1、Analytical History & Evolutionary Economics Chen Ping,April 2, 2005The Myth of Christian,PBS Empires Series: From Jesus to Christ ,Why Christian Became a Western Religion,Why Christian Became Spread,From Greek Gods to Christian What is more appealing to people? Power (Zeus), fear (Death, demon), or
2、altruism?,Complex Role of Religion,How a failed hero became a ruling God (Comparing 关羽 with Jesus)? Bifurcation of conflicting forces: suppress or adapt? Interaction between religion and government: balance of power or conspiracy? Role in mixed economy: community base division of labor,Stages of Chr
3、istian Movement,Jesus, a Jewish fraction devoted to moral justice and life after death Paul relaxed entry barrier (dietary law and male circumcision) to attract more followers separating Christian from Jewish Combine warship with dinner together to develop community base Spread from rural to urban a
4、rea, from low to high class Spiritual movement against Roman power: from illegal to state religionPuzzling facts: grass-root movement without strong leader and military power, political failure led to spiritual success,Three Pillars of Western Civilization,Greek-Roman culture Christian tradition Ger
5、man feudal systemWestern culture cannot be characterized simply by individualism, freedom, or democracy. It is a mixed economy with market, state, and NGO sector which includes church, universities, and other non-government non-profit organizations The rise of city state, religious movements, and fe
6、udal system was driven both by individualism and public concern. Human history strongly indicates that the human nature is social animal rather than solitary animal with infinite greed,Rethinking Economic Doctrine,得人心者得天下 Altruism vs. individualism Division of labor and social coordination Conflicting forces and conflicting ideasCoexistence or exclusion of conflicting ideas?,
