Apr
16
The Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans had no word in their language for sin; the Israelites introduced both the word and the concept into the stream of Western civilization and by so doing, diverted it. The Babylonians and Egyptians believed that one’s entire destiny was in the hands of the gods. The biblical prophets convinced each Israelite that every decision was theirs to make. The prophets introduced the idea of Free Will and left the agonizing choice between right and wrong to rest, ultimately, on the conscience of the individual.
Leonard Shlain, “The Alphabet Versus the Goddess: The Conflict Between Word and Image”
