to have figured out what happens if do it again, and again, having the interest compound. EDIT: Also, how old is that story about a smartass asking a king to give him a chessboard of grain, where on first field they have one single grain, and for every other field, 2x the amount on the previous one?

gniv 3y ago

What's even more remarkable to me is the other context where it's said, Matthew 13:11: "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away." This is harder to explain, but imo more relevant to TFA, since it seems to refer to knowledge and learning.