What is the most significant event in the history of mankind

[Storm]

I would say the splitting of the Atom.
Mankind has the power to distroy not just himself but everything. Or to use that power for peacefull purposes. This is mankinds ultimate test.

Good one.

Agriculture is also one of those things, but it was discovered multiple times so... who gets the credit?

Everybody!

Fire, stone tools, faith all predate humanity.

Guess it depends on your definition of "humanity." I include our extinct ancestor-species. Is that cheating?

My reasoning is, these are the things that (apparently) set us apart from the animal kingdom.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Just to be clear, I'm not meaning to say that any of these things are INsignificant, but I don't think they're MORE significant than the counter-examples. (I'm being a bit contrary, but this is a debate section, after all. Besides, I know you love it. )

I can agree with your counter-examples, except for democracy, especially Athenian democracy. It was ineffectual and caused more problems than it was worth in a lot of cases. (Now whos being contrary.) I would say the creation of the republic was much more significant but neither were as signigicant as the creation of military discipline. Not that Sparta created military discipline, but rather showed it in its purest form, at least the purest form achievable by a society.

(Beer is still my top choice. :drunk: Beer makes everything else possible.)

 

[Dunemeister]

I was reading an article and the author said that Christmas was the the most significant event in the history of mankind. I found that to be a bit arrogant and I disagree. Certianly the birth of Christ could be considered the most significant event for Christians but I doubt the rest of the world would consider it so.

So, what do you consider the most significant event in the history of mankind? I'm curious how many folks select a religious event and what that means to people of other faiths.

I agree with that article. The Christian claim (call it audacious or arrogant as you wish) is that Jesus is God in the flesh, the King of All come to us in human clothing. We call it the incarnation. You are free to reject that claim, of course, but if the claim is true, then it is the most important event in human history because it has consequences for every last person who has ever lived, Christian or not. Our beliefs about it will certainly be part of how those consequences play out.

Of course, I'd say the resurrection of Jesus rivals if not surpasses the incarnation as the most important event of human history.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Definitely, in modern history, it was Hiroshima. Not for a good reason; for a bad one. It showed the world the precipice we stand on; it would be so easy just to destroy the entire human race, like that...

So you might be thinking that the discovery of explosives to be the most signigicant event? I think Hiroshima was very significant but would probably argue against it being the most significant.

 

[Storm]

I agree with that article. The Christian claim (call it audacious or arrogant as you wish) is that Jesus is God in the flesh, the King of All come to us in human clothing. We call it the incarnation. You are free to reject that claim, of course, but if the claim is true, then it is the most important event in human history because it has consequences for every last person who has ever lived, Christian or not. Our beliefs about it will certainly be part of how those consequences play out.

Of course, I'd say the resurrection of Jesus rivals if not surpasses the incarnation as the most important event of human history.

Well, even within the context of Christianity, I can be contrary.

Without the Fall, Christ would have been unnecessary

 

[Dunemeister]

Well, even within the context of Christianity, I can be contrary.

Without the Fall, Christ would have been unnecessary

Hah! Kudos to you!

 

[Storm]

Thanks!

BTW, Trey, I'm enjoying myself immensely. Thanks for starting a great topic! :foryou:

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I think the most significant event in human history was the invention of agriculture. This one event completely changed how humanity lived and was the thing that allowed so many later developments. Without agriculture, humanity would look nothing like it does today.

 

[Smoke]

The moment humanity came into existence. Whether you believe the story as laid forth in the Tanakh literally, or you are an atheist who believes in pure random chance,

Evolution isn't "pure random chance," and since evolution is a continuum, it's not meaningful (except for a Creationist) to speak of the "moment" humanity came into existence.

Funny, though. I'd think, for someone who thinks it has something to do with Messiah Yeshua, it would be the moment of his death or resurrection, not his birth. But, to each his own.

No doubt, the feast of the resurrection was historically a far greater feast than the feast of the incarnation, but some believers have argued that it was the incarnation -- the uniting of the divine and the human in one person -- that was actually the most momentous event.

