Sal making a career teaching (indoctrinating) creationism by the method of persuasion:
From: After the Bar Closes
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013
We also have an eye on other things than evolution!
Something different: Biogeocoenosis We have other interests as well!
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
I once had a discussion with YEC Salvador Cordova.
I first ran across the character Salvador Cordova on ARN’s Intelligent Design forum some years ago, he was then, according to himself, a YEC, but claimed that if need be, he might also be comfortable with a middle aged or old earth…
On my suggestion, he bought ‘Life, an Unauthorised Biography’ by palaeontologist Richard Fortey. I pointed him to the page (267) where Fortey writes:
“The Chalk, including all the cliffs from Texas to Dover, the downs that floor much of southern England, the bowl that holds the Paris Basin, all this is made of fossils, the sheer numbers of which boggle arithmetic. Chalk may be a commonplace rock, but it surely is one of the most curious.”
On the same page, the source of this chalk is described:
“minute rosettes of calcium carbonate plates, regularly arranged, like wheels with delicate spokes, or miniscule stony flowers, of which a hundred or so might fit on a pinhead. They are called coccoliths. These are the debris of another single-celled organism, a planktonic ‘algae’. During their life, the coccoliths were secreted by the living cells, many coccoliths to a cell.
I asked Sal if he didn’t think that it would require more than the time available in the context of a young earth to produce such amounts of fossil chalk.
His reply was simply to point out that bacteria have a very high reproduction rate.
I really don’t think that is a valid argument – a biologist may set the record straight.
But that argument made me realize that he was lost to reason and I gave up on him. His outspoken worship of Dembski was (and is) painful to watch. Now it seems like he has been elevated to some sort of sidekick for Dembski, and in his profile on ARN he present himself as ‘scientist’.
Nowadays he is a frequent contributor to Dembski’s blog with absurd claims about things like ‘Perfect architectures which scream design’
They want the ‘Explanatory Filter’ to be some kind of science?
I thought I would make an alternate profile of Sal and searched ARN for documentation of a discussion we had there, but I probably got so frustrated with his nonsense that I deleted the thread. I intended the debate to be about ‘YEC pro or con’s’, but when he (IIRC) in one of his replies used a story about some sort of mysterious event involving a blind girl I realized that for him, faith takes precedence over reason.
Sal:Re: YEC Pro or Con #13112981 - Thu Dec 02 2004 02:58 PM
Thus, even though a point in favor of radiometric dating exists, Creationists do acknowledge a relationship of depth to supposed age, but as you pointed out there are anomalies in concluding that it was because of deposition over time.
Further we have the unfortunate problem that with even reasonable erosion rates, the entire geological column would be wiped out. Several times over......
Therefore from a purely scientific standpoint, there is reason to believe the age to depth relationship could possibly be from an un-accounted for physical phenomenon. That is, in my mind the last major sticking point to YEC.
Me: From a purely scientific standpoint? I don’t have enough question marks on my keyboard….
Sal:
YEC Pros and Cons, Part III #215468 - Mon Nov 22 2004 08:09 PM
This is a continuation of the greatest thread in ARN history (at least in my opinion anyway).
Engineers and Information Technologists: John Wendt, Marc-1961, RBH, Rock, Salvador T. Cordova
The basis for YEC:
1. The existence of an All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Eternal Intelligent Designer is a reasonable conclusion from the laws of physics.
2. Instantaneous formation of Cosmological and Biological features in the universe is more consistent with physical law versus process formation (such as Big Bang plus Darwinian Evolution).
3. Various YEC models can theoretically account for light from distant stars reaching our planet in a short amount of time.
4. One of the mechanisms considered to account for distant starlight is Setterfield's speed of light decay cosmology, and this will result in recalibration of radiometric dates.
5. In addition to the reasonable conclusion of instantaneous formation of various features of the universe, various geological, astrophysical, and biological clocks suggest that, the universe is also young -- less than millions of years, perhaps even thousands of years.
Salvador
In the Pandas Thumb thread ‘Stupid ID statement of the month’ I found Sal nicknamed most appropriately Salzo Panza. May I suggest he is to Dembski what Goebbels was to Hitler, albeit at a less glorious level?
I mean, repeat nonsense often enough, and it certainly will stick in somebody’s mind.
After all, propaganda instead of facts or science is the name of the game for the fundamentalist crowd.
