F.: Yesterday’s post addressed the nonsense that most humans believe regarding their conception. Because persons (the non-Realized) believe in the nonsense that each human conception has a magical, supernatural component to it, then everything that follows in the “life” of each human has a magical, supernatural (and therefore nonsensical) element to it. Furthermore, everything that persons imagine, say, do, feel, or believe is distorted because it is all viewed through the murky lens of their magical, supernatural thinking. For example, at the moment of this writing, confused persons in Indonesia are evacuating their homes that are near a volcano that is predicted to erupt. Why “confused?” Because they had been faithful in paying homage to the volcano to appease it, having tossed in money and jewelry and live animals as sacrifices or gifts that were intended to calm the anger and avoid the wrath and to assure that they received the rewards of life and health and safety and blessings.
A self-proclaimed Christian was heard to mock the Indonesians’ superstitious beliefs and conduct, yet that person is tithing regularly (giving 10% of all earnings to his church) claiming that the teachings in his “holy book” (a) support his belief in his religion’s “prosperity ministry” as well as (b) the belief that his god will be disappointed if followers do not give and that (c) his giving will guarantee that he will be rewarded with life, health, safety, blessings and everlasting continuity of body and mind. The nonsense that is generated by magical, supernatural thinking can inspire one to label as “insane” the tossing of valuables into a volcano while simultaneously believing that the tossing of valuables into collection baskets and plates each week is “sane.”
The nonsense can move beyond religious dogma and can involve “spiritual” beliefs which suggest that a person who has been driven insane can be restored to sanity by merely asking a god to do that. Because magical, supernatural, nonsensical thinking is so prevalent among the persons of the earth, it has become the “norm” and living in a sane and natural fashion is now the exception. So what is “sense” and what is “nonsense”? If one studies the etymology of the word “sense,” it is found that it involves “the ability to reach sound conclusions and to have an understanding that is typically marked by practicality.” Is it practical to toss money, jewelry and animals into volcanoes? Is it practical to give money to churches that have already accumulated treasuries, treasures and holdings that are worth trillions of dollars? Is it practical to believe that sanity can be restored merely by asking?
Moreover, having “sense” really refers to being in touch with the sixth sense or the intuitive awareness that allows one to live naturally and practically, as does the deer. Humanity in its early stages lived naturally, as does the deer. A shift occurred when persons developed language and began talking nonsense. The subsequent programming and conditioning that produced the widely-held beliefs in myths, superstitions, dogma and “the supernatural” shifted humans away from natural living and trapped them in a lifestyle that has lost the practicality that comes with the “understanding” that provides the ability to reach sound conclusions.
As a result, a culture can suggest that it is “practical” to believe that an angry god kills persons by using hurricanes or by allowing people to fly planes into office buildings...and the masses accept that as a “sound conclusion.” A culture can suggest to someone who owns a life-sustaining goat that it would be “practical” to toss it into a volcano to keep it from erupting...and the masses accept that as a “sound conclusion.” A culture can convince people that it is “practical” to give money to one of the richest institutions on the planet in order to gain a reward now and a reward later...and the masses accept that as a “sound conclusion.” A culture can convince people that it is practical to starve while allowing cattle to roam free...and the masses accept that as a “sound conclusion.” A culture can convince people that is practical to blow yourself up while killing people of different religions...and the masses accept that as a “sound conclusion.” A culture can convince insane people that they merely need to ask a god to restore them to sanity and that their wish for sanity shall be granted...and the masses accept that as a “sound conclusion.”
So what of you? Have you accepted at face value the beliefs held by your culture at large? Has your “faith” denied you the right to question the most nonsensical teachings of your culture? Is your every action practical? Do you have the “understanding” that allows you to realize how the totality functions? Has your life been marked by reaching sound conclusions, or do you accept the conclusions that have been drawn by others throughout the ages? Are you in touch with the inner resource and living naturally, or are you listening to outer resources and looking to outer powers to determine how you live and what you do? Is it possible that faith has generated acceptance of nonsense? Please enter the silence of contemplation. [To be continued]
TOMORROW: Faith and Nonsense
A self-proclaimed Christian was heard to mock the Indonesians’ superstitious beliefs and conduct, yet that person is tithing regularly (giving 10% of all earnings to his church) claiming that the teachings in his “holy book” (a) support his belief in his religion’s “prosperity ministry” as well as (b) the belief that his god will be disappointed if followers do not give and that (c) his giving will guarantee that he will be rewarded with life, health, safety, blessings and everlasting continuity of body and mind. The nonsense that is generated by magical, supernatural thinking can inspire one to label as “insane” the tossing of valuables into a volcano while simultaneously believing that the tossing of valuables into collection baskets and plates each week is “sane.”
The nonsense can move beyond religious dogma and can involve “spiritual” beliefs which suggest that a person who has been driven insane can be restored to sanity by merely asking a god to do that. Because magical, supernatural, nonsensical thinking is so prevalent among the persons of the earth, it has become the “norm” and living in a sane and natural fashion is now the exception. So what is “sense” and what is “nonsense”? If one studies the etymology of the word “sense,” it is found that it involves “the ability to reach sound conclusions and to have an understanding that is typically marked by practicality.” Is it practical to toss money, jewelry and animals into volcanoes? Is it practical to give money to churches that have already accumulated treasuries, treasures and holdings that are worth trillions of dollars? Is it practical to believe that sanity can be restored merely by asking?
Moreover, having “sense” really refers to being in touch with the sixth sense or the intuitive awareness that allows one to live naturally and practically, as does the deer. Humanity in its early stages lived naturally, as does the deer. A shift occurred when persons developed language and began talking nonsense. The subsequent programming and conditioning that produced the widely-held beliefs in myths, superstitions, dogma and “the supernatural” shifted humans away from natural living and trapped them in a lifestyle that has lost the practicality that comes with the “understanding” that provides the ability to reach sound conclusions.
As a result, a culture can suggest that it is “practical” to believe that an angry god kills persons by using hurricanes or by allowing people to fly planes into office buildings...and the masses accept that as a “sound conclusion.” A culture can suggest to someone who owns a life-sustaining goat that it would be “practical” to toss it into a volcano to keep it from erupting...and the masses accept that as a “sound conclusion.” A culture can convince people that it is “practical” to give money to one of the richest institutions on the planet in order to gain a reward now and a reward later...and the masses accept that as a “sound conclusion.” A culture can convince people that it is practical to starve while allowing cattle to roam free...and the masses accept that as a “sound conclusion.” A culture can convince people that is practical to blow yourself up while killing people of different religions...and the masses accept that as a “sound conclusion.” A culture can convince insane people that they merely need to ask a god to restore them to sanity and that their wish for sanity shall be granted...and the masses accept that as a “sound conclusion.”
So what of you? Have you accepted at face value the beliefs held by your culture at large? Has your “faith” denied you the right to question the most nonsensical teachings of your culture? Is your every action practical? Do you have the “understanding” that allows you to realize how the totality functions? Has your life been marked by reaching sound conclusions, or do you accept the conclusions that have been drawn by others throughout the ages? Are you in touch with the inner resource and living naturally, or are you listening to outer resources and looking to outer powers to determine how you live and what you do? Is it possible that faith has generated acceptance of nonsense? Please enter the silence of contemplation. [To be continued]
TOMORROW: Faith and Nonsense
