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Pastimes : Understanding Islam
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To: James Calladine who wrote (450)11/9/2001 11:44:09 AM
From: Torus  Read Replies (2) of 2926
 
James,
You have repeatedly told this thread about your notions of the esoteric and exoteric in religion. I believe that these are very important to you since you always CAPITALIZE THEM.

I would like to point out that these are your notions only (or perhaps only the notions of your teacher) rather than accepted meanings for these words.

You state that a CORE communication that approximates the message of an omnipresent, yet personal divinity is called its ESOTERIC teaching. By whom? I've never heard anyone call it that until I read it from you the first time.

Merriam Webster defines esoteric as "designed for or understood by the specially initiated alone; of or relating to knowledge that is restricted to a small group; limited to a small circle; private confidential". Nothing about CORE teachings or divinity or anything that you described.

Exoteric teachings are defined by you as social-wisdom teachings like the 10 commandments. Merriam Webster instead feels that exoteric is defined as "suitable to be imparted to the public; belonging to the outer or less initiate circle; relating to the outside; external". While elements of religion such as the 10 commandments certainly are imparted to the public, so are all the teachings of religions. At least that is my impression.

Anyhow I just wanted to perhaps provide an explanation as to why no one seems to react to your repeated explanations of your interpretation of the EXOTERIC and ESOTERIC parts of religion. And that is because it is only your interpretation based on some dubious definitions of your terminology.

I do not fundamentally disagree with anything that you've said, particularly about dogma, reformation, and living teachers. But what you've described seemed obvious to me. I find myself asking "So what?" "How does this help me to Understand Islam as it is being thrust upon me today?" "How should I react to violence brought to my home country by believers in Islam or any other religion?" "What can I do to ease the pain of those suffering under an oppressive religious dogma?"

Can you or Adi Da begin to answer these questions?
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