--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "curtisdeltablues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Well, the Artist *uses* Science, but usually not the other > > way around. > > I believe that for a person who grew up in a developed county in the > last 80 years the assimilation of some of the principles of science > are a given. Even spirituality often uses uses proof systems that > appear to be empirical to some degree.
I would suggest that "appear to be" is the operative term here. :-) > It is only after proffered > evidence is show to be lacking does the rejection of all science > usually take place IME. > > Even the New Testament tries to build a case for Jesus' divinity > based on the performance of physical miracles witnessed and > reported by numbers of people. It surprised me on a re-read in > the last few years how much time is spent trying to make this > case. There is much more time spent on the miracles than any > of his presentation of ethical philosophy which he gets so much > undeserved credit for IMO. Now this is a subject I can identify with and sink my teeth into. :-) I have seen *exactly* the same phenomenon in operation with regard to the Rama fellow I studied with. True, he could *do* "miracles," at least well enough that hundreds of people would see phenomena like levitating or disappearing at the same time, and be able to report on it with absolute confidence that that's what they saw and experienced. A lot of those people still trot out the miracle show as "proof" that he was enlight- ened. Me, I don't see ANY link between flashy miracles and enlightenment or (spit) "divinity," but my opinion is obviously contrary to that of human civilization for centuries. People seem to have *always* been flashed out by miracles and paranormal phenomena. Why? I think that allows them a kind of subjective "proof" for their faith, which otherwise would be mere faith, and thus suspect. They want something they can regard as objective with which to bolster their subjective feelings. Look at "The Exorcist." No really...it's a profoundly religious work by a profoundly Catholic writer. His main character, a priest, has lost faith in God. What brings that faith *back* is his encounter with the supernatural, in the form of the devil. William Peter Blatty plays with a similar form of miracle in his film "The Ninth Configuration," in which one of the characters not only makes a Christ-like sacrifice for someone else, but offers a message from beyond the grave to "prove" to the doubter that his doubts are unfounded. And, at the same time, the actual *teachings* of Christ sometimes go by the wayside and are ignored, in favor of the flash. The Rama fellow I studied with had some really interesting things to say and things to teach, and *that* is what stays with me ten years after his death, not the miracle shit. But that's obviously not so with a great number of people. Go figure, is all I have to say. In the Christ myth, the biggie of course is the transcendence of death. That's most people's big fear, the Big Question Mark hanging over their often-ignored but always-present awareness of their eventual fate. "If he can die and not die, maybe I can, too" seems to be the operating system in place with this kind of faith. At any rate, it's a fascinating subject. Thanks for bringing it up, Curtis. And, since I peeked at the first few lines of someone else's followup before I wrote this one, I don't think you made Jesus our bitch. Paul more than did that long ago by claiming that he died for our sins. :-)
