Narrow belief systems are very limited. Is does not matter if they are Science, Politics, Religion, Philosophy, Cultural imperative, or simply superstitions, they are unable to define human life, human heart, or all that we see around us.

As a result the human race attempts to put into words their feelings of the Divine. As long as it is simply a search, everything seems to work.

Then some one comes along and wants to convince everyone else that only their idea is correct. Rules, threats, weird ideas all come into place to win over the potential consumer. It may began as a simple search yet becomes something sinister after a short time.

you're absolutely right NBK. It's that seeming human need to control through dogma and also the need to "be special."
I become more and more convinced that all people have a link to the "Divine" (whatever that/he/she/it is), and that there isn't a "wrong" way per se, with the HUGE exception of having a "right way."

Of course, my statement above could be seen as narrow and dogmatic too, so what the hell???

-Dan

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The right way is well known by all of us.

Some pretend not to know.

Seeking justice and mercy in love, sharing your wealth, caring for the weaker ones and, to the greatest extent possible, living a happy and fulfilled life in the way that your talents, opportunities and interests dictate.

Some fail or refuse to do this.

Some rebel against the very idea that they should share.

They are wrong.

Pax!

I agree completely. The problem arises when we let the "seemingly" better ideas captivate our attention. Every religion says we can not trust ourselves to know the truth. In fact most ideas that clamor for our attention try to convince us of our inability to determine the real for ourselves.

link to the divine, so well put intheory. Religion is the scam to convince us otherwise. After all how much money can you make telling people they don't need religion to gain access to the divine, they are already there.

Logos: "Some rebel against the very idea that they should share."

Any chance you could let me have a few square yards of your land to build a bender when the Mark of the Beast hits?

Well......as sometimes happens.....that one had me Googling "bender definition British slang."

Actually, our back yard would be a great place, as my wife has planted a veritable jungle of suitable foliage and there's an electrical outlet for your laptop and our wireless works in that area (if a little slowly).

However, the temps here do fall to 25 below zero on the very cold days of winter, so I reckon we'd have to take you inside in a few months.

No wild parties, you know.....and no ripping up of old books, however Satanic they may be.

When I see "divine" emphasied, I think of it's origin in Divination which was Magic practiced by the ancient "Seer's", who were also Soothsayers, Profit-teers, Sages, Wizzards, Witchcrafts, Deceitful men who had the ability to fool the unwary. In these elements of persuasion, most all people DO have a link to the "Divine".

Welcome, Roselyn, looking forward to hearing more from you.

Time will tell, Mickey, time will tell.

"Do not seek wise men, rather seek what they sought" - Lao Tzu

"Truth is paradox" - Lao Tzu

"...with our thoughts we make the world" - Buddha

"This is another fine mess you've got us into..." - Oliver Hardy