I am not intending to challenge any one religion... but all of their followers. I am more familiar (and less afraid of) the beliefs of the Christian Church but know that these theories apply Universally. (universe=one song. Beliefs are disharmonious.)
Belief is a touchy subject. So much so that it is a social taboo to question ones beliefs. But as I see it beliefs are what separate us from one another. Two folks believe differently and, due to the nature of beliefs, they can prove neither thus an em pass.
Belief, by definition, takes faith to support. A belief founded in logic becomes a theory. So in reality we are dealing in matters of faith. Indeed to question ones faith is not going to get results. Those of faith start going in a circular argument about belief and faith and break down into "if you don't have faith, you cant understand my beliefs." Likely it is they who misunderstand the source of their own convictions.
In order to understand said source, I must go back to evolution... intelligent design (in case you are a 'true believer'). The empty feeling that most humans feel and fill with their belief system, is a positive evolutionary trait. The reason is simple. Peoples that felt this way were more curious and inventive in an attempt to get psychologically contented. They were less apt to just be happy and exist in bliss, in other word, they left the Garden of Eden. Perhaps they even found more pleasure in the more mundane things in nature due to a satisfaction of filling the void within, whereas if there is no void to fill there would be no artificial satisfaction, no curiosity, wonder or invention. This psychological edge would be enough to dominate those without. Further, the development of a distinct spiritual system both attracted and pacified larger groups of people than had been possible any time before. Another reason it is a dominant trait in modern man.
But alas I must try and approach faith without sounding godless. In order to do so first I have to explain why anyone would want to disrupt someone elses life structure by attempting to undermine their beliefs. History is ripe with wars of faith. And we are not insulated from that now.
In the USA around a quarter of our populace BELIEVE that Armageddon is coming. That YHVH will rescue them from this Earth and take them into the sky. These people don't view Earth as anything more than a disposable temporary living space. The climate change problem don't effect them because they wont be here in the 'end of days'. This is a reflection of what religion is for, absolution.
Humans go to church and pay to be told what they think. Most don't bother to read the bible much less take the time to learn a new language to read the original texts. But are contented to listen to one mans interpretation of an already overly transcribed, and hand copied, Roman interpretation, of 200 year old texts written 50 years after the actual life of Jesus.
I am not saying it is of no worth. But the life of Jesus is being misused by the church as an example of behavior that will grant access to heaven. By putting Jesus between us and God the church has undermined Jesus main teachings about our personal connection with the all mighty.
Jesus' death has been used against us also. Are we not suppose to worship any false idols. Just worship the one God directly. Moses said this. Then came Jesus, and 250 years later (when Rome created modern Christianity... NOT JESUS or his followers) we are using a cross (a torture/execution device) as a crutch to remind us of the sacrifice. And our acceptance of Jesus dying for our sins grants us an eternal seat in the presence of a omnipotent omnipresent being that, I assume, must have billions of other worlds to monitor and grant miracles on. This seems a bit pride full, the original sin. Yet the cross is a sin, a false idol that serves only to put distance between you and God.
God, as it is, must be understood individually. There are NO SHORTCUTS. Churches are profitable organization that allow their followers to absolve themselves from personal responsibility by substituting our logical mental processes for unfounded beliefs and unneeded submission rituals along with rules of how to be civilized... in ages long past. Likely, the actions of the believer and the conscientious non-believer, will be the same in most every circumstance. Simply because a spiritual person will finds the truth...for free.
I am not sure how to challenge someones beliefs without getting anger as a response. But its got to be done. We cant allow the planet to be run by a bunch of people that believe God is a man in the sky with a white beard and big muscles and the Earth is just a place to wait for death or for "the man in the sky" to rescue them. This is the only planet we have got, and the faithful can't be logical about this. We must have logical reasons for what we do to effect the population and environment, not beliefs, and hopes, and absolution from sound reasoning due to 'its what the Bible said.'
