h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was brought up in Britain, as a Roman Catholic. As a result, I learned there are two types of people: Catholics and non-Catholics. I also learned that most worthwhile discoveries were made by people like me: white, christian and members of 'Western civilisation'. Later, I became aware of some slight gaps in my education. I learned about all sorts of different religions and cultures. A specific example: until Dogster enlightened me recently, I knew little of the huge contribution to modern mathematics made by Arab/Moslem cultures.

We all have gaps in our knowledge similar to mine. There are topics which are 'overlooked' by our cultures and societies, and I would like to find out more about them. I would like to start a Forum here on the Guide to catalogue the achievements of non-white, non-christian or non-western cultures. [An example would be the contribution to mathematics I mentioned above.]

So what do you think? Would you find such a Forum interesting and/or useful? Would you read it? Would you contribute?

Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"

It's an interesting idea. The problem is that the size of broadly non-Western civilisation and culture is that they presumably are many times greater than Western ones. To adequately cover this point we would have to have another whole Guide at least as large as this one. Perhaps it would be better to have a "World Culture Forum" (or whatever) which would serve as a meeting place for people trying to bring ideas from outside Western culture to the Guide, rather than a necessarily futile attempt at a repository of non-Western culture?

Unfortunately, I'm only checking H2G2 very infrequently at the moment, so you probably won't hear from me again for a couple of weeks.

Fair points, Dogster, but I was really thinking of something that would just capture the highlights.

For example, I have a friend, older than me, who is unconsciously racist. [I.e. he isn't a bad person, but absorbed racism from British culture during his formative years (quite a while ago). There are millions of such people.] He doesn't believe that there *were* any significant black civilisations, mainly because he's never heard of them.

A list such as I propose would record the high points, and provide a basis for further research for those interested enough. As you say, an exhaustive Forum would be HUGE! I have no problem calling it a "World culture forum" if you thinks it's a good title?

Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"

You were brought up a Catholic and you thought whites had made all the discoveries - that is bizaar - Jesus was BLACK, moses was BLACK. Not ONE WHITE person wrote in the BIBLE, TORAH, QUARAN. Jesus was a Jew and so were his parents. The Old testament people are all Jewish. Did it never ever compute in your brain that white cristians did not feature in the very book you were brought up with!

Hi Wandawoman!

Yes, I take your point(s). No, the incongruity of it all never occurred to me. I was brought up from birth in the Roman Catholic Church. The pictures I saw depicted Christ as a white male. Having absorbed these images from birth, it didn't occur to me (until *many* years later) that the impressions I had gathered didn't fit the facts. It's amazing how we can go through our lives unaware of the obvious, isn't it?

Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"

Apparently the very early images of Christ were more accurate in this respect, the Christian church(es) didn't always depict him as being white.

Pattern-Chaser

Apologies for my harsh words, i'm a innocent bean about most things, however when I discover I seem to know alittle more than my neighbour I shout it from the roof tops. I walk around confused and muffled most of the time - I think you were fairly lucky to have a childhood with one true beleif/understanding. Hey i'm not flaky - i've got a good job, house, I brush my hair and understand washing machines and the like, but there's always a nagging doubt as to what im really doing and why i'm doing it? Should I move back to the bosom of my family and surround myself with people that love and care for me or should I stick it out in the harsh city, being buffetted and pushed. Why am I laying this on you I don't know - well I suppose the gracious response you gave my rant shows you to be a good person - and shows my up for being a tad bitchy!

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No problem.

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The R.C. church gave me many problems as I grew up, but (overall) I agree with you.

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Do whatever feels right for you. Ignore social status/prestige and all that bilge!

<<...my rant shows you to be a good person...>>

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Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"