I had a conversation with my older son the other evening during which I realized I had never fully explained to him what I believe and why. As I argued with him, it became clear that I had not provided him with a foundation for my point of view. These notes will be my attempt to correct that.
The ideas or concepts in these notes are not the stuff of genius except what is their genius, that they are readily gleaned from ordinary observation ... if that observation is devoid of dogma attempting to shape or explain the observation.
First, awareness comes out of existence. The body comes first and then the mind ... a mind that is undeniably human ... even to the point of creating our gods ... as explained and documented by Joseph Campbell in The Power of Myth, among other works.
In my case, I realized that the dogma taught me as a child was wrong as I learned that sexuality was not a cesspool of sin but a fountain of pleasure and joy ... when experienced without coercion.
So what does this mean, awareness comes out of existence? It means we can test our awareness—what we think—by concrete means, by evidence, by the results of what we do ... remembering—as in my case— that dogma when believed will shape the outcomes of our efforts—mental and physical—by its application to those efforts.
But then the question quickly comes: What evidence can we trust to be free of dogma? Is personal faith sufficient especially when corroborated by others of like faith?
And it opens the discussion of chance and necessity, the randomness of the cosmos coupled to the infinite recurrence of events or actions that will always occur with a given set of conditions, conditions—interestingly enough—that may in themselves occur randomly.
Next: Chance & Necessity
The ideas or concepts in these notes are not the stuff of genius except what is their genius, that they are readily gleaned from ordinary observation ... if that observation is devoid of dogma attempting to shape or explain the observation.
First, awareness comes out of existence. The body comes first and then the mind ... a mind that is undeniably human ... even to the point of creating our gods ... as explained and documented by Joseph Campbell in The Power of Myth, among other works.
In my case, I realized that the dogma taught me as a child was wrong as I learned that sexuality was not a cesspool of sin but a fountain of pleasure and joy ... when experienced without coercion.
So what does this mean, awareness comes out of existence? It means we can test our awareness—what we think—by concrete means, by evidence, by the results of what we do ... remembering—as in my case— that dogma when believed will shape the outcomes of our efforts—mental and physical—by its application to those efforts.
But then the question quickly comes: What evidence can we trust to be free of dogma? Is personal faith sufficient especially when corroborated by others of like faith?
Hbr 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. - King James BibleThat opens the dialogue at its core. What is believable to me? And why do I believe it? Is there anything that I believe that isn't influenced by the "authorities"—the wise ones—of my world?
And it opens the discussion of chance and necessity, the randomness of the cosmos coupled to the infinite recurrence of events or actions that will always occur with a given set of conditions, conditions—interestingly enough—that may in themselves occur randomly.
Next: Chance & Necessity
