Although I will defer to Glenn and the other experts, I am frankly
skeptical. Jared Diamond, the writer of the Pulitzer Prize winning " Guns,
Germs, and Steel" believed that early man was quite bloodthirsty,
exterminating the Australian and American megafauna at the end of last ice
age. He also believed that Homo Sapiens shoved off stage the two other
recently surviving hominid species, Homo Neanderthalis and Homo Erectus.(I
know that Glenn doesn't believe these were seperate species. I am going by
the consensus view of human origins).
OTOH, even Diamond agrees that large scale warfare began with the
agricultural revolution and the rise of cities 8000 years ago.
-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
Behalf Of John W Burgeson
Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2002 4:27 PM
To: glenn.morton@btinternet.com; asa@calvin.edu
Subject: Did something unique happen 8,500 years ago?
Next Saturday we will have a speaker here in Denver, L. Robert Keck, who
is a scholar-in-residence at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.
He is the author of Sacred Quest: The Evolution and Future of the Human
Soul, as well as another book. His bio says he has an MDiv degree as well
as a Ph.D..
In the seminar, the blurb says he will show original research into issues
of nonviolence.
The claim that interests me is stated in two bullets:
1. Humanity, worldwide, apparently lived nonviolently for 25,000 years.
2. Human-human violence appeared suddenly about 8,500 years ago.
He is endorsed by Robert Johansen, Institute for the Future, Palo Alto
and John Cobb, Jr., Claremont School of Theology.
Two questions:
1. Is there any empirical evidence for the two claims above?
2. Does anyone know about this person?
I've been asked to help out with the seminar administrivia, which will
cost $15 for the Friday session and $20 for the Saturday session, by
persons of both scientific and theological integrity. But I am uneasy...
.
Thanks.
Burgy
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