European era

Materialistic Europe:

The nature and history of Western civilization:

Before we consider how the shift in leadership from Islamic nations to European nations affected the world’s mentality, the morals of peoples and nations, civilization, society, and the trends and inclinations of humanity, and what humanity gained from it, and whether its gains outweighed its losses and misfortunes or vice versa, we must understand the nature of Western civilization, its status, its spirit, the philosophy of life of these nations, and how it arose.

Western civilization in the 20th century is not a product of these later centuries following the Dark Ages in Europe, nor is it as recent as many people imagine. Rather, its history stretches back thousands of years. It is the heir to Greek and Roman civilizations, inheriting their political, intellectual, and civic legacy, as well as all their possessions, political systems, social philosophies, and intellectual and scientific heritage. Their tendencies, inclinations, and characteristics were imprinted upon it. Indeed, it flowed in their blood. Greek civilization was the first magnificent manifestation—preserved for us by history—of the European mentality. It was the first civilization—recorded by history—founded on the foundation of European philosophy, in which the European psyche was revealed. Upon its ruins rose the edifice of Roman civilization, bearing a single spirit: the European spirit. For centuries, European peoples retained their characteristics and nature, inheriting their philosophy, sciences, literature, and ideas, until they emerged in the 19th century in a dazzling guise that, with its elegance and vibrant colors, deceives you into thinking it is newly woven, while its warp and weft are woven from the threads of the Greeks and Romans.

Therefore, it is best for us to first familiarize ourselves with Greek and Roman civilizations and understand their nature and spirit, so that we may have insight into criticizing and judging Western civilization in the twentieth century.

Characteristics of Greek civilization:

Greece is a gifted nation, one of the most prolific, intelligent, and scientifically and literarily prepared nations in the world, and one of the most fertile in minds and intellects. It has played an immortal role in the world through its philosophy, literature, and the abundance of scholars, sages, and geniuses who have emerged from it, whose works adorn the libraries of the world.

What concerns us now is to understand the nature of the civilization they created. If we look at it with an analytical and critical eye, and disregard what it shares with other civilizations in terms of appearances and phenomena, and search for its nature and characteristics, we will find the following advantages that distinguish it from other civilizations – especially Eastern civilizations:

(1) Belief in what is perceptible and a lack of appreciation for what is not perceptible.

(2) Lack of religious devotion and piety.

(3) Excessive pride in life and excessive interest in its benefits and pleasures.

(4) Nationalism.

These scattered manifestations can be summarized in a single word: “materialism .” Greek civilization was characterized by “materialism, ” which encompassed all aspects of Greek culture, science, philosophy, poetry, and religion. They could not conceive of God’s attributes and power except in the form of gods for whom they carved statues and built temples and structures. There was a god for sustenance, a god for mercy, and a god for oppression. They then attributed to these gods everything related to the physical body and wove myths and legends around them. They depicted abstract meanings and conceived of them in bodies and forms. There was a god for love and a god for beauty. The system of the ten intellects and the nine spheres in Aristotle’s philosophy is nothing but a reflection of this materialism, which Greek nature rejects.

European scholars acknowledged the dominance of materialism in Greek civilization and highlighted it in their books and scientific research. The German scholar Dr. Haas presented three [works/exercise .

Lectures in Geneva entitled ((What is the European City?) ) He is one of the scholars who believe that Western civilization was not influenced by the East, and that it is a unique and excellent city. Here we summarize his words regarding what we are dealing with:

Greek civilization is the center of the modern Western city. What was important to its men was the proper development of human powers. The ideal for them was the beautiful, proportionate body. This is nothing but a great emphasis on the sensible. Their greatest concern was physical exercise, sports, dancing, and so on. Mental education, which includes poetry, singing, acting, philosophy, and natural sciences, did not exceed a certain limit so that the advancement of the mind would not be at the expense of the body. Religion was devoid of spirituality; it had neither religious knowledge nor a clergy class. As for the spiritual tone in the traditions of Azov and others, it is borrowed from the East and should not be attributed to the Greek city.

Many European scholars have observed the laxity of religion in Greece, the lack of reverence and seriousness in their work, and the abundance of amusement and entertainment in their lives. Leckey says in his book “History of European Morals “: “The Greek movement was purely intellectual and mental, while the Egyptian movement was the opposite, spiritual and esoteric. ” The Roman author Apuleius quotes him as saying: “The Egyptians used to glorify their gods with supplication and weeping, while the Greeks used to glorify their gods with dancing and singing. ” He comments on this by saying: “There is no doubt that Greek history confirms and supports this, for we do not know of any religion that rivals the religion of Greece and its traditions in the abundance of celebrations, festivals, and games, and in its heart, fear and reverence. The Greeks did not glorify God Almighty except as they glorified their elders and dignitaries, and they were content in glorifying and praising Him with ordinary rituals and established traditions .”

The Greeks possessed a theological philosophy and beliefs that made it strange to find reverence for God, worship of Him, supplication to Him, seeking refuge in Him, and prostrating oneself at His threshold. For those who deny God’s attributes, render Him powerless, and deny His choice, actions, creation, and command in this universe, and who link this world to what they call “the active intellect and the movements of the celestial bodies, ” naturally, by the very nature of this belief, do not seek God in their practical lives except through imitation. They neither hope in Him, nor fear Him, nor love Him, nor bow down before His majesty. They do not call upon Him in times of distress, nor do they glorify Him. They live as if they were gods, not lords. Thus, we hear that the Greeks were not reverent towards God, and that their worship and religious practices.