An Original Faith
Communication about religion and spirituality usually refers to beliefs. This is fine for purposes of discussion among those with shared beliefs, but it’s a source of endless disagreement with others.
Interestingly, as a group, the founders of religions – figures like Moses and Muhammad, Jesus and the Buddha – don’t seem to be renowned for their fervent religious beliefs. Instead of arguing for convictions based upon the words of others, they appear to have spoken from out of direct experience.
“They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Mark 1:22
Everyone can’t found a religion. And yet the fact that the founders of religions speak from direct experience suggests that there may be more to a vital and energetic spiritual life than simply believing what we’ve been told.
The Word truly received comes to be spoken with one’s own breath. It borrows one’s own voice with resounding speech and actions.
There is a self with each of us that is more than self referential.
There is an original faith.
Available here and on Amazon next month: Original Faith: Finding the Interfaith Soul of Progressive Religion and Spirituality
Interestingly, as a group, the founders of religions – figures like Moses and Muhammad, Jesus and the Buddha – don’t seem to be renowned for their fervent religious beliefs. Instead of arguing for convictions based upon the words of others, they appear to have spoken from out of direct experience.
“They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Mark 1:22
Everyone can’t found a religion. And yet the fact that the founders of religions speak from direct experience suggests that there may be more to a vital and energetic spiritual life than simply believing what we’ve been told.
The Word truly received comes to be spoken with one’s own breath. It borrows one’s own voice with resounding speech and actions.
There is a self with each of us that is more than self referential.
There is an original faith.
Available here and on Amazon next month: Original Faith: Finding the Interfaith Soul of Progressive Religion and Spirituality
Posted by Paul at 12:04 PM Permalink
28 Comments:
Of course, I'm not suggesting that Jesus and other major figures in religion didn't come with beliefs and attitudes based on their inherited backgrounds and traditions. For example, Jesus’ cultural and historical circumstances almost certainly meant that he would have believed in (or considered himself to know) the patriarchal God of Judaism. I'm saying that the main force behind major religious creativity and innovation is first-hand experience - and, I'd add, it's often preceded by a period of first-hand struggle. This was also the case, for example, with Martin Luther.
I look forward to the book!
Actually the figures you used as examples didnt create their ideas solely based on personal experiences. They used previous ideas and then expanded on them. They did what we all do as humans, we find what works in something else and then add our own personal touches to it.
"Everyone can’t found a religion"
Truth is anyone can found a religion. Dont you remember Waco, Texas,or Jonestown?
described in word,
prescribed towards one,
exercised by many.
JOHN T: I agree. Nobody creates anything completely new – same with the arts. There are always influences. But we aren’t all equally creative – what we bring into being isn’t equally novel. There are creators, innovators and those who pretty much color between the lines, so to speak.
So even though my cousin who does arts and crafts, along with Van Gogh and Leonardo, could be described as “doing what we all do as humans” and “finding what works in something else and then adding our own personal touches to it,” she isn’t creative in the same sense.
On your other point, I’d distinguish cult from religion even though there are probably gray areas – for example, cults may sometimes take something profound or wise and warp it, while religions may arguably have cultish aspects.
VISHESH: Yes, that, very concisely, is what I think is probably the general model for how religions have been founded and develop. And it seems to me that the “exercised by many” part gets problematic when the many become a little too strictly analogous to the Christian metaphor of “sheep.” If we follow mindlessly and without first-hand passion and reflection, it seems to me that we stray from the vitality and meaning of our tradition’s message.
EV: I think so too. I’ve always loved the phrase “purity of heart” – it’s in the New Testament but I’ve forgotten where.
Other notable verses referencing a pure heart are:
Psalms 24: "3 Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false."
Psalms 51:10 "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Psalms 73:1 "Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart."
Proverbs 22:11 "He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend."
I Timothy 1 "3.b command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
II Timothy 2:22 "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
Whoops, I look like a Bible-thumper!
