What Lessons Can We Learn from the Wee Monks?

We have to keep science education as science. Show me one piece of evidence [that the world is only 6000 years old] I would change immediately.                                     Bill Nye to creationist advocate Ken Ham

This morning I was handed the greatest opening I could wish for this essay. Bill Nye, the science guy debated a Creationist, Ken Ham [on Feb. 4th] and, according to the newspaper I read, gave him a good shellacking. Bill used facts [carbon dating] humor, wit and wisdom to counter the absurd argument his opponent postured that the earth is only 6000 years old based on what the Bible says [I believe the Bible believes 'an eye for an eye' also and that the 'world is flat' and created in 7 days].  These creationist want to force their erroneous beliefs on children as science [currently doing this in Texas and Kansas], which dear readers, has absolutely not a shred of proof. This is perfect timing for me as I am stating that certain religious beliefs have led to wars, starvation, illiteracy, poverty and abuse--- especially of women and children.

The weight of the Irish influence on the continent is incalculable.                                                                         James Westfall Thompson

In the 5th and 6th century when the Irish monks were establishing their monasteries they reached out to anyone who came to them because their belief was "God will provide"*. Luckily for them when they traveled to England and Scotland they were greeted with open arms by the English Christians [in Lindisfarne for one]. These Christians respected the monks as their wise elders. Then the English Christians borrowed generously from the monks. They learned to read and soon were caught up in also copying books, educating themselves on many subjects, and creating the Lindisfarne gospels [called the Book of Kells]. If only the various other tribes of Christians had co operated with one another as did these Christians, :the world would indeed be a different place".

Charlemagne's era [about 800 AD] is another example of co operation with the monks. Because he was agreeable and friendly Charlemagne greatly improved the literacy rates of his country men and women. He claimed he "loved the wandering monks". When he died the improvement did not last long, greed and selfishness returned to the church and the country leading to more illiteracy.

So, you're probably asking yourself, what caused the downfall of this great, influential little nation? Quite simply they were beaten into the ground. They were beaten by tribes who stole and destroyed their books and sacked their monasteries. Starting in the last part of the 8th century, the Vikings discovered that the peaceful monks were easy pickings and continued their pillaging on and off for almost a century. The monks buried their precious books and metal-ware in the ground, or as in the case of the Book of Kells, "brought the book to the inland foundation of Kells." To this day in Ireland people are discovering goblets and other metal treasures from the 8th and 9th century. 

The courtyard's filled with water
and the great earls where are they?
The earls, the lady, the people 
beaten into the clay. 
anonymous poet Kilcash

"In the 16th century the colonizing Elizabethans cut down the Irish forests" to punish them for guerrilla attacks [sound familiar?] Then in the 17th century it was the Calvinist Cromwellians who slaughtered them. The 18th century brought the Penal Laws which denied Catholics the rights of citizens. Then the final capper was the famines of the 19th century. It culminated with the 'Great Hunger' that nearly finish the Irish off. Almost l million people died of hunger from 1845-51, while "her majesty's government sat on it's hands". Millions emigrated to N. America [including my relatives] and Australia. 

An ancient painting that the people who don't believe in dinosaurs would not accept as ancient

When you beat a people down, when you deprive them of their rights, when you force them to believe things that are unfair and that this is their lot in life, you create depression in a people and a nation. We, our country, created this after the civil war with the repeated attacks by the "Christian" members of the KKK to the people of color, by the cruel laws of Jim Crow imposed upon the south and by the incredibly inadequate conditions of the schools that the Native Americans and African Americans had to endure. Right now in Pakistan and Afghanistan they are closing schools left and right and worse shooting at children [Malala]. The horrifying situation is this: currently less than 2% of the girls and women are allowed to go to school. These men are imposing these ridiculous restrictions as good and true to their religion and thereby encouraging ignorance and illiteracy. Depressed, fearful and ignorant people are more malleable to do the bidding of rich and powerful bullies.

Hope
It took until the 1920's for the Irish people to rise up to their oppressors [the British] and I have no doubt that the Pakistani and Afghanistan people will rise up some day to their oppressors [the Taliban is currently supported by the governments of both countries]. Until that day arises we must not succumb to fairy tales of the extreme right wingers in any country. The truth shall set you free, but first you have to know how to read and decipher the truth from fantasy and fiction. 


*all quotes are taken from Thomas Cahill's book unless otherwise noted

susansmagicfeather copyright 2014 Susan R. Grout all rights reserved