Understanding the religious mindset

[Belinda]

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I think that the religious mindset dilemma...

(or any rigid mindset based on one's interpretation of reality)

...can be summed up in the problem portrayed in the "blind men and the elephant" image...



Many humans latch-on to a particular interpretation of reality (via brainwashing or choice) without being able to see that what they believe may only be a representation of one minor aspect of a far greater whole.
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I try to be the zoological manikin who stands a lot further away from the elephant and so gets a larger perspective on the whole animal.

Yes, Belinda. Any true philosopher worth her salt should adopt that attitude, which is simply an alternate version of the proverbial "seeing the forest for the trees" approach to how one discerns reality.

The problem is that there is no way of knowing if you are truly observing the "whole forest" from the "highest" vantage point, or simply standing on an elevated (cloud-veiled) ridge where you have latched-on to yet another tree that somehow fools you into believing that you are above the forest.
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I agree. And this is why humans are tragic. We want to do good and can never entirely know when we are good, if at all. The best way ahead is to try for more and more objective distancing from the elephant. This "objective distancing" includes empathy and sympathy.

[Walker]

I'm really sorry you feel that way. I was just trying to give you an opportunity to explain your view.

Don't worry about. I'll live with it. Thanks for the help!

How generous of you, dispensing opportunities.

Quote:

“It does not matter what we use to achieve self-justification; the wisdom of sacred books, diagrams or charts, mathematical calculations, esoteric formulae, fundamentalist religion, depth psychology, or any other mechanism. Whenever we begin to evaluate, deciding that we should or should not do this or that, then we have already associated our practice or our knowledge with categories, one pitted against the other, and that is spiritual materialism, the false spirituality of our spiritual adviser. Whenever we have a dualistic notion such as, ‘I am doing this because I want to achieve a particular state of consciouness, a particular state of being,’ then automatically we separate ourselves from the reality of what we are.”

- Trungpa Rinpoche
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism

[Walker]

Personally, I suspect Trungpa Rinpoche would have preferred to call Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, Cutting Through Spiritual Bullshit, but that title wasn't appropriate for the times.

The wisdom and tolerance of IC does tend to lull atheists into the confused view that appropriate discourse concerning religion, a topic longer-lived by far than any one’s personal subjective notions of what religion is and should be, or should not be, implanted into consciousness and advised by the spiritual advisor of ego, is a one-way street.

[Walker]

I think that the religious mindset dilemma...

(or any rigid mindset based on one's interpretation of reality)

...can be summed up in the problem portrayed in the "blind men and the elephant" image...

Great point!

And yes, it applies to any rigid mindset... such as anything that someone does/thinks religiously or in an addicted or hypnotic manner.

Including short sighted mindsets - ATHEISM.

It's a lunch, with leftovers.

[Lacewing]

And yes, it applies to any rigid mindset... such as anything that someone does/thinks religiously or in an addicted or hypnotic manner.

Including short sighted mindsets - ATHEISM.

I don't know that "not believing in something" is a mindset, nor short-sighted.

[attofishpi]

And yes, it applies to any rigid mindset... such as anything that someone does/thinks religiously or in an addicted or hypnotic manner.

Including short sighted mindsets - ATHEISM.

I don't know that "not believing in something" is a mindset, nor short-sighted.

So your implication is that atheists don't believe in ANYTHING. ergo short-sighted should be a complement.

[Lacewing]

Including short sighted mindsets - ATHEISM.

I don't know that "not believing in something" is a mindset, nor short-sighted.

So your implication is that atheists don't believe in ANYTHING.

So are you purposefully misrepresenting or are you just being stupid or drunk? I'm really not interested in talking to you.

[attofishpi]

I don't know that "not believing in something" is a mindset, nor short-sighted.

So your implication is that atheists don't believe in ANYTHING.

So are you purposefully misrepresenting or are you just being stupid or drunk? I'm really not interested in talking to you.

Well, your post just proved you are a hypocrite (and a desperate one - the worse kind).

[Lacewing]

So your implication is that atheists don't believe in ANYTHING.

So are you purposefully misrepresenting or are you just being stupid or drunk? I'm really not interested in talking to you.

Well, your post just proved you are a hypocrite (and a desperate one - the worse kind).

More of your distortions. You are the one who sounds desperate. Bye.

[attofishpi]

So are you purposefully misrepresenting or are you just being stupid or drunk? I'm really not interested in talking to you.

Well, your post just proved you are a hypocrite (and a desperate one - the worse kind).

More of your distortions. You are the one who sounds desperate. Bye.

...and the hypocrisy continues.

[henry quirk]

I think that the religious mindset dilemma...

(or any rigid mindset based on one's interpretation of reality)

...can be summed up in the problem portrayed in the "blind men and the elephant" image...

Great point!

And yes, it applies to any rigid mindset... such as anything that someone does/thinks religiously or in an addicted or hypnotic manner.

*Including short sighted mindsets - ATHEISM.

*and the addled sage-burners

[henry quirk]

And yes, it applies to any rigid mindset... such as anything that someone does/thinks religiously or in an addicted or hypnotic manner.

Including short sighted mindsets - ATHEISM.

*I don't know that "not believing in something" is a mindset, nor short-sighted.

*probably not the not believing part so much as the I'm right, you're wrong; I'm evolved, you're a subhuman part.

[Lacewing]

I'm right, you're wrong

Spoken by someone who repeats it often.

Go sit on a pile of burning sage.

[henry quirk]

I'm right, you're wrong

Spoken by someone who repeats it often.

Go sit on a pile of burning sage.

will you kiss my boo-boos if I do?

[seeds]

Great point!

And yes, it applies to any rigid mindset... such as anything that someone does/thinks religiously or in an addicted or hypnotic manner.

Including short sighted mindsets - ATHEISM.

It's a lunch, with leftovers.

What the heck is that supposed to mean?
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