I went to Pantheist.net, Ixion.

[Maat]

I like the following quotes.

1) "Pantheism holds that the cosmos, taken or conceived of as a whole, is synonymous with God. The Cosmos is divine, and the Earth is sacred."

2) "All share divinity."

3) "To the Pantheist, divinity does not transcend reality; it surrounds and is within. All share divinity. This leads the Pantheist to personal ethics of tolerance and understanding."

These sound like right out of my church (C.R.S., Church of Religious Science). Nothing incompatible there. Still looking for even a slight difference in philosopy. Maybe it is our unique form of prayer - that has a meditative flavor - and that talks about a goal as if it is already achieved - trying to use the power of the mind. And we also refer to a deity - that is this energy - but you can refer to 'it' as you like - by the term you like.

Thanks,

Ma'at

P.S. Covexani posted the following quote, which I really like ...

"Matter is energy: humans, animals, plants, etc. We are this energy, it flows through us, and everything around us. There is a Source, which is where this energy comes from, and to which everything eventually returns."

See the thread about it.

I don't think that we are that far apart.

[ixion]

1. it sounds pretty similar

I went and checked out the C. R. S. and it does look very similar in nature.

http://www.religiousscience.org


The thing that appeals to me about these particular sects (and about Buddhism, Taoism and the Ba'Hai faith as well) is that they approach spirituality as something that we're an active part of, something that exists in and around us, rather than something that we are inferior to, something that we are removed from.

[Maat]

5. Absolutely.

Every year-end holiday celebration, my pastor has to remind everyone of that. Most churches in Religious Science are on the progressive side, obviously. HOWEVER ... I somehow managed to move to a big red pocket in a blue state (the Temecula area in Southern Cal). Like UU, Religious Science is O.K. with members of the congregation identifying themselves as 'Christians.' So, in every congregation, you will find one or two doing so. I do not. Somehow, we managed to get a few on the conservative side in our congregation. Most of the church members cannot figure out how. But who knows?


Anyway, the pastor regularly and quite patiently reminds members that we are a church that does not believe that we are inferior to a God. Rather, we believe that God is within us all, and we are equally divine. I have a feeling that 99% get it. As to the other 1%, I'm not sure they can HEAR, let alone get the point. The whole point is not to sweat the small stuff, though, and I don't. I try just to smile at them.

I like that and agree: 1) we are a part of it, 2) something exists in us (I believe it is Spirit - and that I am Spirit, as is anyone else), and 3) that Spirit is around us too.

I enjoy studying the faiths you mentioned. With studying law though, for the next couple of months (taking the Bar in Feb.), you DUers may have to enlighten me, though, because I probably won't have much extra reading time. So, when you come up with some info, or a great way of putting things, I keep it in mind.

Thanks for teaching me a new word, and I bookmarked the website. Very interesting reading.

[Az]

2. No belief is too far apart from another

We are all studying and trying to understand the same thing. It is the conclusions and explanations that go awry.

The reason I like science is because it starts with the proposition that we don't know. It acknowledges the mystery that is life. This may be discomforting to some. We naturally want the most secure and certain answer possible about things we face. Thus a system that starts out with uncertainty is not what most want as an answer.

[Pacifist Patriot]

3. My faculty advisor is of the opinion that religion and science

really aren't that different. The conflict is more of a power struggle than a true opposition. I thought that was an interesting take on it. Two of my papers brush on the subject.

http://www.unitarianminister.org/theo607.htm

http://www.unitarianminister.org/theo_601.htm

Ann

[Az]

4. Ideally true

But in practice there are problems.

It is interesting to note that at one time institutional religion was the primary backer of early science. Since of course the Church believed it was speaking on matters of truth a means of demonstrating that truth seemed reasonable. Trouble began once science began returning results that did not coincide with the Church's official position.

Stephen Gould liked to argue that Religion and Science were not enemies. He insisted that they covered two different areas. Religion governed moral and ethical considerations while science explored the nature of things. He missed the point that many Religions base their claim of moral certainty on their claim of the nature of the universe.

Ideally both Science and Religion should relate the truth. But religions tend to oppose means of affirming whether their claims are true or not. Science meanwhile seeks means of demonstrating the efficacy of its claims. A Religion based on the truth should fear nothing from science. And science should be able to work easily with a religion that is founded in reality.

[Maat]

7. I know that my church leaders do not fear science in any way.

I think that we are grounded in reality. But Religious Science teaches a great deal about using the power of the mind (God's way of getting you to avail yourself of the Great Energy if you will). So, we visualize and meditate, and pray as if our goal has happened. You let it go into the Universe, knowing that when you look, it will be so, or on its way. It's positive thinking. I don't know if that seems like reality, but I do believe that we have a human mind that has powers we don't even come close to fully availing ourselves of. Not incompatible with science. It might take us awhile to build a decent scientific model, though.

[Az]

8. I am familiar with the practice

And yes the mind does more than we are aware of. But I would not suggest that it involves powers or abilities beyond our reconning. There is much that goes on beneath our conscious level. Meditation and prayer are means of altering what you filter from your subconscious. They are practices that are going to change how you see the world. There is little doubt they will also change the patterns you have set your life by as well. This in turn will bring you into contact with groups and things you otherwise would have never experienced.

If you do come up with any evidence supporting the notion that the brain can affect things outside our current expectations though I would be quite happy to look at it. On the purely material side of it, such evidence would be worth at least $1.2 million dollars. But of far more value would be illuminating an as yet unexplored part of nature. But until such evidence exists I shall err on the side of caution and continue to associate such concepts with a function of the mind and internal perception.

[Maat]

9. O.K., Az!

Right now I'm visualizing passing the California Bar test on 2/22/2005 - 2/24/2005. Then, I'll work on the $1.2M. My pastor always has a caveat , though. Visualizing and meditating are one thing, but you have to be willing to do the Earthwork, so-to-speak.

Maybe, I'll work on that goal, after I PASS the CalBar.

[Maat]

6. Hey, thanks for the links!

Take care! I'd never be a pastor or minister. Too hard. I'll be a lawyer (the System is stacked in my favor).