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Chippewa
SFN Regular
USA
1496 Posts |
 Posted - 03/02/2005 : 01:27:03 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by jimrobb
...I do believe in life after death, and most people around the world seem to share that belief in one form or another. The core of Christian faith is resurrection. Jesus rose, leading the way for us. At least that's the Bible's message. And that's one part of the Bible everything in me seems to agree with.
Eek! You're starting to preach. So I will too. But only for a second: I think R.Wreck is on to something simple and profound. Perhaps the real "core of Christian faith" is (or should be) exemplified by black and white people living and working together at Koinonia Farm. Living productive lives in the face of intolerant "Christians." (That's a historical reference in honor of black history month.) 
Anyway, death and resurrection are pre-Christian themes too. So in reality Paul, and the whole Bible are not the primary authority; just an interesting symbolic reference. This might seem a shocking statement to some. Good, getting closer to reality is like cold water in the face, or too hot fire. Its scary - like the music of Arnold Schoenberg - never heard on radio. People want to feel cozy in their warm fuzzy structured beliefs. But it can be exhilarating and indeed fun to poke a tiny hole in the cocoon and maybe see the forest through the trees.
Just for fun, there is another explanation for all this. Perhaps Paul's vision was a symbolic quest for the bicameral era. A hypothetical period wherein human consciousness did not exist, and introspective thoughts when faced with unusual conditions, (such as clashes, war, Jesus coming along, Buddha, etc...) experienced itself in the form of auditory and visual hallucinations. So the "Gods" or the "God" "spoke" as far as people were concerned.
When consciousness arose by Paul's time, religion had ritualized itself. Through witness to miracles and visions and "holy" sanctifications, beliefs acquired authorization. Paul's writings are perhaps just this, a quest for authorization through the symbolic ritual. An unaware nostalgia for the "safe" time in the womb of bicameral non-consciousness. I hope the human race can move beyond that. Time to wake up and explore the universe.
Some of the terms in this post originated in this book:
http://www.julianjaynes.org/bicameralmind.php |
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moakley
SFN Regular
USA
1888 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2005 : 08:17:22 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by jimrobb
Yes, quite true. If Jesus never arose, I'm left with a fantastic set of principles, excellent poetry, stirring biography, etc. But I won't have an answer for the evil I have done. I won't have a hope of heaven. That would be sad.
Belief because it is consoling? I can accept that.
I no longer accept the Bible as being supernaturally inspired. I have read too much comparative mythology the latest being Tim Calahan's "The Secret Origins of the Bible". The overwhelming importance of Faith seems to be a foundation for supernatural Truth that is without limits. |
Life is good
Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned. -Anonymous |
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jimrobb
New Member
38 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2005 : 21:11:56 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Chippewa
Eek! You're starting to preach.
Well, no. I'm just saying what I think. Which is what you're also doing, right? |
Jim Robb  |
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