But alas, stained glass windows, golden trinkets and bejeweled crosses (all needed to impress God?) cant be acquired through faith alone. If we could all find for ourselves what the spirit urns for, the churches would be nothing more than a strange cult.
We should wield the Bible as a weapon of peace and not an excuse to exclude other people of differing beliefs (or none at all). Nor to wage war or gather money. The words of God should connect us to mother Earth and let us know we are dependant on the rock we live on. That the true nature of God can not be found in a church but between the sky and rivers. That the path to your salvation is yours alone to travel, and no one can guide or follow you. My proof lies in the lives of the great prophets. They followed no one.
Thier unique experiences in life formulated their reality. So no man can ever hope to get to a higher place unless they are willing to throw away conventional ways and find their own truth. In doing so, you will be more liken to any one of the most revered humans in our history than those that are just faithful.
At least that was my theory... and is now my way of life. :-)
Belief is a touchy subject. So much so that it is a social taboo to question ones beliefs. But as I see it beliefs are what separate us from one another. Two folks believe differently and, due to the nature of beliefs, they can prove neither thus an em pass.
Belief, by definition, takes faith to support. A belief founded in logic becomes a theory. So in reality we are dealing in matters of faith. Indeed to question ones faith is not going to get results. Those of faith start going in a circular argument about belief and faith and break down into "if you don't have faith, you cant understand my beliefs." Likely it is they who misunderstand the source of their own convictions.
In order to understand said source, I must go back to evolution... intelligent design (in case you are a 'true believer'). The empty feeling that most humans feel and fill with their belief system, is a positive evolutionary trait. The reason is simple. Peoples that felt this way were more curious and inventive in an attempt to get psychologically contented. They were less apt to just be happy and exist in bliss, in other word, they left the Garden of Eden. Perhaps they even found more pleasure in the more mundane things in nature due to a satisfaction of filling the void within, whereas if there is no void to fill there would be no artificial satisfaction, no curiosity, wonder or invention. This psychological edge would be enough to dominate those without. Further, the development of a distinct spiritual system both attracted and pacified larger groups of people than had been possible any time before. Another reason it is a dominant trait in modern man.
But alas I must try and approach faith without sounding godless. In order to do so first I have to explain why anyone would want to disrupt someone elses life structure by attempting to undermine their beliefs. History is ripe with wars of faith. And we are not insulated from that now.
In the USA around a quarter of our populace BELIEVE that Armageddon is coming. That YHVH will rescue them from this Earth and take them into the sky. These people don't view Earth as anything more than a disposable temporary living space. The climate change problem don't effect them because they wont be here in the 'end of days'. This is a reflection of what religion is for, absolution.
Humans go to church and pay to be told what they think. Most don't bother to read the bible much less take the time to learn a new language to read the original texts. But are contented to listen to one mans interpretation of an already overly transcribed, and hand copied, Roman interpretation, of 200 year old texts written 50 years after the actual life of Jesus.
I am not saying it is of no worth. But the life of Jesus is being misused by the church as an example of behavior that will grant access to heaven. By putting Jesus between us and God the church has undermined Jesus main teachings about our personal connection with the all mighty.
Jesus' death has been used against us also. Are we not suppose to worship any false idols. Just worship the one God directly. Moses said this. Then came Jesus, and 250 years later (when Rome created modern Christianity... NOT JESUS or his followers) we are using a cross (a torture/execution device) as a crutch to remind us of the sacrifice. And our acceptance of Jesus dying for our sins grants us an eternal seat in the presence of a omnipotent omnipresent being that, I assume, must have billions of other worlds to monitor and grant miracles on. This seems a bit pride full, the original sin. Yet the cross is a sin, a false idol that serves only to put distance between you and God.
God, as it is, must be understood individually. There are NO SHORTCUTS. Churches are profitable organization that allow their followers to absolve themselves from personal responsibility by substituting our logical mental processes for unfounded beliefs and unneeded submission rituals along with rules of how to be civilized... in ages long past. Likely, the actions of the believer and the conscientious non-believer, will be the same in most every circumstance. Simply because a spiritual person will finds the truth...for free.
