Religious believers regard their faith as absolute truth, in the sense it is seen meaningful for all people at all times. Unfortunately this vision is far from true or even blatantly incorrect. History shows religions develop over the period of centuries and can adapt to changes in thinking and society. Religions are therefore educated cooking recipes arranging the basic ingredients in different styles.
Religions are also advanced mental computer programs. They have their own unique source codes, which might or might not contain basic flaws. I have my own opinions what might be flawed or not, but stating my opinion at this point would be perceived as arrogant. These religion programs are applied on an impressive yet finite set of rules, commands and interpretations of the universe. And here we hit a dilemma. Devotion, being an essential element of religion, opens mind and soul, and can lead to spiritual development. Devotion, however, is also called the primordial nemesis, the archenemy of reasoning. Strenuous efforts, plus a solid portion of humor, are needed to bridge the gap of antagonism, so that these mental enemies can be turned into somewhat uneasy bedfellows.
How can this landscape be dealt with in a creative and meaningful way? The first move is to step back from one’s own firm beliefs, and give other beliefs the benefit of doubt. With the creation of intellectual space evolves a mindset that embraces and respects rather than opposes or fights, leading to a true world-vision.
Once a multiple, tolerant ‘stereographic’ view obtained, the second step is to separate essence (unfathomable truth) from cultural and traditional elements. This can be a lengthy, and often painful process, as cherished ideas are migrated from the ‘absolute’ folder into ‘relative truth’ and ‘historical dustbin’ folders. Unnecessary to say that this process requires enormous mental strength whilst bidding farewell to obsolete patterns of thought engrained in egoistic perspectives.
Having gone through the purgatory of lost illusions, the meat is finally stripped from the bone and this is where the fun starts. In step three we actually learn to see religions as advanced, playful computer programs. Situations can be played, analyzed, processed and understood. Humor is a nice spin-off, and often an indicator of spiritual development. Contrarily, the most dogmatic and fanatic followers are always characterized by a complete absence of humor.
Where does this lead? It could bring a world-vision, free of arrogance, dogma, and proselytism. A world, where opinions can be exchanged freely, where religious traditions are embraced as streams of wisdom, rather than endured as oppressive systems stymied by mental corruption.
© 2004 by Franz L Kessler
How sadly true this is, Franz, in most cases. I often wonder what The Creator thinks of all this, too. Somehow, I picture Him as an extremely humorous Being, and the lack of humor in organized religion must make Him sad. And religious wars fought supposedly on His behalf, must make Him even sadder.
I found this to be very well developed and your thesis consistant.
Carmen