Very cool topic – the creation of our own reality. I’m truly happy that this is being discussed. The idea that we can call a mug an “oong” makes a lot of sense. We create social concepts and truth. I also watched the second part of “Perception” where Mr. Aaron Yates expresses his belief that we have not created the best system ever, that we are not at the Apex of civilization. It makes sense that humility is important if we are to see the truth. So in this context I think humility is synonymous with honestly. And THAT is no small thing, no small synonym!
But the Bible was also referenced and the “First Council of Nicaea” which I think is related but different. Because of my background as a Baha’i I see the Bible as a book from God. To my understanding, Men being co-creators of reality is different than how the Books of God create reality. The reference to the Constitution made a lot of sense to me because that is a document clearly created by man for the social circumstance of period in America was in. The Constitution does change here and there for example, women are now allowed to vote where previously women were not allowed according to the constitution. But back to the Bible. I don’t think that we can criticize the First Council of Nicaea the same way because it undermines the Bible, which is from God. As a Baha’i I was taught and believe that religion is a force the builds civilization and the Bible is the Holy Book of Christianity.
I would like to share an excerpt from the Baha’i Faith about the validity of the Gospel and to my understanding extends to the Bible.
“We have also heard a number of the foolish of the earth assert that the genuine text of the heavenly Gospel doth not exist amongst the Christians, that it hath ascended unto heaven. How grievously they have erred! How oblivious of the fact that such a statement imputeth the gravest injustice and tyranny to a gracious and loving Providence! How could God, when once the Day-star of the beauty of Jesus had disappeared from the sight of His people, and ascended unto the fourth heaven, cause His holy Book, His most great testimony amongst His creatures, to disappear also? What would be left to that people to cling to from the setting of the day-star of Jesus until the rise of the sun of the Muḥammadan Dispensation? What law could be their stay and guide? How could such people be made the victims of the avenging wrath of God, the omnipotent Avenger? How could they be afflicted with the scourge of chastisement by the heavenly King? Above all, how could the flow of the grace of the All-Bountiful be stayed? How could the ocean of His tender mercies be stilled? We take refuge with God, from that which His creatures have fancied about Him! Exalted is He above their comprehension!” -Baha’u'llah
So Baha’is believe in the validity of the Bible but to be fair also interpret it differently than many which has a huge effect on perception and social reality.
I wouldn’t want to make the impression that I was questioning the Books divinity, but rather I was making the point that we often think of things like the Constitution as a document designed to be “forever” rather than one that comes about for a specific purpose and time, and then other documents fit the needs of the age more appropriately.
The Bible might not have been the best example, though…
So, in reference to humility earlier in your comment, what might it look like for individuals and institutions to practice humility in their approaches to life and the systems that govern certain parts of it?
Very cool topic – the creation of our own reality. I’m truly happy that this is being discussed. The idea that we can call a mug an “oong” makes a lot of sense. We create social concepts and truth. I also watched the second part of “Perception” where Mr. Aaron Yates expresses his belief that we have not created the best system ever, that we are not at the Apex of civilization. It makes sense that humility is important if we are to see the truth. So in this context I think humility is synonymous with honestly. And THAT is no small thing, no small synonym!
But the Bible was also referenced and the “First Council of Nicaea” which I think is related but different. Because of my background as a Baha’i I see the Bible as a book from God. To my understanding, Men being co-creators of reality is different than how the Books of God create reality. The reference to the Constitution made a lot of sense to me because that is a document clearly created by man for the social circumstance of period in America was in. The Constitution does change here and there for example, women are now allowed to vote where previously women were not allowed according to the constitution. But back to the Bible. I don’t think that we can criticize the First Council of Nicaea the same way because it undermines the Bible, which is from God. As a Baha’i I was taught and believe that religion is a force the builds civilization and the Bible is the Holy Book of Christianity.
I would like to share an excerpt from the Baha’i Faith about the validity of the Gospel and to my understanding extends to the Bible.
“We have also heard a number of the foolish of the earth assert that the genuine text of the heavenly Gospel doth not exist amongst the Christians, that it hath ascended unto heaven. How grievously they have erred! How oblivious of the fact that such a statement imputeth the gravest injustice and tyranny to a gracious and loving Providence! How could God, when once the Day-star of the beauty of Jesus had disappeared from the sight of His people, and ascended unto the fourth heaven, cause His holy Book, His most great testimony amongst His creatures, to disappear also? What would be left to that people to cling to from the setting of the day-star of Jesus until the rise of the sun of the Muḥammadan Dispensation? What law could be their stay and guide? How could such people be made the victims of the avenging wrath of God, the omnipotent Avenger? How could they be afflicted with the scourge of chastisement by the heavenly King? Above all, how could the flow of the grace of the All-Bountiful be stayed? How could the ocean of His tender mercies be stilled? We take refuge with God, from that which His creatures have fancied about Him! Exalted is He above their comprehension!” -Baha’u'llah
So Baha’is believe in the validity of the Bible but to be fair also interpret it differently than many which has a huge effect on perception and social reality.
A few thoughts.
July 30, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Heheheh! Thank you for that comment, Carlos!
I wouldn’t want to make the impression that I was questioning the Books divinity, but rather I was making the point that we often think of things like the Constitution as a document designed to be “forever” rather than one that comes about for a specific purpose and time, and then other documents fit the needs of the age more appropriately.
The Bible might not have been the best example, though…
So, in reference to humility earlier in your comment, what might it look like for individuals and institutions to practice humility in their approaches to life and the systems that govern certain parts of it?
July 30, 2012 at 10:59 pm