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religion is bs that other people tell you and spiritual is bs you tell yourself.
"spiritual" to me just means understanding the connectivity to everything we have. It can be too woo-ish for sure. But it is valid no matter what I think of woo.
Compartmentalizing a particular set of emotional reactions and placing the label "spirituality" upon them does nothing but create a bogus category. What really is the difference between...
A) I found enlightenment
B) I had an idea
A) I was swept up and away by the magnificence of it
B) It was pretty cool.
A) I felt a connection with the entire universe
B) It struck me that we are all in the same boat
Sure it's bogus in the sense that its significance is perceived rather than real. But then so is the subtext that if a man buys the latest car it will render him attractive to women. Or the somewhat more PC modern version which is if a person buys the latest car they will be made popular, cool, hip, etc. This is no more real than spiritual experiences in that sense, but it is a real perception that people have and it's a category of perceptions that it's useful to label and discuss, at least if you're into marketing.
The difference of course is that it's an open secret that creating desire in people for things they didn't even know they wanted, etc., is a trick, whereas spirituality is widely regarded as a fount of genuine wisdom, enlightenment and tranquility. But you see, here I am discussing spirituality and how its value propositions are different from some of the value propositions of Tesla ownership ... which demonstrates that we need SOME kind of handle for the phenomenon.
Or do we? Maybe you're right and we should just call it unsubstantiated hogwash and be done with it, lest we give it the faux legitimacy it craves by seemingly recognizing special pleadings for it.
I don't know that there's a good answer to that conundrum. People tend to be very attached to their perceived deep insights into existence. Front-loaded rejection of their special pleadings doesn't seem like a way to reach them. But sometimes it does seem like conceding that ground up front goes nowhere useful, so you might as well disturb their slumber with a bucket of cold water. I tend to take it on a case by case basis.
it is human beings narcisstic nature that think the entities do not exist.
look at isis and see it is an evil demon that is alive and well in them.
and in everyone who has resntment In them.
wake up to reality.
There are far more prosaic explanations for ISIL and their conduct than demons.
If would be unfortunate if the answer to Fundamentalist extremism were education, prosperity, equality, an end to colonialism and meddling in the affairs of others, providing real hope for the young, etc., etc., and instead of working towards those ends you were engaging in ritualistic prayers for the casting out of demons.
Front-loaded rejection of their special pleadings doesn't seem like a way to reach them.
I don't doubt that the above is true, but in this case my goal has always been escaping their reach. You are dealing here with someone who finds common cause with Oscar Wilde's summation of the human condition.
"It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious."
For me all spirituality belongs in that latter classification.
Compartmentalizing a particular set of emotional reactions and placing the label "spirituality" upon them does nothing but create a bogus category. What really is the difference between...
A) I found enlightenment
B) I had an idea
A) I was swept up and away by the magnificence of it
B) It was pretty cool.
A) I felt a connection with the entire universe
B) It struck me that we are all in the same boat
So why are the [A] statements 'bogus' and the [b] statements acceptable to you?
If anything (in relation to 'spirituality') the [b] statements appear to be understated or expressions of the mundane - as if the [A] statements and the [b] statements were statements about different subjects...
religion is bs that other people tell you and spiritual is bs you tell yourself.
"spiritual" to me just means understanding the connectivity to everything we have. It can be too woo-ish for sure. But it is valid no matter what I think of woo.
Ummm...so although you think it is bs you also think it is valid?
Or do we? Maybe you're right and we should just call it unsubstantiated hogwash and be done with it, lest we give it the faux legitimacy it craves by seemingly recognizing special pleadings for it.
From what I know about it, spirituality isn't interested in being legitimately recognized...and besides, who or what social sector gets the task of being the ones who legitimize spirituality and why?
Quote:
I don't know that there's a good answer to that conundrum. People tend to be very attached to their perceived deep insights into existence. Front-loaded rejection of their special pleadings doesn't seem like a way to reach them. But sometimes it does seem like conceding that ground up front goes nowhere useful, so you might as well disturb their slumber with a bucket of cold water. I tend to take it on a case by case basis.
Ha ha. Illegitimate.
Quote:
If would be unfortunate if the answer to Fundamentalist extremism were education, prosperity, equality, an end to colonialism and meddling in the affairs of others, providing real hope for the young, etc., etc., and instead of working towards those ends you were engaging in ritualistic prayers for the casting out of demons.
*Chortle* Yet your 'bucket of water' routines are motivated by similar belief structures. The 'demons' are 'ignorance' and the 'remedy' is your version of truth.
Spirituality seems to be just another sickness for you to want to cure.
Last edited by Rotagivan; 05-19-2015 at 08:18 PM..
"It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious."
For me all spirituality belongs in that latter classification.
While that is all fair - you have the right not be be tedious - for others it is neither charming or tedious. It is self revealing and helpful in tidying up areas within ones psyche.
Sure, understandably the very concept might appear to be a tedious process best avoided for those like yourself, but sometimes hard work has its own rewards.
So why are the [A] statements 'bogus' and the [b] statements acceptable to you?
If anything (in relation to 'spirituality') the [b] statements appear to be understated or expressions of the mundane - as if the [A] statements and the [b] statements were statements about different subjects...
No, the statements are expressing the same idea, mundane or otherwise. The difference is that B comes without the spiritualistic hype.
A is B repackaged as spiritualism.
mordant understands, the comparison to advertising was quite apt.
It is self revealing and helpful in tidying up areas within ones psyche.
So they have decided to believe.
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