I wonder if you've listened to the Ted talk done by the neurologist Jill Bolton Taylor. She's become quite controversial, in part because she says she found nirvana in her right brain and deliberately came back from her stroke (that temporarily shut down her left brain) to tell others that they, too, can find it if they will. My immediate thought, of course, was Gautama Buddha. It's an amazing speech, online - if you haven't listened to it I think you'd really enjoy it. Listening to her transcendent joy I have to wonder - is she founding the next peace religion?
I like ideas that stretch me.
TIMJAMZ: Yes, but you're thumping a verse I like...
Seriously, thanks - I didn't know this was such a recurring phrase.
HAYDEN, thanks, I'll look for it if I get the chance. I'm hardly out of bed it seems these days.
Long haul for sure. Began June 1980 and was maybe two years from completion in 1994 when work got interupted by over a decade of disease onset, progression and seemingly endless research, medical travel and health insurance battles trying to get a diagnosis and treatment while I continued to work full time. Finally got back to it when I was too sick to continue working outside the house.
If I stop to think about it, it's almost hard to believe it ever ended up being completed...
CURIOUS SERVANT: I'm glad; thanks for stopping by.
Just curious, what disease?
Blessings,
Lance
www.lancessoulsearching.com
Crystal, who sometimes stops by here, recently sent me a link on an article about how NIH is now doing a study exactly on such “cold” or unsolved cases but, too late for me to participate. Housebound for four years now – permanent injuries two out of three of my last attempts to go out of the house, all to keep outpatient appointments. My body is affected pervasively – peripheral neuropathy, connective tissue degeneration, osteoporosis, spasm and taut bands throughout my musculature.
Ouch...
LANCE, glad you like it –
CARRIE: And anyone can do it. For example, any time that “I love you” is communicated.
Im not sure where youre located, but I own a Wellness Centre along with my wife. She is a Natural Health Practioner. If you are ever in the Ottawa Canada region look us up, she is very dynamic, and what you describe is very common to us.
If you want to talk some more email me at Tatsden@rogers.com
John
that line spoke volumes!
Keshi.
I also like the Buddhist emphasis on practice and spiritual verifiability, so to speak.
JOHN T, I appreciate the thought. I’m no longer well enough to travel. If what I described sounds common to you I didn’t describe it well enough:
Severe osteoporosis, peripheral neuropathy, connective tissue degeneration (including no padding left on the soles of my feet), pervasive muscular taut band/spasm and skin lesions consistent with Sarcoidosis although I don’t have Sarcoid. No doctor and no alternative health care provider I saw in well over a decade of intensive research and extensive medical travel ever saw anything like it, including at institutions like Johns Hopkins and National Institutes of Health.
KESHI, thank you -
Have you ever heard of Iridology. And where are you located?
John T.
Before that was over a decade spent by two highly resourceful people willing to travel to the best medical and alternative treatment centers - to the point where people often mistake my sister for having a medical background.
I appreciate it when people want to help and realize that to some it sounds like a question of hopelessness or attitude. Understandably people don't like to think it's possible for intelligent hard work for over a decade not to pay off and that we must have missed something.
But it's absolutely true that a small number of people get stuck with undiagonsable conditions and mine is such that it's no longer feasible to seek treatment. I'm trying to do what I can that's constructive and realistic with the remainder of my functional time.
I do appreciate it and wish there were a way to get my situation across succinctly for people, but it's so unusual and unique that it takes some doing.
Tough times I see. Glad you are making the best of it for yourself. I was asking just because the wife and I are in a travel mode and who knows we may have stopped by and she could have taken a look into your eyes. Not saying it would have helped, but hey who knows. I have been in Health care long enough to realize that sometimes it is what it is. And whether we want to admit it or not, something will eventually kill off our bodies. Well if youre ever up for some company give me a shout, you have my email. In the meanwhile I will continue to banter on about some of your Posts.
;)
John T.
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