Do you think it true? That when we reject organized religion, we can still get caught by pseudo-religions, such a the belief that nature has meaning and purpose, the idea of so called spiritual values or that the arts can give us “artistic truth”. Do you know of any more and what are the dangers?
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Of course nature has meaning—an extreme amount of value and meaning! Why is that kind of awareness a danger? On the contrary, awareness and appreciation for the great mystery of Ultimate Reality lends the keenest of motivation to survive and live well.
What is a danger is a dogmatic belief in scientism and materialism. Such beliefs lead to spiritual blindness, a sense of worthlessness, depression, disease, and general unhappiness.
WilliamFleming
Level 8
Nov 17, 2018
1
What are the dangers of seeing meaning and purpose in nature? They may be many, but here are just four to start with.
One: That thinking of nature having purpose can easily lead to false conclusions, such as for example, the ladder of creation view of evolutionary theory and even the idea of Karma.
Two: That it is inherently dishonest to set up ideologies without evidence, and that this type of thought can easily condition you to unquestioningly accepting dishonesty, in both yourself and others.
Three: Perhaps not that important, but; it gives a hostage to theists who will use the argument. “Yours is just a groundless belief system too.”
And fourth: Most of all. It risks and wastes your powers of appreciation, which are truly the greatest of natures gift, to use them on any form of fairyland glitter, when they should be used on appreciating the wonders and glory of nature in all its real richness for which they were intended; Especially when the practice of using them on that, is the best way to enhance them and to learn values.
@Fernapple The Nature whereof you speak is one that created itself, decreed certain immutable laws, brought about the dazzling miracle of life, and is awash with conscious awareness, which is the crown jewel of existence. How can you possibly suggest that nature has no meaning or purpose? Nature IS meaning, purpose, and value!
One ideology that has been set up without evidence and that has led to accepting dishonesty in yourself and others—that ideology is the materialist, reductionist, physicalist dogma of scientism. That horrible delusion has led to untold misery in the world, countless wars and massive environmental destruction. That glittery fairytale lures people into a drunken, ego-driven sense of arrogance and condescension, leading them to believe that they have great knowledge and understanding of reality. In truth they are abysmally and totally ignorant and they are blind to that fact. How unfortunate to have leapt from the frying pan of dogmatic religious belief into the fire of dogmatic scientism!
I have just begun to read a brilliant book, “Spiritual Science, Why Science Needs Spirituality to make Sense of the World”, by your fellow Brit, Steve Taylor. FYI, spirituality is not some magical, supernatural superstition. The spirituality of Steve Taylor is firmly grounded in reality, and there is much evidence.
Open-minded people look directly at that evidence without blinders.
@WilliamFleming I agree wholy with your first paragraph, including. "Nature Is meaning purpose and value." Especially to us.
But the second two paragraphs directly contradict it.
I remember a story about a famous Victorian gentleman who lived in this country, and fell in love with a beautiful young woman, who he had seen dressed in all the great silken gowns such as women wore then. Or he thought he had fallen in love anyway. So he married her, and on the wedding night she undressed. It was his first sight of another human naked and he was so alarmed that he fled, never to return to the marriage chamber. They divorced shortly after, which was rare then. It is a poor love, indeed no love at all, which needs silken finery or will not face its beloved honestly.
" To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw perfume on the violet, To smooth the ice, or to add another hue, unto the rainbow, or with tapper-light, To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish. Is wasteful and ridiculous excess."
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