Religious Philosophy ~ Lesson 2 by Trent Murman

Religious Philosophy ~ Lesson 2 ~ Essay

Religions, Ethical Systems &Fundamentals

By Trent Murman

 

Part 1 ~ Concept and Precept

In the construction world one might have concepts to include:

1 A vision.  To precept this would include all interested parties come together over planning meetings such as financing, laying of the corner stone, preparing the dig site and discussing city ordinances such as codes, permits and locations to be considered.  How long is the community going to be inconvenienced by closed roads, detours and filth created by the project? Finally a start and expected completion date.  2 The project planning.  The need for arranging subcontracting companies that are experts in their particular fields such as masonry, electrical, building machinery to construct multiple floors, cranes etc.  3 The building of the project.  Precept or orchestrate from day one when the expert companies would come into play such as getting proper permits to include seismology, noise levels, work hours allotted not to disturb community noise curfew hours.

 

Part 2 ~ The subject of monistic.

If the concept of "One is All" is to be adhered to by a group of people it is my theory that to not be perceived with the original thought there would need to be sub "Ones" for different clicks or parts of the original "One", such as a person controls a four city block area.  "One" person is not physically able to patrol or know what is going on  in all areas of  his "domain" (the four city block area).  So, in this "domain" this person would most likely need to have people loyal to  him in charge of each block that would report to him on an arranged meeting schedule to bring the "One" up to speed on moral and incidents occurring on each particular block.  Especially if another "One" is attempting to move into his four block area to take control and acquire more blocks under his control. 

 

I believe there is such a thing as evil.  In a world that is morally run by entities and "all is good" there has to be an "evil" side to maintain checks and balances for a stable world or society.  I feel people would not know if "all is good" if there was not temptation from evil to tempt them to stray, thus the "all is good" entity to bring them back to the good path.  I believe matter does exist, however in many forms and concepts.  The "One" originally was sent here to earth in the physical form as whatever deity a particular religious group refers to as their "One" be it God, Buddha etc.  Most people need to see a physical thing/person to relate to so the theory of God and not being able to see Him can be disheartening to these people and we might call them skeptical or even non-believers.  Do I exist?  Yes, I think and believe we do exist having interaction with others sharing concepts etc.  There are some that believe we do not exist and once this body or shell ceases to function that is it, there is nothing more after the ceasing.  Interestingly, do these people go to heaven or hell post mortem?  Or, are they simply in limbo some place bound to this through eternity?  Most people need to at least visualize in their mind that there is something post mortem and this "Something" is going to take care of our sole/being post mortem.  This gives them peace of mind that we all need.  So, are we real?  Is this world real?  I think these questions/concepts need to be answered by each particular person contingent on how they were raised, what was instilled in their minds commencing when they could start the thought process and reasoning for this is what separates us from the lower forms of the animal kingdom, the ability to think and reason.

 

 

 

Part 3 ~ The correct practice of a religion.

Is there a correct practice?  Most people need to know and/or follow a structure when it comes to religion, because, if they are not the one's governing the practice of this religion but followers of the "Shepard" they believe the "Shepard" is in control and his beliefs coincide with theirs.  If this doesn't happen then the followers would most likely seek out a new "Shepard".  I have always felt somehow they structure within the Catholic religion brings its followers closer to "God", let me explain, from the Priest to the Pope the followers know they are required to do certain things to be a "good Catholic" i.e. pray, go to confession, go to Mass regularly, ask for absolution, there are nuns, priests, and up the structured ladder to the Pope.  Some have a hard time dealing with the concept of one human being granting absolution to another…why not just talk to God directly, why go through another human?  Or is this person giving the absolution a vessel through which God speaks and he is only carrying out His orders?  Whichever it is, most people I feel need a structured system to "correctly practice" a religion.     

 

 

 

 

Master of Religious Philosophy by Rev. Longsden

1)       What is your perspective on this "great problem?" How do you view your relationship with Reality? Are you entirely material, entirely spiritual, a mixture of the two, or a spiritual being trapped in a material prison?

I would have to say and hope I am multi that is material in one sense and spiritual for without one we are nothing .basically we need material to gain spiritual guidance although we can live with spirituality on its own we may loose some friends through not having the material aspects of our lives.

2)      
How do you think that your view of your relationship with Reality impacts the way that you approach spirituality? Does it make you more submissive, studious, prayerful, resigned, contemplative?

