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Science or Superstition?
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Is it possible that the beliefs of the ancients could someday be accepted as science rather than as superstition? Westerners think of Asians as being very superstitious, but what they call superstition Asians call ancient science. It's a matter of education and interpretation.
FENG SHUI
Many Asians, particularly people in China of South East Asia, live according to the principles of feng shui. It's not a religion or a cult but an ancient science based on the principle of ch'i (qi. 氣), which is the energy or life force that runs through everything in the cosmos.
The basic principle of feng shui is that humans should live with nature rather than against it. According to belief, doing so benefits both themselves and the environment.
Feng shui also says that our lives are very much affected by our physical and emotional environment. If we surround ourselves with unpleasant things or are indifferent toward life and nature, we harm our chances of having peaceful and comfortable lives.
But if we surround ourselves with beauty, gentleness, kindness, and the good things of life, we benefit both ourselves and the environment. Everything about the philosophy of feng shui makes sense. Why then do so many people consider feng shui to be a kind of superstition?
According to feng shui, buildings should be built in certain places but not in other places. Buildings should be arranged in certain positions, and doors and windows have to face certain directions. Even the furniture inside should be placed in certain directions. This attention to detail strikes nonbelievers as foolish. Hundreds of books about feng shui with titles like Do It Yourself Feng Shui and Feng Shui for Dummies have been written. This makes the ancient natural science seem like some kind of fad.
SHAMANISM
Another ancient tradition that is practiced in Asia and other parts of the world is shamanism. It is classified as an ancient magic-religion which involves a shaman, who is a spiritual healer.
According to shamanic belief, the shamans have the ability to communicate with the dead. It's believed that shamans can even accompany the soul of a dead person into his or her proper place in the next world.
FORGOTTEN KNOWLEDGE?
Is is possible that feng shui and the shamanic beliefs are remnants of knowledge possessed by ancient societies but forgotten over the ages? Who can argue with the feng shui principle that man needs to live in harmony with nature rather than fight against it?
Feng shui and shamanism have been practiced for thousands of years. Our scientists are now finding that there is more to reality than what they can see under the microscope. Historians and archeologists are discovering that ancient societies knew more about some things than we do now.
Can we be absolutely sure that all ancient practices were based on superstition rather than knowledge? Is it possible that the beliefs of the ancients could someday be accepted as science rather than superstition?
Q1) Do you think Asians are more superstitious than people in western countries? If so, why?
Q2) Does being superstitious depend on a person's age? Are older people more superstitious than younger people? If so, why? Do you know anybody who is really superstitious?
Q3) Do you think feng shui, shamanism, palm reading...etc are an ancient science, or just superstition? Tell why you think so.
이 글은「대학연합영어토론동아리」www.pioneerclub.com에서 제공하는 영어토론 정보입니다.
FENG SHUI
Many Asians, particularly people in China of South East Asia, live according to the principles of feng shui. It's not a religion or a cult but an ancient science based on the principle of ch'i (qi. 氣), which is the energy or life force that runs through everything in the cosmos.
The basic principle of feng shui is that humans should live with nature rather than against it. According to belief, doing so benefits both themselves and the environment.
Feng shui also says that our lives are very much affected by our physical and emotional environment. If we surround ourselves with unpleasant things or are indifferent toward life and nature, we harm our chances of having peaceful and comfortable lives.
But if we surround ourselves with beauty, gentleness, kindness, and the good things of life, we benefit both ourselves and the environment. Everything about the philosophy of feng shui makes sense. Why then do so many people consider feng shui to be a kind of superstition?
According to feng shui, buildings should be built in certain places but not in other places. Buildings should be arranged in certain positions, and doors and windows have to face certain directions. Even the furniture inside should be placed in certain directions. This attention to detail strikes nonbelievers as foolish. Hundreds of books about feng shui with titles like Do It Yourself Feng Shui and Feng Shui for Dummies have been written. This makes the ancient natural science seem like some kind of fad.
SHAMANISM
Another ancient tradition that is practiced in Asia and other parts of the world is shamanism. It is classified as an ancient magic-religion which involves a shaman, who is a spiritual healer.
According to shamanic belief, the shamans have the ability to communicate with the dead. It's believed that shamans can even accompany the soul of a dead person into his or her proper place in the next world.
FORGOTTEN KNOWLEDGE?
Is is possible that feng shui and the shamanic beliefs are remnants of knowledge possessed by ancient societies but forgotten over the ages? Who can argue with the feng shui principle that man needs to live in harmony with nature rather than fight against it?
Feng shui and shamanism have been practiced for thousands of years. Our scientists are now finding that there is more to reality than what they can see under the microscope. Historians and archeologists are discovering that ancient societies knew more about some things than we do now.
Can we be absolutely sure that all ancient practices were based on superstition rather than knowledge? Is it possible that the beliefs of the ancients could someday be accepted as science rather than superstition?
Q1) Do you think Asians are more superstitious than people in western countries? If so, why?
Q2) Does being superstitious depend on a person's age? Are older people more superstitious than younger people? If so, why? Do you know anybody who is really superstitious?
Q3) Do you think feng shui, shamanism, palm reading...etc are an ancient science, or just superstition? Tell why you think so.
이 글은「대학연합영어토론동아리」www.pioneerclub.com에서 제공하는 영어토론 정보입니다.
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