Religion
I have noticed there is a lot of people who are anti-religion on this social networking site. I can understand why some of you may feel that way. In my own inner reflection I have found that being against religion isn't always good. I wrote a blog about this very subject a week or two ago. It was actually picked up by a local newspaper and published, but I would like feedback from those who are critical of it. Here it is...
Religion: A Doorway
"And he to whom worshipping is a window, to open but also to shut, has not yet visited the house of his soul whose windows are from dawn to dawn." – Kahlil Gibran
Did you miss it?
Did you know that the door was open?
Why did you shut it?
Why did you shut out the very thing that you are looking for?
As I sat in one of my classes today an argument broke out. One party was discussing how he believed that his priest had the power to exercise demons, and the other, a self proclaim rationalist was trying to debunk his belief.
When you are studying religion in college, you see this kind of argument all the time. Admittedly, I myself have been guilty of participating in these kinds of discussions. But today was different for me. Today I sat back and watched patiently, letting the argument unfold.
Both were highly intelligent individuals, both had many arguments that fit their point of view, but neither could convince the other. They were at a stalemate. Both were speaking eloquently, but neither was listening.
I remembered how frustrating that is. You feel that you know you are right and the other person is definitely wrong. There is no question in your mind of who will win the debate. You know that if you just keep at it, eventually the other party will see the error of their ways.
But ultimately neither party can win. The reason is that all beliefs, all ideas, all thoughts, and all religions are a doorway. They are a place from where we can move from. Every element of consciousness is a place that we can move from. We must learn to start where we are at, and simply open the door.
What does it mean to open the door? It means that you should remember that your thoughts, beliefs, ideas, and religion are all relative to you. Why are they relative to you? It is because all your experiences and perceptions color your mental constructs. Can you honestly say that you have ever met anyone who agreed with you 100%?
The moment you feel that you can win a debate of this nature, is the moment you have closed the door on yourself. You have missed an opportunity to see into the heart and mind of another individual and have a profound and shared experience of the human condition. I did notice that one of the two individuals was almost there, he was almost reaching out to the other. I will not say which one it was, but he was giving the other the benefit of the doubt.
When it comes to ones mental constructs, we must give the other the benefit of the doubt. Why? Because in the end there is really no argument to be won. If you think there is something to be won, then you have missed the point of the power of the human exchange.
Just listen to others, learn from them as much as you can. Even if their ideas contradict your own, it is important to listen, and then look into your heart. When one argues over their beliefs, or ideas, they are becoming defensive because of fear. They are afraid something is going to be damaged or destroyed.
One who possesses great wisdom, knows that he cannot speak of it properly. One who possesses great knowledge, does not boast, but uses it for the benefit of others. One who loving, does not ask for credit for good deeds, and does not brag about them. One who knows the truth, knows that truth can never be attacked or injured.
Religion is a door because it can open you up to love, or it can close in your face to fear. Science is a door because it can open you up to the great possibilities and wonders of the universe, or it can close your mind to them. Emotions are a door because it can help you to connect to other human beings, or it can close your heart to mistrust and resentment.
No matter what position you take, open your heart, open your mind, open your thoughts, to the idea that the other party may have some validity to what they are saying. Even if there is a single pearl in the whole ocean of conversation, is it not worth finding that pearl?
Michael Kilman
Religion: A Doorway
"And he to whom worshipping is a window, to open but also to shut, has not yet visited the house of his soul whose windows are from dawn to dawn." – Kahlil Gibran
Did you miss it?
Did you know that the door was open?
Why did you shut it?
Why did you shut out the very thing that you are looking for?
As I sat in one of my classes today an argument broke out. One party was discussing how he believed that his priest had the power to exercise demons, and the other, a self proclaim rationalist was trying to debunk his belief.
When you are studying religion in college, you see this kind of argument all the time. Admittedly, I myself have been guilty of participating in these kinds of discussions. But today was different for me. Today I sat back and watched patiently, letting the argument unfold.
Both were highly intelligent individuals, both had many arguments that fit their point of view, but neither could convince the other. They were at a stalemate. Both were speaking eloquently, but neither was listening.
I remembered how frustrating that is. You feel that you know you are right and the other person is definitely wrong. There is no question in your mind of who will win the debate. You know that if you just keep at it, eventually the other party will see the error of their ways.