For myself, I don't think it's possible to pick just one event as the most significant, but I think a short list of the most significant events might include:

1) The invention of agriculture
2) The invention of the wheel
3) The development of writing
4) The development of Vedic religion
5) The establishment of the Buddhist Sangha
6) The Edict of Milan
5) The establishment of the Caliphate under Abu Bakr
6) Various Muslim and Christian conquests
7) The invention of printing
8) The Enlightenment
9) The invention of motorized travel
10) Various discoveries in the area of microbiology
11) The taming of electricity
12) The invention of nuclear technology and weapons
13) The mastery of extraterrestrial travel, which is in its infancy and hasn't yet had the kind of effects it might eventually have, but seems momentous enough in its own right to be listed

I would have listed the taming of fire and the invention of speech, but I'm not convinced those accomplishments didn't precede our evolution as a species.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

but if the claim is true, then it is the most important event in human history because

But only if the claim is true. No way to know for sure in this life. So I would say it is only the most important event in Christian history rather than human history.

 

[Smoke]

I think the most significant event in human history was the invention of agriculture. This one event completely changed how humanity lived and was the thing that allowed so many later developments. Without agriculture, humanity would look nothing like it does today.

Good point. Everything, or almost everything, on my list presupposes settled populations of humans.

 

[Magic Man]

Fire, stone tools, faith all predate humanity.

wa:do

How do stone tools and faith predate humanity? Humans made the first stone tools (as in things we would consider tools, not just picking up a stone and using it as a hammer), and I wasn't aware that faith was something that anything but a human could understand.

 

[Storm]

How do stone tools and faith predate humanity? Humans made the first stone tools (as in things we would consider tools, not just picking up a stone and using it as a hammer), and I wasn't aware that faith was something that anything but a human could understand.

I believe painted wolf is limiting "humanity" to homo sapiens.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

I think the most significant event in human history was the invention of agriculture. This one event completely changed how humanity lived and was the thing that allowed so many later developments. Without agriculture, humanity would look nothing like it does today.

You know, the more I think about it, you might be right. Without agriculture we wouldn't have beer!

Then again, if the fermentation of grain was discovered prior to agriculture then Beer could be responsible for the development of agriculture.

Damn, I'm stuck again! :cover:

 

[Caladan]

I see agriculture has been mentioned a few times. I think its important to note that the transition into agriculture was not an event, and it is inaccurately referred to as the 'agricultural revolution', in reality there was no revolution, it was a slow process of change from a life as small groups of hunter gatherers into a sedentary life style gradually and in stages.

 

[Quagmire]

(Beer is still my top choice. :drunk: Beer makes everything else possible.)

Beer makes everything else palatable. :yes:

You know, the more I think about it, you might be right. Without agriculture we wouldn't have beer!

Then again, if the fermentation of grain was discovered prior to agriculture then Beer could be responsible for the development of agriculture.

Damn, I'm stuck again! :cover:

There's a sporatically re-emerging theory in Anthropology that says just that. :yes:

 

[3.14]

I thought this was obvius my birth ofcourse

 

[painted wolf]

Stone tools predate Homo sapiens by a long shot. There is some evidence that Australopiths may have used simple stone tools like pebble choppers.
Neanderthals show evidence of religous behavior and they lived long before we did.

The splitting of the Atom and influence over the basic bulding blocks of the universe however is a major development that can't be ignored.
I'd also like to add the discovery of DNA and its revolutionizing medicine and the begining of our exlporation of genetic engineering.

wa:do

 

[Smoke]

I'd also like to add the discovery of DNA and its revolutionizing medicine and the begining of our exlporation of genetic engineering.

I can't believe I left that off my list.

Not to mention humanity reaching the pinnacle of good looks in the form of Mister_T.

 

[Luminous]

I thought this was obvius my birth ofcourse

Yeah, i like pie. apple pie my favorite.