[GJM] religious tolerance

[marguerite hampton]

religious tolerance 

Posted by: "Bill Ellis" tranet at rangeley.org   trails04970 

Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:54 am (PST) 

\

>

> Posted by: "Jay Fenello" jay at fenello.com jfenello

> ... Most religious traditions offer some form

> of meditation, contemplation, and prayer.

> These practices can help people access

> different states of consciousness, and

> awaken in the process....



BE:

I would agree with Jaime on this one.

If people are afraid to speak out and condemn all kinds of questionable 

beliefs, they are supporting and aiding all sorts of more questionable 

beliefs. Tolerance has its drawbacks. For too long those who believe 

in modern science and critical thinking have merely avoided religious 

discussions. They have dodged commitment. That dodging led to the 

emerging power of the Muslim and Christian fundamentalists. This 

included the ban on stem cell research, the war against Iraq, the 

growing hate of America among other nations, the refusal be recognize 

the danger of global warming, and a host of other global ills.



I have in the past called myself and "apathist ." or sometimes a Zen 

Taoist, and let others believe whatever they wished. Now I recognize 

that the 'New Atheists" have a point. By leaving the field to the 

crackpots we have let them take over. It may be time for us to come 

our of our closet.



We don't need "different states of conscousness" to be creative and 

progressive. We need good common sense, a body of reliable knowledge 

of the real world, good hard science, and solid reasoning. And we 

have to stand up againsT all other forms of thinking(?).



IMHO

Bill Ellis



Comment from eco. 



Bill, thanks for posting this. I agree with you that it is time to stand up
and reclaim our power; 

not through violence but by exhibiting our Presence. 



However, IMHO, it isn't that we need "different states of consciousness"
because they, 

scientifically-proven,  already exist within us. What we need to do is to
learn how to access 

and manage these "states of consciousness" so they work for us instead of
against us. Up

to this point in human development, our sub-conscious has largely controlled
our lives. The 

"new science" based in quantum physics is now opening up this world for
investigation and as well to the much expanded world that new brain
development is providing us with. 



With this comes the realization that we can change our behavior patterns at
the level of DNA. We are no longer "stuck with what we were born with." 
There is a whole dynamic of choices beyond "flight or fight" -- the quantum
world is filled with "unlimited potential".  



warm regards,



marguerite