Higher Power

[ekim]

And much of this is included outside of religion, so to conclude that there is a central meaning given to religion and spirituality is a further form of begging the question.

Indeed there is a form of ad populum here which covers the idea 'look, some other people agree with me on certain things, we must all be right on those things even if we disagree on others'

There deems to me an attempt to give a faux privilege to one specific genre of thinking, I.e. 'religious' by pointing out that some of it agrees. It's hardly surprising given that we don't seem to have that wide a choice of thinking, and what Sriram is leaving out of his cherry pucking is also common across many religions, and what is keeping is coming in many secular positions.

I shall have to leave Sriram to answer your latter point.  It seems to me that many religions aspire towards uniting with or living in harmony with a power beyond the understanding of a human.  It might be called God, Elohim, Brahman, Tao Te or the state of unity might be called Heaven, Nirvana etc.  The claimed experiences of those who aspired to this are that it is empowering, enlivening, blissful etc. and they propose a variety of ways or methods that others may use to attain the same.  If it is to be validated you have to 'walk the walk' rather than 'talk the talk' or 'think the thought'. 

[Nearly Sane]

I shall have to leave Sriram to answer your latter point.  It seems to me that many religions aspire towards uniting with or living in harmony with a power beyond the understanding of a human.  It might be called God, Elohim, Brahman, Tao Te or the state of unity might be called Heaven, Nirvana etc.  The claimed experiences of those who aspired to this are that it is empowering, enlivening, blissful etc. and they propose a variety of ways or methods that others may use to attain the same.  If it is to be validated you have to 'walk the walk' rather than 'talk the talk' or 'think the thought'.

I am sure, they have just as many who do not follow any such thing will also 'walk the walk' without the need to do anything beyond the understanding of a human. Further we are back at the issue of validating any if this as true in any sense. If something is 'beyond the understanding of a Hunan' then any attempt to explain that is both meaningless and unable to being validated in any way.

[ekim]

I am sure, they have just as many who do not follow any such thing will also 'walk the walk' without the need to do anything beyond the understanding of a human. Further we are back at the issue of validating any if this as true in any sense. If something is 'beyond the understanding of a Hunan' then any attempt to explain that is both meaningless and unable to being validated in any way.

In a way, yes, it's more about experience rather than cerebral understanding and to gain the experience, the invitation is to follow a method or way suggested.  The 'ways' are usually related to inner stillness rather than incessant mental agitation, transformation rather than information.

[Brownie]

Is there? Or is  that a rationalisation to avoid contradiction.

Not to me, I understand it quite clearly but can see why others don't and I think it is a good question.

In context, being 'childlike' means being innocent*, without bias;  being 'childish', for an adult, means being silly.

*not too naive,  I hasten to add.

In a way, yes, it's more about experience rather than cerebral understanding and to gain the experience, the invitation is to follow a method or way suggested.  The 'ways' are usually related to inner stillness rather than incessant mental agitation, transformation rather than information.

That's my opinion too, ekim.

Sririam - thank you  .  Not sure you are right but nice to 'hear' you say it.

[Sriram]

Most major philosophies have certain parts in common too. That you have cherry picked religion and the common parts you like is just your own cultural bias. It shows no argument that your choices are either actually common or prevalent, never mind uniquely common and prevalent to religious though as opposed to any other.

Ok...I have said what I have to say. Make of it what you will.  No point in repeating the same things.

Thanks NS & others.

[Brownie]

I really like the universality of what Sririam has outlined and it pleases me that it is common to many religious beliefs and in some ways to those without religion.  Imo, there is not nearly enough interfaith dialogue in this society. 

Many Christians will disagree with me (don't care).