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The "perfect being" argument comes, I think, from Descartes.
(The guy who said cogito ergo sum). Anyway, I read about the argument in "Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy."
The snag I see in that argument is the notion that the idea of a perfect being cannot come from an imperfect being such as oneself. I think one does not have to possess a quality in order to conceive of it.
But I am more receptive to the notion that imperfection cannot exist without a perfection to be contrasted with, so that perfection must exist somewhere. This would suggest something divine.
posted by
Dyl_Pickle
on August 22, 2006 at 9:45 AM
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Actually, if he was perfect, why did they think he needed to be punished with death? Seems like he broke a lot of the Jewish laws/traditions and angered a lot of people. (Seems like he said a lot of the same things you can find in some of our most popular "anti-christian" blogs.) But none of this is what people who are striving to be "perfect" seem to be aiming for. Odd, don't you think?
Jesus was a rebel...and those who claim to follow him are conformists. Is is just me or is there something wrong with this picture?
posted by
DarrkeThoughts
on August 22, 2006 at 9:00 AM
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SuccessWarrior
nothing in the Bible says Jesus was perfect.
for the rest of you
old testament hebrew for perfect
Strong's 08549
(biblical usage)
1) complete, whole, entire, sound
a) complete, whole, entire
b) whole, sound, healthful
c) complete, entire (of time)
d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
e) what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter adj/subst)
Greek word, Strong's 5046
biblical usage
1) brought to its end, finished
2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness
3) perfect
4) that which is perfect
a) consummate human integrity and virtue
b) of men
1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature
note the last item -- "mature" -- this is the primary meaning of the Greek word translated "perfect".
perfect is a medieval concept, developed to separate the lower classes and castes in the medieval system from those above them -- and give people a sense of guilt so that they must find a mediator (who would be convenient?) and make payment of some sort for atonement. and levels of perfection? -- of course -- up to the head of the church, who is considered infallible. -- a human who is perfect -- hmmmm.
perfect vs. imperfect is a good source of control.
posted by
Xeno-x
on August 22, 2006 at 6:52 AM
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Other problems exist with this concept as well Kooka
The first of which is that the bible may quite possibly be fiction. If that's the case, you might as well try to make yourself like any other great fictional character that you like.
On the other hand, if the bible is real, it really doesn't so a whole lot about what made Jesus perfect. It doesn't go into great detail about what he did that was perfect. It's hard to copy such a vague concept.
posted by
SuccessWarrior
on August 22, 2006 at 5:07 AM
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In my opinion, people have a biased opinion of what perfection really is.
We are all "perfect" beings. We are always perfect the way we are. There is no other way we can be.
posted by
Afzal_Sunny7
on August 21, 2006 at 9:35 PM
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