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ELEMENTS of Self-exploration and Adventure
This was a great book, very well written.
Patrick
Highly recommend for believers and non believers alike. Hits both sides equally and does not take sides. Seldom is a work like this neutral.
Phillip Durbinon
A. Amoral science & brainless religion---in the spirit of On Liberty
B. Dancing science and religion---the wisdom and folly of many people
C. Our interface with Reality---let's give Reality a great big hug
Explore the interface between humans and Reality by answering three questions. Included are many quotations from people on the same journey, and a few funny fillers to give your brain a rest. Your answers and mine are at the end.
D. Freedom and Joy---The Buddha and Lao Tzu, Harold and Maude
A. Amoral science & brainless religion
1. Science and Religion
2. Understanding and significance
3. Albert Einstein
1. SCIENCE AND RELIGION
The quality of the ideas and beliefs held by an individual or organization can best be judged by their willingness to be exposed to alternative ideas and beliefs, competently and forcefully presented. So argued John Stuart Mill in his short book, On Liberty.
Openness to alternative points of view is necessary
a. Your point of view may be wrong. To believe otherwise is to assume you are infallible.
b. Your opinion almost certainly does not contain the whole truth, and alternative points of view may have valid elements. If you have the honesty and self-confidence to recognize them, understanding increases, and the presentation of your point of view more powerful.
c. Even if the other point of view is completely wrong it is important to listen carefully and present your position vigorously and honestly. Otherwise your point of view will lose its vitality and freshness and become dead dogma, mere rhetoric.
In the spirit of On Liberty, this paper considers the strengths and weaknesses of the two great interpreters of reality in our culture, science and religion.
An honest dialogue has often been made toxic by too many people among such groups as atheists and fundamentalist Christians who cherry pick history, straw man the other side, and indulge in sad, mean-spirited ad-hominem attacks. For instance, atheists I have known greatly enjoy trivializing and making fun of religion. Along with the hopelessly brainless literal interpretations of the bible, the horrors perpetrated by religion in the name of love are pictured in detail and living color.
The politics of the far right is seen as an attempt to return to the good old days, when rack and stake will once again put the fear of Almighty God in the hearts of Satan and his minions, and anyone else who doesn’t grovel low enough. And the examination of religion is usually left there, with a fervent commitment to the fight for rationality and freedom wherever ignorance and superstition are found. Such fine words indeed stir the soul.
Religious fundamentalists I have known point out that science has no morality. And, the tools of destruction created by Godless scientists have caused more suffering and death than all of the religious wars put together. The picture of all those scientists spreading terror and pain, and threatening all life on this beautiful planet is not pretty. And imagine the terrified last moments of all those millions upon millions of innocent, little babies dying in horrible agony, sliced apart by doctors trained in the scientific tradition. More than ample justification for an even greater commitment to the Holy Crusade to spread God’s Love and Mercy to all mankind.
The ideologues on both sides trivialize and demonize, and easily knock down the abominable straw men they create. What fun stomping the stuffing into the mud. There is some truth in how each views the other but the selectivity and exaggerations are a little less than honest.
Hopefully the following will be a bit more even-handed.
Patrick
Highly recommend for believers and non believers alike. Hits both sides equally and does not take sides. Seldom is a work like this neutral.
Phillip Durbinon
A. Amoral science & brainless religion---in the spirit of On Liberty
B. Dancing science and religion---the wisdom and folly of many people
C. Our interface with Reality---let's give Reality a great big hug
Explore the interface between humans and Reality by answering three questions. Included are many quotations from people on the same journey, and a few funny fillers to give your brain a rest. Your answers and mine are at the end.
D. Freedom and Joy---The Buddha and Lao Tzu, Harold and Maude
A. Amoral science & brainless religion
1. Science and Religion
2. Understanding and significance
3. Albert Einstein
1. SCIENCE AND RELIGION
The quality of the ideas and beliefs held by an individual or organization can best be judged by their willingness to be exposed to alternative ideas and beliefs, competently and forcefully presented. So argued John Stuart Mill in his short book, On Liberty.
