the whole process of development of the human from child to adult is one of learning that he is not the centre of the universe, but a functioning part of it ... religious belief structures have taught this, and while i too abhor their baggage, i don't know what to replace them with ...
Why not with the known truth based on proven facts ? For starters it is simpler. What is such "truth"? I believe that it is an individual search, my truth is not necessarily your truth and visceversa.
The important thing is to learn how to think, how to research. Imposing dogma simply because "it comes from an institution", to me has no value, particularly if it is either "forcefully imposed" or smoothly imposed by "nice quiet brain washing techniques".
It is a long subject that imo the answers come from the individual search mentioned above.
All I can say if the subject interests you (or anyone), then read on it, study it. Spiritualism (religion) is an individual search, I do not understand the "need" to be in the middle of a congregation to "feel fuzzy and warm". I do not need anyone else to think for me.
As Mencken said:
"I believe that religion, generally speaking, has been a curse to mankind - that its modest and greatly overestimated services on the ethical side have been more than overcome by the damage it has done to clear and honest thinking."
although i likely won't have much to say about it, the Tiny Perfect Woman being of firm will ... but i'll do what i can to teach them to think independently
That sounds like a contradiction to me.
How can you teach anyone to think independently, if, in a specific aspect (an important one), you are allowing someone else to take the lead WITHOUT your participation ?
Nothing wrong with the lady taking the lead, but... are your ideas not important too ?
Although that wouldn't necessarily be a tragedy either - the only priest i ever knew well, spoke with at length, was a good man ... a perpetual student with an open mind and a love of teaching ... of teaching surprisingly independent thought ... he had a way of challenging any dogma of hatred with a soft question in a low voice ...
I do not doubt it. Indeed perhaps more of this type are needed. Spark the questions, and then leave each independent mind to take over, each individual should make their own mind, as to what is it that is important to each individual.
This is a far cry from the reality that any church is.
In short, they say, it is my way, or the highway. [But you get to go to hell if it is the highway] ---> That pisses me off. The damned fear factor and all the guilt trips.
They have this pompous attitude, it does not matter if you spell it to them:
I D O N O T N E E D T O B E P R E A C H E D O N.
They simply can not get it through their thick head that there are actually people that do not believe in their crap AND that many of such people, are actually nice people, and feel quite confident and at peace with their belief that does not include some super-natural god.
Not demon worshipers, Communists, bandits, desperados, lost souls, etc, etc, etc...
now i know the history of the church, it includes a lot of brutes, but it also includes Zum rraga and de Las Casas and this guy.
The good examples are individuals who they would have been good without the need of the church. On the other side, the church (the organizations), can hide a lot of evil actions... "in the name of god" [I shall cut your head off if you do not convert... or... fill in the blank....]
Anyway... Good luck in your future project. |
