Conflict Over Faith
Many of you who receive this Blog are not on my Civic List. It is unfortunate that you are missing a fascinating debate on matters of faith. This is not the first time such a subject has been in the forefront of discourse within the Civic List. This round was started by my reporting on George Milman’s story of the Dover School decision about ID (Intelligent Design). Ian, George, Brigit, Lyle, and now Kevin have chimed in. Whatever you faiths are we seem to have someone who is in your camp, creationist, Opus Dei, secularist, agnostic or atheist. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there are even some pagans among us.
Much of our discussions of faith touch on many side issues, ID, human and minority rights, defining scriptures, and definition of faith, Biblical veracity. Current books discussed have included Sam Harris’s “The End of Faith”, “The Sins of Scripture” by Bishop Spong and “The Bible Fraud” by Tony Bushby. There is real fear of public disclosure when one might be different from the majority. In other words, as one expressed belief, it is better not to state that you are atheist or agnostic in public.
Are we not avoiding the overall issue in not recognizing that is an issue of control? This is an issue of freedom from state religion. Separation of religion and state was an issue before, during and after the creation of our republic. It continues to be a major issue today. Not only in America but also in many parts of the world. For certain it hangs heavy over all considerations in the Middle East.
This is not only a question of theocracies, of religion controlling the State, but beware of the State controlling religion. Histories tell some very bad stories in either case. Those stories all bode poorly for Freedom.
This entry was posted on Sunday, January 8th, 2006 at 4:13 PM and filed under Articles. Follow comments here with the RSS 2.0 feed. Post a comment or leave a trackback.
Michael,
…Control…you might have said it all—right there with an all encompassing word that has its tentacles far-out into space, as we know it. It is definitely man’s need, it seems, to again to control, control, control.
I had the fortune to write about this subject several months ago. But, I must say, I was younger then. Much younger than today and in early spring of 2005, we again just clashed-nobody realizing what we actually were saying. Mostly, we defended man’s need to control by interchanging gobs of rhetoric, hearsay, and church nonsense.
In my life, I have read the King James version of the Bible, several times-all the way through. Had discussions with many a learned priest, scholar-woman and man. I looked and relished the Far-Eastern thoughts, took in the American indigenous tribes and Hawaiian spiritual outlook with the utmost respect. This is me.
I have found that when one is engrossed in a belief, the tendency for the mind to think and do-immerse in the scriptures, in whatever gospel or part we read that miracles, healing and well-being, for lack of something else, produces results and those results can lead to higher vibratory activity producing what we can tell as a healing.
After a while, I found myself bored with the predictable outcome that focus and determination produced. No not with healing but the mere fact of not being able to change the whole world at the same time.
I needed to ‘feel’ something larger in my life, than the predictable because as an actor, most of us can will ourselves into mind-states at whatever level we desire. The will is strong, thus proving my theory in that anything…can be the focus of desire, compliment, and result.
This next step took on a more ancient role and focus than most people dare to explore. Exploring the power of ‘paganism’ and ’seeing’ and ’sensing’ changes, miracles and healing just as before in a Christian and Taoist’s mask.
Without a moment to lose, but having the patience to realize finally that man all along his mortal trek, has been wandering in circles, the thought came by the spirit and asked me to wonder about ancient sources to sacred to whisper too others.
I obliged and received more information producing exquisite clarity.
Besides, the most important fact that the only time we are perfect is when we are babies, I know now that it is not the intellect that we so desperately seek and desire, it is only the Light. The ego pertains to the intellect, no matter how important that may be to each of us in common discourse. I do not disparage individuals or the mode we travel-discourse is important, yes-but it is still ego.
We should be taking the time out of our lives to clarify, to lessen the darkness, to purify, and brighten our countenance.
Once, we can attain that sense of being, we should very well understand, that end. For that attainment is not at all termination but in fact, the beginning.
So, I’ll end…I have undertook a journey to brighten my countenance. And no matter how we each partake-it is our process. Together, we saw it ever so briefly, almost like a flash when it came to us in HAIR-the Broadway HAIR, on the road HAIR, the Las Vegas HAIR, the World HAIR. Then it disappeared from society, sub networks and all.
Might it come back again? I at least am on that trek-I must finish my good life learning that the possibilities of learning are endless. But, do stay steady, maintain a vigilance with energy to witness the end and the beginning when our countenance brightens.
Lyle K’ang
Posted on 14-Jan-06 at 11:22 pm | Permalink