But ultimately neither party can win. The reason is that all beliefs, all ideas, all thoughts, and all religions are a doorway. They are a place from where we can move from. Every element of consciousness is a place that we can move from. We must learn to start where we are at, and simply open the door.
What does it mean to open the door? It means that you should remember that your thoughts, beliefs, ideas, and religion are all relative to you. Why are they relative to you? It is because all your experiences and perceptions color your mental constructs. Can you honestly say that you have ever met anyone who agreed with you 100%?
The moment you feel that you can win a debate of this nature, is the moment you have closed the door on yourself. You have missed an opportunity to see into the heart and mind of another individual and have a profound and shared experience of the human condition. I did notice that one of the two individuals was almost there, he was almost reaching out to the other. I will not say which one it was, but he was giving the other the benefit of the doubt.
When it comes to ones mental constructs, we must give the other the benefit of the doubt. Why? Because in the end there is really no argument to be won. If you think there is something to be won, then you have missed the point of the power of the human exchange.
Just listen to others, learn from them as much as you can. Even if their ideas contradict your own, it is important to listen, and then look into your heart. When one argues over their beliefs, or ideas, they are becoming defensive because of fear. They are afraid something is going to be damaged or destroyed.
One who possesses great wisdom, knows that he cannot speak of it properly. One who possesses great knowledge, does not boast, but uses it for the benefit of others. One who loving, does not ask for credit for good deeds, and does not brag about them. One who knows the truth, knows that truth can never be attacked or injured.
Religion is a door because it can open you up to love, or it can close in your face to fear. Science is a door because it can open you up to the great possibilities and wonders of the universe, or it can close your mind to them. Emotions are a door because it can help you to connect to other human beings, or it can close your heart to mistrust and resentment.
No matter what position you take, open your heart, open your mind, open your thoughts, to the idea that the other party may have some validity to what they are saying. Even if there is a single pearl in the whole ocean of conversation, is it not worth finding that pearl?
Michael Kilman
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Peace_maker on
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Hamass and Israel is very much like that it is likely that Israel has pushed the Palestinian people 4 years from there homes in which the U.N. has caused the failure for peace there for many years while the Occupation of Hitler was going on...Gods chosen people are killing the other.." I had to change the some thing for some one who is Jewish for who I was talking on face book. it was some thing on the death toll and how many are hurt on Gaza
cause there were a lot of Israelis killed to he said. to solve that was to change it. I am not on no ones side but I feel bad what is going on for the ones who are being killed. -
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Permalink Reply by Michael on
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But if you look at all those "religious conflicts" historically it is not really about the religion at all, but politics, greed, or land.
The war in Gaza has everything to do with politics it is about a piece of land. Yes religion may be the rallying cry, but the fight is really about who controls the land. Before there was Muslims and Jews, these same groups had political conflicts constantly over land. The very same land they are still fighting over. This is an ancient tribal blood feud that is thousands of years old. -
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Permalink Reply by rspwan on
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"You feel that you know you are right and the other person is definitely wrong. There is no question in your mind of who will win the debate. You know that if you just keep at it, eventually the other party will see the error of their ways.
But ultimately neither party can win. The reason is that all beliefs, all ideas, all thoughts, and all religions are a doorway."
I think it depends on what you consider to be "winning" a debate. Is winning to convince the other that you are correct and he/she is wrong?
I'm not so sure that winning is the most important thing when it comes differences in views. Quite often debates are not so much about opinions but about conflicting claims about what "is" wrt to the real world.
Then what's really important imo is what is in fact true.
And when it comes to truth, not all beliefs, ideas and thoughts are created equal - unlike what is suggested by saying that all of those are "doorways".
The prime example of is the media 'controversy' (there's no scientific controversy) about the theory of evolution versus Creationism/Intelligent Design.
The latter also serves as an example of religion that is anti-science. -
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Permalink Reply by Leah D (Pixie) on
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Michael~ I like the way you wrote this blog. It is well done,thought provoking,yet is not written (as some i've seen) to be devisive. I think this post opens dialog in a peacefull & caring way. To see ,respect,discuss our personal beliefs without condemning & creating intollerance..but to share , discuss with open mind and heart.
Thank You
Love & Peace.
Leah -
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