Reality this is an ambiguse question in the sense if we do not live in a real world or that of reality would we be totally sane occasionally some people become re enacters although this is called living history the persons playing the part still reside in reality when at home or work this is as such an hobby.

3)       Finally, how do you think that your view of your relationship with Reality impacts the way that you live your life? Does it make you more moral, immoral, ethical, unethicallogical, independent, determined? Does it impact your views on medicine, charity, politics, employment, vegetarianism, taking risks?

What is a moral and ethical life can a vegan tell me what is right or wrong ,I would expect my doctor would lecture me with the important of changing my diet for the good of my health a priest or cleric would explain my religious values and how to improve my life through them. The employer would supply me with a set of guidelines so as not to offend my colleagues and also their customers and a uniform to show I conform to these rules and guidelines along with this structure some may brush off in my social life how treat others and expect to be treated.

 

Andrew Longsden

Master of Religious Philosophy by Judith Wolf

Master of Religious Philosophy

Final Essay

Dr. Judith Wolf

 

This is the best course, maybe my favorite. Robert Chamberlain asks interesting and challenging questions and then presents different sides. The course involves you in the discourse by making you think. A real treat.

 

Of great surprise was the number of different religions there actually are in the world. Our usual Judeo/Christian view limits us in a variety of ways, but most importantly has the potential of limiting our understanding of how much we have in common with others in the world.

 

Regardless of how the presentation is organized (and the author presents many different ways), the most fascinating question to me is: Why do so many of us believe in a higher power? And how do we explain that this started eons ago. Religion is not a modern phenomenon. It goes back thousands of years. Do we in fact have a God gene? And if there is, how long ago did the gene appear?

 

Let's consider common ants. In their colonies there is a queen, drones and worker bees. Is the queen a focus of worship. Or birds, as they fly north and south following a leader, is the leader a focus of worship. How about ancient tribal chiefs and medicine men? And how about the concept of any monarch? Does the awe inspired by Kings and Queens fit into this paradigm?

 

If conclusions reached by Dr. Dean Homer in his research are correct, there is an inverse relationship between the amount of serotonin in a person's brain (determined by the concentration of serotonin receptors in the brain) and that person's degree of religiosity (how religious a person is). The course goes into this in greater detail, but suffice it to say the amount of serotonin is genetically determined. When you think about the fact that some people have a "religious calling," it simply boggles the mind. Incredible food for thought.

 

In spite of the depth of this course the question of whether or not there is a God cannot be answered definitively by us right now. As some wise person said to me one time, either there is a God or there isn't. If there isn't it doesn't matter, but if there is well….

 

And this brings us to faith. That all important concept. A discussion saved for another course, another time. Or isn't it necessary. Should we just believe and feel the blessing.

Religious Philosophy Lesson 7 - Rev. Longsden

 

Religious philosophy lesson 7

To be added to the three great problems of life I would add environmental ,the reason for this is the subject is brought up in the news /media everyday of the week it gives the individual issues to think on do I change my utilities company so as to stop greenhouse emissions do I go back to nature for food as oppose to mass production and cloning / genetic modified .  Environmental issues gives us food for thought and would slide into the other three and also be a separate issue.

 

By placing religions in a chronological order we would have in effect a Jessie tree the tree of religious life from none religion ,paganism through to modern Christianity and new-age travelers .religion is constantly evolving along with the demands of modern society and although Christianity or Islam will always be around it will eventually evolve to the needs of its followers i.e. internet churches or temples Christian caravan clubs where like minded people meet once a month or weekend to practice theology or bible reading without the problems of life in their town they are in a king of monastic environment .

Andrew Longsden

Religious Philosophy

 

Lesson 12 religious philosophy

 

Have you ever visited a spot considered to be a Place of Power? If so, how did it 'feel'? Was this any different than anyplace else?

I have attended numerous sites in my life some as aboy in aw and wonder and some as an adult studying or on Holiday in various countries. My interests have usualy been in military either medieval or roman what I felt at times was not anything magical only buildings designed to give a statement of power wealth or religion but I must add that some can leave one with an impression on the mind .The other side of the coin is that religious sites where placed upon older religious sites of worship and are believed to follow straight lines these lines are known as ley lines. 

A ley line is a path or line which follows religious sites from one place to another what we must look at is inold History/pre christian times roads and lanes and paths led to a village hamlet or town along these paths would be religious points of worship springs temples etc some of these would be eventualy built upon by the church as a means of drawing in the old believers into the modern church another adoption would be religious festivals or feast days  which the church also adopted.

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