And that "perennialist" sentiment is shallow. Whatever is "ultimate" necessarily is beyond all traditions made up of non-ultimate, or proximate, minds, no? — 180 Proof
And if "the truth" is a mirage, merely imaginary, then what? Go on perpetually chasing your own tail (ouroboros-like) ...It may be that my own mind is a bit too 'elastic', but it is probably because I have not found one perspective which I believe sums up the 'truth'. — Jack Cummins
You miss my point completely, Jack. Without discipline or criteria, your mind is so "open" and "possibilities" are so arbitrary that by considering everything, IMO, such an approach indefinitely postpones you (deeply) understanding anything.I take the point of an open mind can become a closed one is closed' and I don't wish to rule out any possible definitive answers.
Your point escapes me. I accept the cosmic scale fractal as a mathematical analogue to "as above, so below", but what do that have to do with anything I've posted to this thread? — 180 Proof
From this initial reading, I am not interested in Hermeticism as it seems to be a form of special revelation, have supernatural aspects and predate our modern scientific worldview but perhaps you can somehow make it interesting? — prothero
The religious impulse of the sixties must be rescued from he wreckage and redeemed. The exposure to Hinduism and Buddhism that my generation had to get haphazardly from contemporary literature and music should be formalized and standardized for basic education. What students need to negotiate their way through the New Age fog is scholarly knowledge of ancient and medieval history, from early pagan nature cults through the embattled consolidation of Christian theology. Teaching religion as culture rather than as morality also gives students the intellectual freedom to find the ethical principles at the heart of every religion. — Camille Paglia
Okay. Seeming "deep" just because the bottom can't be perceived (or conceived of), however, doesn't make something deep. — 180 Proof
I was also extremely impressed by Huxley's ' The Perennial Philosophy' which I read about 4 months ago, and that was partly what influenced me in thinking that there are underlying themes underlying the various religious traditions. My basic belief is that it is about achieving a sense of the transcendent or numinous, although it don't think it is necessary to believe in God to achieve such states of consciousness. — Jack Cummins
however, I honestly feel like I've gained more from J.D. Salinger than anyone else, including some of the actual religious texts that I've read. — thewonder
I'd found I didn't get anywhere, or progress in my understandings, until I gave up seeking "clear answers" (mythos) and switched to reasoning toward better, more probitive, questions (logos vs mythos (i.e. meta-mythos)). — 180 Proof
I'd found I didn't get anywhere, or progress in my understandings, until I gave up seeking "clear answers" (mythos) and switched to reasoning toward better, more probitive, questions (logos vs mythos (i.e. meta-mythos)). After all, an "answer" is nothing but a question's way of generating new questions. — 180 Proof
problem of evil — Jack Cummins
Religion's are at the core of many cultures, so are vital if you want to develop a more expansive understanding of the human experience. — Pantagruel
praxis is the cornerstone of religions. The proof of the pudding is in the eating! — TheMadFool
praxis is the cornerstone of religions. The proof of the pudding is in the eating! — TheMadFool
So the question becomes, what is the cornerstone of religion? — praxis
As I suggested previously here, looking for "ultimate answers", IMO, is not doing philosophy or what philosophy is about. Instead that's seeking – needing to live by – some religious dogma. Nothing's wrong with that per se, but let's not confuse that with philosophy.I am not suggesting that I think religious philosophies are the ultimate answers. I read widely and I am sure that many may see my own thinking as inadequate because I don't come across as having a particular overriding viewpoint. — Jack Cummins
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.