I am not sure how to challenge someones beliefs without getting anger as a response. But its got to be done. We cant allow the planet to be run by a bunch of people that believe God is a man in the sky with a white beard and big muscles and the Earth is just a place to wait for death or for "the man in the sky" to rescue them. This is the only planet we have got, and the faithful can't be logical about this. We must have logical reasons for what we do to effect the population and environment, not beliefs, and hopes, and absolution from sound reasoning due to 'its what the Bible said.'
But alas, stained glass windows, golden trinkets and bejeweled crosses (all needed to impress God?) cant be acquired through faith alone. If we could all find for ourselves what the spirit urns for, the churches would be nothing more than a strange cult.
We should wield the Bible as a weapon of peace and not an excuse to exclude other people of differing beliefs (or none at all). Nor to wage war or gather money. The words of God should connect us to mother Earth and let us know we are dependant on the rock we live on. That the true nature of God can not be found in a church but between the sky and rivers. That the path to your salvation is yours alone to travel, and no one can guide or follow you. My proof lies in the lives of the great prophets. They followed no one.
Thier unique experiences in life formulated their reality. So no man can ever hope to get to a higher place unless they are willing to throw away conventional ways and find their own truth. In doing so, you will be more liken to any one of the most revered humans in our history than those that are just faithful.
At least that was my theory... and is now my way of life. :-)
5 comments:
You are writing from the Judeo-Christian view of the creation of man. Anthropologists have shown the creation of man described in the book of Genesis is contradicted by the fossil record.
“In the USA around a quarter of our populace BELIEVE that Armageddon is coming. But YHVH will rescue them from this Earth and take them into the sky”
This could be used to validate P. T. Barnum’s adage “There’s a sucker born every minute” buts leaves one question, who or what is YHVH ?
Yod He Vau He(final) are the hebrew letters on the cross Jesus was on. INRI is what the bible would have you think. But he was a Jew, prosecuted by the Jews orders, under the Roman athority. Rome knew that to crusify Jesus could result in a marter (a nation learns these things in the subjugation of so many cultures). But the plackard was likely hebrew.
being it is hebrew, the numeric value needs to be taken into account to derive the meaning of the word. thus tese letters are used to imply "god" "jesus" and many other equal words... numericly speaking.
Hello there Breeze. interesting blog, I like it. I think I'll be keeping an eye on this one.
Interesting, I found you from a comment you left on the Mysterious Universe blog.
And low and behold your a fellow homie from the burque! It sure is rare you meet another person from New Mexico on these interwebs much less someone form Albuquerque.
Hey we should have some coffe sometime, what do you say?
Sure no pressure I am shy. been a hermit (sorta)for a few years now.
I felt strange puttin out all these contimplative and reality changing ideas into the 'ether'web and not knowing if I'd reach a soul. (besides Fish) :-) So thanks for that at least! CN50PC
Makes me wanna start a belief structure blog.
The only MMO game I've enjoyed, and cant get off, is BattleField 2142. OMG I will go outside after a session and when I see someone else, my first impule is to find cover and fire(no blue label floating above head...must be bad guy). I've tried some of the RPG (my favorite 'til lately, not online though) online (MMORPGs?) games. (that last sentence really sucked didnt it) But didnt get into them much.
Your blog makes me feel like I may have missed a few good ones.
Aw well they are not for everyone. Perhaps you can live vicariously through my blog, that is kind of what it is about.
I'm a big BF2142 player! That is some good stuff. I'm not too great at it but I'm not too bad either. Right now I play about two rounds each day. I get sick of it if I play too long but its great to jump in and shoot some folk.
Well as far as missing out on great MMOs that is probably true. XD There was this one from the 90's that I could go on and on about... but time goes on and things fade to the past.
So no coffee? XD
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