Openness to alternative points of view is necessary
a. Your point of view may be wrong. To believe otherwise is to assume you are infallible.
b. Your opinion almost certainly does not contain the whole truth, and alternative points of view may have valid elements. If you have the honesty and self-confidence to recognize them, understanding increases, and the presentation of your point of view more powerful.
c. Even if the other point of view is completely wrong it is important to listen carefully and present your position vigorously and honestly. Otherwise your point of view will lose its vitality and freshness and become dead dogma, mere rhetoric.
In the spirit of On Liberty, this paper considers the strengths and weaknesses of the two great interpreters of reality in our culture, science and religion.
An honest dialogue has often been made toxic by too many people among such groups as atheists and fundamentalist Christians who cherry pick history, straw man the other side, and indulge in sad, mean-spirited ad-hominem attacks. For instance, atheists I have known greatly enjoy trivializing and making fun of religion. Along with the hopelessly brainless literal interpretations of the bible, the horrors perpetrated by religion in the name of love are pictured in detail and living color.
The politics of the far right is seen as an attempt to return to the good old days, when rack and stake will once again put the fear of Almighty God in the hearts of Satan and his minions, and anyone else who doesn’t grovel low enough. And the examination of religion is usually left there, with a fervent commitment to the fight for rationality and freedom wherever ignorance and superstition are found. Such fine words indeed stir the soul.
Religious fundamentalists I have known point out that science has no morality. And, the tools of destruction created by Godless scientists have caused more suffering and death than all of the religious wars put together. The picture of all those scientists spreading terror and pain, and threatening all life on this beautiful planet is not pretty. And imagine the terrified last moments of all those millions upon millions of innocent, little babies dying in horrible agony, sliced apart by doctors trained in the scientific tradition. More than ample justification for an even greater commitment to the Holy Crusade to spread God’s Love and Mercy to all mankind.
The ideologues on both sides trivialize and demonize, and easily knock down the abominable straw men they create. What fun stomping the stuffing into the mud. There is some truth in how each views the other but the selectivity and exaggerations are a little less than honest.
Hopefully the following will be a bit more even-handed.
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 11, 2010
About the author
Ernest Kinnie
117 books2 followersThe goal of my writings is to expand what you can feel, what you can think, and what you can become. They range from self-help psychology books to the wild adventures of a young girl, Alice, who can dance with time, space and the Shadow World. A warning. Not intended for the easily offended. Adult language is used when appropriate to the narrative, such as in ALICE, and techniques for enhancing sexuality are given in THE MAGIC THEATER II. I’m is a retired psychologist, using a lifetime of experience to create entertaining and useful books for your enjoyment and personal growth.
http://www.wisdomfolly.net
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 15, 2011
Alternative Realities
***
Explore and rewrite your history through daydreaming and relaxation.
***
Author Ernest Kinnie, a retired clinical psychologist, gathered miscellaneous ideas, quotes and proverbs to give readers a context in which to explore their inner world, and improve daily living. Readers take a memory and rewrite it in their memory. They then document the results in journal using mind playing roles. The end results along with the relaxation techniques in the next section prepare the reader for four in-depth fantasy adventures. Finally, the hodgepodge of proverbs and sayings, many of which the original authors are not credited, are like flashes of light. They briefly light up a topic but do last long enough to keep out of the dark. This self-help is not for somebody in need of help. However, taken out of context, many of the exercises could be used by beginning writers to practice story development skills.
***
Explore and rewrite your history through daydreaming and relaxation.
***
Author Ernest Kinnie, a retired clinical psychologist, gathered miscellaneous ideas, quotes and proverbs to give readers a context in which to explore their inner world, and improve daily living. Readers take a memory and rewrite it in their memory. They then document the results in journal using mind playing roles. The end results along with the relaxation techniques in the next section prepare the reader for four in-depth fantasy adventures. Finally, the hodgepodge of proverbs and sayings, many of which the original authors are not credited, are like flashes of light. They briefly light up a topic but do last long enough to keep out of the dark. This self-help is not for somebody in need of help. However, taken out of context, many of the exercises could be used by beginning writers to practice story development skills.
January 3, 2012
Good relaxation techniquies mixed with means of communication. I enjoyed trying the excersises and did feel some relief. All in all worked well.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews