[GJM] Failures of the atheistic enterprise

Sat Dec 23 00:45:32 MST 2006

For many who find a faith-base en-couraging in the dire dangers the global
society now faces, and in taking on the response-ability we must muster to
counter it,
the issue is less about dogma and much more about the poetry of life
behind rich insights that dogma tends to ossify.

'Throw out the dogma, but take it back as poetry'
please,
never failing to countenance with respect
the starting point of others who share with us the pilgrim way.

As we enter Chanukah and Christmas, and approach Eid, it's hard not to be
struck by the theme of re-emerging hope in the face of overwhelming
darkness.

In wishing you a joyful and inspiring festive season, I share this
reflection from within my own faith tradition,

Peter Challen

*IN THE PRESENCE OF A CHILD*

The richest holistic theology

one can imagine;

the most penetrating earth-system science

one can grasp;

requires such immense humility

and confident, low-profile creativity

that,

in the societal spin

in which we humans live,

Gramsci's realism surely must abide,

'Pessimism of the intellect,

optimism of the will;

whatever the odds,

whatever the gnawing doubt,

I must be faithful to my conviction .'

We need be honest about the scale

of the task,

intent on finding answerable courages

for playing the part

that lies within our scope,

- our self-scape,

- our social-scape,

- our earth-scape;

making us holistic persons,

who,

despite all lapses in our memories,

are fashioned in ever emergent, never finished,

earth-system science,

to sense the mystery and synergy of God;

God of no name and many names,

true wealth of life itself,

in all time, everywhere, yet

focused for a season in a child

in a humbling stall.

That child, whose birth-significance

was realised with hindsight in his whole-scape,

by baptism in water,

maturing wisdom in exploratory debate,

authentic suffering servant-hood,

in triumph, despair and resurrection

of that whole-life-reflecting week,

through to easter, pentecost, ascension,

fulfilling the all-inclusive human vocation

to perpetuate vitalising love

in loving

unconditionally.

Find energy of spirit and matter,

- they are one -]

in the now hidden,

universal heart in nativity.

                    Peter Challen    2006

On 22/12/06, marguerite hampton <ecopilgrim at aabol.com> wrote:
>
> Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder my dear
>
> "freecycle moderator" and so does what is ludicrous
>
> or offensive.
>
>
>
> However, I do believe that true science cannot be
>
> quibbled with -- especially when it is visible to the
>
> human eye through the microscope as is the "new
>
> science of biology".
>
>
>
> Yet it appears you would ask of us that we continue to
>
> believe in faith-based dogma?
>
>
>
> Is this not the absurdity of absurdities?
>
>
>
> Have you as yet yourself studied the new research of
>
> those who have chosen to leave conventional science behind
>
> and view the world holodynamcially in all of its splendor?
>
>
>
> Its sounds as if you are choosing to still reside in flatland.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -------Original Message-------
>
>
>
> From: Freecycle Moderator
>
> Date: 12/20/06 19:50:19
>
> To: marguerite hampton
>
> Subject: Re: Failures of the atheistic enterprise
>
>
>
> this is not only offensive, you are out of line by sending it to others
>
> outside of this ludicrous conversation of errors.
>
>
>
> >
>
> > I am truly sorry that you seem not to be able to grasp this and choose
>
> > to remain trapped in your fundamental beliefs.
>
> > You miss so much IMHO and are the real athiest. .
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> not the least bit humble, IMBO
>
>
>
> and why are you sending this to others?
>
>
>
> the world doesn't need a holy or nonholy war of words.
>
>
>
> peace.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> marguerite hampton wrote:
>
>
>
> >Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar Alam writes:
>
> >
>
> >Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 05:22:41 -0800 (PST)
>
> >From: Muhammad Mukhtar Alam <mukhtaralam2000 at yahoo.com>
>
> >Subject: [GJM] Failures of the atheistic enterprise
>
> >To: Discussion Forum for Global Justice
>
> > <discussion at globaljusticemovement.net>
>
> >
>
> >Dear Marguerite,
>
> >
>
> > I am surprised over the enthusiasm for denoucing the existence of
> God...I
>
> >am sure, there are more who are dying without resolving the issues and
> they
>
> >have passed away in a state of confusion. I am sure men like Bill seeking
>
>
> >denunciation of the existence of God seek their own denunciation as I am
>
> >sure We will ever have Earth free from men and women who have a faith in
> the
>
> >Lord of worlds, Day of Judgement and all, who prohibit adultery,vices
>
> >homosexuality and exhort each other for truth and patience.
>
> >
>
> > Dr.Muhammad Mukhtar Alam
>
> >
>
> >marguerite aka eco replies:
>
> >
>
> >Dr. Alam -- Since the "new science" is revealing that the "Christ
>
> >Consciousness" is innate within each of us, and may be accessed by anyone
> at
>
> >any time as it was by the pagans before religion came into being, it
> appears
>
> >that "faith-based religion" is ending simply because religious concepts
> are
>
> >far too narrow to contain the immensity of God.
>
> >
>
> >As well, I do not believe anyone is denying the existence of God, science
>
> >is just defining more clearly, in scientific terms that are provable, the
>
>
> >manner in which God exists. Thus doing away with the cultural biases
> which
>
> >have produced religious dogma and set people against one another in the
>
> >interests of the dominator paradigm for thousands of years. Science is
> now
>
> >freeing the multi-dimensional spirit of the human being so that it may be
>
> >experienced holodynamically on many levels and in many different spheres
> as
>
> >love" in its purest form. . . .
>
> >
>
> >I am truly sorry that you seem not to be able to grasp the magnificence
> of
>
> >this and choose to remain trapped in your fundamental beliefs. You miss
> so
>
> >much IMHO and are the real athiest. .
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
> http://globaljusticemovement.net/mailman/listinfo/discussion_globaljusticemovement.net
>
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