What to believe......

Jar - When you said the map is not the territory, does that mean the bible and other texts cannot adequately describe an infinate being (or something to that effect)?It strikes me as funny and sad that so many argue over bible verses, as if printed words, correctly translated or not could in any way describe or define an actual "god". But better nad successful are subjective terms; I just want to know the truth.

I can only tell you what my momma used to say..."Wish in one hand and spit in the other and see which gets full first".When it comes to the spiritual we will know the truth sometime after we are daid, and not before. Kinda. Religion, any religion, can never be more than a human construct. The character we create and label as God can never be GOD.Some maps may be more accurate than others, but all maps are just representational. Just because the map says there is a bridge, does not mean you can drive across.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Hal, I think sometimes folks are pulled to these experiences--and sometimes pushed.A precocious 10 year old alienated by the poverty and industrial pollution around him, and all the violent social pathologies associated with them, has a strong motivation to be somewhere else, even nowhere--and boy was I alienated. Similarly my readings in diverse mystics suggest that some ecstasies are like an unfolding and some like a head cracking open, and I'd definitely fit in the cracked-head category.So I don't think it's a matter of improvement. Just sit still when your own extraordinary moments come. If you haven't already tried some traditional meditative techniques, you might give it a whirl, or just cultivate a practice of quiet time in nature alone.

Jar - Can you recommend a reading list? I like the way that you described religion the analogy of the map.

Thanks, I will do that. If nothing else, meditation, at least for me, yields a calming effect that makes it much easier to focus and think.

I can try.Start with Language in Thought and Action by SI Hayakawa.Read the works of CS Lewis, particularly the Trilogy of Perilandra, His Hideous Strength and Forbidden Planet.Mark Twain's Mysterious Stranger.John Brunner's Crucible of Time.The Works of Mencius.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Haha.It's an ironic statement, that a good deed should lead to such a statement nowadays. Well, good luck.

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There's so many different worlds, so many different suns...and we have just the one, but we live in different worlds

Of course, if the map is a spiritual one and the bridge described therein is spiritual then spirits, if they can read the map properly, should have no problem driving across it. Spiritually speaking.

I made a point in the other thread (which has, through some sleight of hand, right-turned into science philosophy ) about caution. As MY mom said. "All the glistens is not gold". The fact the a particular activity seems to be beneficial means not that it's ultimate purpose is intended to be beneficial to you.It's from a Christian writer but I think the sentiment can be applied at a wider level. For me it was dope, sex and fast motorcycles (to name but a few)

quote:

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"The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones... without signposts." C.S. Lewis

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If you get there and it is easy then fine. But beware that which is easy on the way. There isn't a trap in the world that is designed to be difficult to get into.This message has been edited by iano, 21-Jan-2006 12:34 AMThis message has been edited by iano, 21-Jan-2006 12:54 AM

Sorry but that statement is total complete non-sense, filled with many qualifiers and absolutely useless advice to some searching human.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I am absolutely certain I am right. You are still not forced. You are persuaded by what you think is adequate evidence. I consider my own testimony to be equally good evidence. But then I've admitted to not being humble about this. My brain requires very special care and feeding. You must pay close attention to my instructions.

Hmmm....

Yo Faith... does your brain ever get to hurtin with all this?

i didn't think buddhists believed in god? well. not specifically.

haha. i tried to do the walking outside of your body thing once but the only thing i had to concentrate on was the lock on my tea chest. i felt more like i was going to fling the chest right at my head than i was going to step out of my body. not that i'd know what to do if i managed to do it...