| cegan@egan-martinez.com 2005-12-26, 10:21 pm |
| Hey, Ken....chilll a bit....
Your post is arguing against all kinds of things....but not with
anything I wrote.
For the record, I don't consider myself particularly "religious" but
neither do I think it's a bad thing when humans try to look for wisdom.
Much of philosophy and science have been driven for centuries by
curiosity and a desire to understand. I think that's a good thing. I
also think that some humans have looked for wisdom in the realms of
spirit and art. Some of what we find in Lao Tzu is deeply
insightful....also much of what we find in native American attitudes
towards the earth and nature. I personally don't feel terribly
interested in organized religion....but I am not so arrogant to think
that I am the only human with all the answers....for which reason I
tend to listen respectfully when someone tells me of their own search
for wisdom and insight. I don't make fun of historians who offer
fragments of what may have actually occurred....because from these
fragments I may be able to piece together a larger piece of the puzzle
we call life. Equally I don't make fun of the deeply felt beliefs of
people whose thoughts contain pieces of what may resemble truth. On
the other hand, I don't think much of those who present themselves as
the sole carrier of "TRUTH" or who pretend to speak for something
called "God". As I always warn my students...whenever they are
confronted by orthodoxy of any kind....when anyone asks them to turn
off their brains and accept ANYTHING on faith....then they should be
very careful....there is usually a charlatan at work.
So....if you want to argue about the sins of Christianity and other
religions...that's fine....but it's another thread. In my post I did
not espouse religion....nor did I say anything about divinity or God.
I simply wanted to remind the group that some things deserve
respect....and I think that the actual words of Christ are among the
words in human history that offer insight and wisdom. Those who built
religious institutions in his name are another topic.
Whether this clarifies it for you depends on your willingness to read
what I wrote instead of what you thought you read.
Respectfully....
Christopher
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