All God’s Children: the Two Religions
Copernicanism: Its numerous denominations include Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Paganism, Agnosticism, Humanism, and Atheism. Every Copernican has noticed something with far-reaching ramifications: he or she is not the center of the universe.
Copernicans even believe in the existence of other human beings – people who differ from themselves in some ways but are nevertheless perceived as full-fledged human beings and nothing less. They go so far as to identify with their sufferings and joys. They genuinely care about the children and future of other people.
A Copernican knows that he or she is part of a much larger picture, closely identifies with that picture, and acts accordingly – and seeks to do so with greater consistency. Everyone can improve; Copernicanism is a way and not a destination arrived at once and for all.
Copernicans realize that it is becoming increasingly important for more of us to act for the sake of the greater whole from out of our own positions and in our own ways in order for this earth that all our children will inherit to become a place of increasing and not diminishing promise.
Ptolemism: (Just don’t ask me how to pronounce it. Ptolemy is Copernicus’s predecessor who thought the earth was the center of the universe): Its numerous denominations include Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Paganism, Agnosticism, Humanism, and Atheism. Ptolemists believe that the universe revolves around them. They rarely make direct assertions to this effect, knowing others would object, but their words and actions show quite consistently that they live for the sake of “me and mine.”
As to others, Ptolemist theology states that they are of lesser stature than the self and those who most resemble it. Sometimes Ptolemists believe that “God” has told them this. Other times, it’s simply obvious to them that those human qualities that are most admirable and worthy are, by happy coincidence, the very ones that they happen to possess themselves. Either way, the most basic needs of others count for infinitely less than the self’s added comfort, convenience, power, prestige, luxury, or wealth.
Copernicans even believe in the existence of other human beings – people who differ from themselves in some ways but are nevertheless perceived as full-fledged human beings and nothing less. They go so far as to identify with their sufferings and joys. They genuinely care about the children and future of other people.
A Copernican knows that he or she is part of a much larger picture, closely identifies with that picture, and acts accordingly – and seeks to do so with greater consistency. Everyone can improve; Copernicanism is a way and not a destination arrived at once and for all.
Copernicans realize that it is becoming increasingly important for more of us to act for the sake of the greater whole from out of our own positions and in our own ways in order for this earth that all our children will inherit to become a place of increasing and not diminishing promise.
Ptolemism: (Just don’t ask me how to pronounce it. Ptolemy is Copernicus’s predecessor who thought the earth was the center of the universe): Its numerous denominations include Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Paganism, Agnosticism, Humanism, and Atheism. Ptolemists believe that the universe revolves around them. They rarely make direct assertions to this effect, knowing others would object, but their words and actions show quite consistently that they live for the sake of “me and mine.”
As to others, Ptolemist theology states that they are of lesser stature than the self and those who most resemble it. Sometimes Ptolemists believe that “God” has told them this. Other times, it’s simply obvious to them that those human qualities that are most admirable and worthy are, by happy coincidence, the very ones that they happen to possess themselves. Either way, the most basic needs of others count for infinitely less than the self’s added comfort, convenience, power, prestige, luxury, or wealth.
Posted by Paul at 10:54 AM Permalink
13 Comments:
It is so interesting to me that, as you say, "its numerous denominations include Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Paganism, Agnosticism, Humanism, and Atheism" FOR BOTH types of religion.
All too often, a person will get angry at a Ptolemist and assume that everyone from that religion is also a Ptolemist.
I would like to think though that we are of the same God, perhaps we call him a different name, believe things other do not. But in the end, we all recognize that the whole me, myself, and I thing is rather selfish and small-minded.
I believe that God sees us each differently, we each carry our backpacks of nightmares. I believe that God, sees through the insanity of "this God or that" and when it comes time to see our God, we all face the same truth. Whether that is judgment of ourselves by ourselves or by God, it does not matter. Inside we know who and what we were as human beings. Inside, we know the truth and ultimately that is what we have to live and die with.
Informative Paul. Thank you.
Setting your personal bias apart, I think this stands as potentially an excellent way to point out a fundamental philosophical distinction. But since your personal bias is rampant, I find it an excellent way to illustrate prejudice.
I opt for the position which you label “Ptolemist” in that I’m the centre of my own universe by virtue of sense-experience and memory. Everything else is a projection by my intellect or an acceptance of other people’s ideas.
I reject the slurs which you attach to this viewpoint! I’m brother to all of creation. I don’t rely on complex moral or intellectual arguments to act altruistically and in accordance with Nature. I’m in a process of discovering that my deepest instincts (similar to those of all living beings) automatically harmonise with the good of All.
we are all humans after all..
INSIDE/OUTSIDE: So each of us has a sense, deep down, of the way to go, and our own personal peace and integrity are at stake when it comes to whether or not we head in that direction. That's been my sense of it too.
YVES: It sounds to me like you're reading something into this that has more to do with something that's been on your mind. I'm interested in what's on your mind here, but not clear on that or on how what I wrote would be understood as attacking it.
VISHESH: Exactly. Not more - and not less.
It takes some very expensive educational processes to instil a scientific attitude into a human being. And a great deal of conditioning of a different kind to instil a religious or moral attitude whereby rules and laws and governments and priests all tell us that being the centre of the universe is wrong: scientifically, morally and socially.
Yes you are right it has been on my mind: to free myself of that conditioning and realise my true humanity!
RAFFI: If there's any truth in religion, and I think there is, it would seem strange for it to remain as fragmented as we see it today. Like you say, one race, one species - one "uni" verse...
Paul I totally appreciate the dose of Maslovian 'Gemeinschaftsgefuhl'
which is the identification, sympathy, and affection for mankind, kinship with the good, the bad and the ugly (wa-WA-wa!), kinder-gentler, older-brother vibe.
It is my understanding that Maslow was a Humanist and believed that we must nurture the capacity for self actualization with awareness, honesty, introspection and maintain our freedom respond to internal and external events (values), to be ourselves at all costs.
I conclude with the distinct belief that we love being the centre of the universe, we adore charming people but must tolerate the tedious. I believe it was Lionel Richie who said, "We ARE the world."
HAZZBUZZ: It would be interesting to see what the various denominations of "Copernicanism" made of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. Guess we already know how Ptolemists would view them.
It's safe to say that to date neither of these "religions" has done much of anything to care for the other species on the planet, partly from indifference and greed, and partly because people have been so busy causing and trying to alleviate so much human misery that to date what happens to the fauna and flora has been a relatively low priority.
Is that like Sylvia's Plath's, "I close my eyes and all the world drops dead?"
lol
Post a Comment