Tuvar Ane Ingolenen
May 12, 2007, 06:11 AM
During Tai Chi lessons, my teacher, when explaining a move or posture will sometimes ask us to imagine something that is obviously not true. For example: that there is energy in the body that must be able to flow unrestricted, or that the head, neck and back are suspended from a string attached to the top of the head. Imagining these things can help you recognize the Right Thing when you try to find it. Doing some things 'as if' can be helpful.
I could imagine some Wise (Wo)Man, when people ask him how to live their lives, telling them that they should live their lives as if they will have to account for their deeds at (or after) the end, and are expected to be able to sincerely say that they did the Right Thing. To strengthen the point, he might add a judge that will reward or punish. Whether it is true or not is not the point, it is something to aid understanding.
This makes me think that many religions, especially those that put great store in the Truth, are an exercise in missing the point.
Some Not So Wise (or maybe simply pragmatic) Men, when seeing that many people just don't get it, or don't care, the (No So) Wise Men themselves not being in a position to act correctively, might be tempted to say that they will be held accountable, and rewarded or punished.
Could this be part of the origin of the more stupid religions?
Would we not be better of, by not dulling peoples' sense for truth and fiction, by asserting fantasy as Truth, and as a consequence induce some people to confuse Right and Wrong.
Would we not be better of, acting correctively here in this world for those that don't 'get it'?
I could imagine some Wise (Wo)Man, when people ask him how to live their lives, telling them that they should live their lives as if they will have to account for their deeds at (or after) the end, and are expected to be able to sincerely say that they did the Right Thing. To strengthen the point, he might add a judge that will reward or punish. Whether it is true or not is not the point, it is something to aid understanding.
This makes me think that many religions, especially those that put great store in the Truth, are an exercise in missing the point.
Some Not So Wise (or maybe simply pragmatic) Men, when seeing that many people just don't get it, or don't care, the (No So) Wise Men themselves not being in a position to act correctively, might be tempted to say that they will be held accountable, and rewarded or punished.
Could this be part of the origin of the more stupid religions?
Would we not be better of, by not dulling peoples' sense for truth and fiction, by asserting fantasy as Truth, and as a consequence induce some people to confuse Right and Wrong.
Would we not be better of, acting correctively here in this world for those that don't 'get it'?