Medieval Magic

Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

1423

Abstract

hnically and religiously highly diverse in which individuals from many backgrounds contributed to scientific knowledge and progress; being a Muslim was not a prerequisite for this contribution.”</p><h2 id="44b1">Three States of Matter</h2><p id="b343">Now, let’s examine an example of a physical phenomenon that lends itself to metaphorical abstraction. If we take an ice cube and apply heat, it melts into water. If we continue to apply heat, eventually the water becomes steam.</p><p id="9006">This is an example of a scientific principle known as the Three States of Matter: solid, liquid and gas. If we think of this abstract, the ice cube could represent our physical existence — our solid bodies. Applying heat brings out our good moral nature.</p><p id="b83f">As a small child, if I misbehaved, my mother applied caring, loving heat to the seat of my pants and within minutes my good moral nature became visible, correcting my behavior.</p><p id="34c4">When heat is continuously applied to the ice cube that has now melted into water, a steam or water vapor rises into the air.</p><p id="6d66">This stage represents the point at which we no longer need an external reminder. We have internalized the importance of good moral conduct because we know it is pleasing to our Creator.</p><p id="4ab1">If we put that ice cube on the ground, when it melts it becomes mud (dirty water) but as more heat is applied, the water

Options

still rises as vapor and leaves the dirt behind.</p><p id="631d">So it is in our lives. A typical occurrence in our hustle and bustle existence is over indulgence. Excessive preoccupation with food leads to obesity; preoccupation with money leads to greed and self interest and preoccupation with power leads to social and economic partitioning of our nation. We can view these maladies as “dirt” in our human environment.</p><p id="02fe">The metaphorical lesson in the stages of matter is simply this:When man is preoccupied with material things, he is in his solid state. As his moral sensitivities awaken, he recognizes he has a higher responsibility. He changes from solid to liquid. Finally, his Divine nature awakes in him and his spiritual self governs his existence — a gaseous state.</p><p id="d4ec">This moral awakening and divine inspiration bring out the best in him and exhibit characteristics aligned with those in support of social justice.</p><h2 id="6bb0">A Lesson for Today</h2><p id="3e60">As we face a plethora of challenges in our country, the ability to identify and apply the heat or truth to the ubiquitous presence of deeply imbedded inaccuracies is essential for our collective progress. In the story of the Golden Age of Islam is a lesson that has application in our quest for social justice today. Let us learn from Creation and apply Divine insight to our national maladies.</p></article></body>

Relationship between creator and creation

The strength of Medieval scholars during the Golden Age of Islam (8th through the 15th century) appears metaphorically as “magic” in its ability to advance human civilization juxtaposed to the European Dark ages.

Scholars of this period were able to understand scientific knowledge in the context of Divine revelation. These scholars studied creation scientifically, viewed physical phenomenon metaphorically, abstracted and applied what they had learned to other situations.

A physical observation may spark a mathematical or scientific analogy or a human social phenomenon. This intellectual exercise required both a thorough knowledge of a specific field of science as well as a thorough knowledge of Divine revelation.

Although called the Golden Age of Islam, Professor Nuh Aydin of Kenyon College points out “It was ethnically and religiously highly diverse in which individuals from many backgrounds contributed to scientific knowledge and progress; being a Muslim was not a prerequisite for this contribution.”

Three States of Matter

Now, let’s examine an example of a physical phenomenon that lends itself to metaphorical abstraction. If we take an ice cube and apply heat, it melts into water. If we continue to apply heat, eventually the water becomes steam.

This is an example of a scientific principle known as the Three States of Matter: solid, liquid and gas. If we think of this abstract, the ice cube could represent our physical existence — our solid bodies. Applying heat brings out our good moral nature.

As a small child, if I misbehaved, my mother applied caring, loving heat to the seat of my pants and within minutes my good moral nature became visible, correcting my behavior.

When heat is continuously applied to the ice cube that has now melted into water, a steam or water vapor rises into the air.

This stage represents the point at which we no longer need an external reminder. We have internalized the importance of good moral conduct because we know it is pleasing to our Creator.

If we put that ice cube on the ground, when it melts it becomes mud (dirty water) but as more heat is applied, the water still rises as vapor and leaves the dirt behind.

So it is in our lives. A typical occurrence in our hustle and bustle existence is over indulgence. Excessive preoccupation with food leads to obesity; preoccupation with money leads to greed and self interest and preoccupation with power leads to social and economic partitioning of our nation. We can view these maladies as “dirt” in our human environment.

The metaphorical lesson in the stages of matter is simply this:When man is preoccupied with material things, he is in his solid state. As his moral sensitivities awaken, he recognizes he has a higher responsibility. He changes from solid to liquid. Finally, his Divine nature awakes in him and his spiritual self governs his existence — a gaseous state.

This moral awakening and divine inspiration bring out the best in him and exhibit characteristics aligned with those in support of social justice.

A Lesson for Today

As we face a plethora of challenges in our country, the ability to identify and apply the heat or truth to the ubiquitous presence of deeply imbedded inaccuracies is essential for our collective progress. In the story of the Golden Age of Islam is a lesson that has application in our quest for social justice today. Let us learn from Creation and apply Divine insight to our national maladies.