Just look at this:
In http://www.uncommondescent.com/index.php/archives/1316
S. Cordova writes:
"For example, one could easily conclude a lineage is more fit since it survived. Well, it may have survived simply because it was lucky. Thus, by definition it has a survival advantage because it has the quality of being lucky! See David Raup\’s book: Extinction: Bad Genes or Bad Luck"
On my suggestion, he bought ‘Life, an Unauthorised Biography’ by palaeontologist Richard Fortey. I pointed him to the page (267) where Fortey writes:
“The Chalk, including all the cliffs from Texas to Dover, the downs that floor much of southern England, the bowl that holds the Paris Basin, all this is made of fossils, the sheer numbers of which boggle arithmetic. Chalk may be a commonplace rock, but it surely is one of the most curious.”
On the same page, the source of this chalk is described:
“minute rosettes of calcium carbonate plates, regularly arranged, like wheels with delicate spokes, or miniscule stony flowers, of which a hundred or so might fit on a pinhead. They are called coccoliths. These are the debris of another single-celled organism, a planktonic ‘algae’. During their life, the coccoliths were secreted by the living cells, many coccoliths to a cell.
I asked Sal if he didn’t think that it would require more than the time available in the context of a young earth to produce such amounts of fossil chalk.
His reply was simply to point out that bacteria have a very high reproduction rate.
I really don’t think that is a valid argument – a biologist may set the record straight.
But that argument made me realize that he was lost to reason and I gave up on him. His outspoken worship of Dembski was (and is) painful to watch. Now it seems like he has been elevated to some sort of sidekick for Dembski, and in his profile on ARN he present himself as ‘scientist’.
Nowadays he is a frequent contributor to Dembski’s blog with absurd claims about things like ‘Perfect architectures which scream design’
They want the ‘Explanatory Filter’ to be some kind of science?
I thought I would make an alternate profile of Sal and searched ARN for documentation of a discussion we had there, but I probably got so frustrated with his nonsense that I deleted the thread. I intended the debate to be about ‘YEC pro or con’s’, but when he (IIRC) in one of his replies used a story about some sort of mysterious event involving a blind girl I realized that for him, faith takes precedence over reason.
Sal:Re: YEC Pro or Con #13112981 - Thu Dec 02 2004 02:58 PM
Thus, even though a point in favor of radiometric dating exists, Creationists do acknowledge a relationship of depth to supposed age, but as you pointed out there are anomalies in concluding that it was because of deposition over time.
Further we have the unfortunate problem that with even reasonable erosion rates, the entire geological column would be wiped out. Several times over......
Therefore from a purely scientific standpoint, there is reason to believe the age to depth relationship could possibly be from an un-accounted for physical phenomenon. That is, in my mind the last major sticking point to YEC.
Me: From a purely scientific standpoint? I don’t have enough question marks on my keyboard….
Sal:
YEC Pros and Cons, Part III #215468 - Mon Nov 22 2004 08:09 PM
This is a continuation of the greatest thread in ARN history (at least in my opinion anyway).
Engineers and Information Technologists: John Wendt, Marc-1961, RBH, Rock, Salvador T. Cordova
The basis for YEC:
1. The existence of an All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Eternal Intelligent Designer is a reasonable conclusion from the laws of physics.
2. Instantaneous formation of Cosmological and Biological features in the universe is more consistent with physical law versus process formation (such as Big Bang plus Darwinian Evolution).
3. Various YEC models can theoretically account for light from distant stars reaching our planet in a short amount of time.
4. One of the mechanisms considered to account for distant starlight is Setterfield's speed of light decay cosmology, and this will result in recalibration of radiometric dates.
5. In addition to the reasonable conclusion of instantaneous formation of various features of the universe, various geological, astrophysical, and biological clocks suggest that, the universe is also young -- less than millions of years, perhaps even thousands of years.
Salvador
In the Pandas Thumb thread ‘Stupid ID statement of the month’ I found Sal nicknamed most appropriately Salzo Panza. May I suggest he is to Dembski what Goebbels was to Hitler, albeit at a less glorious level?
I mean, repeat nonsense often enough, and it certainly will stick in somebody’s mind.
After all, propaganda instead of facts or science is the name of the game for the fundamentalist crowd.
Just look at this:
In http://www.uncommondescent.com/index.php/archives/1316
S. Cordova writes:
"For example, one could easily conclude a lineage is more fit since it survived. Well, it may have survived simply because it was lucky. Thus, by definition it has a survival advantage because it has the quality of being lucky! See David Raup\’s book: Extinction: Bad Genes or Bad Luck"
Monday, November 4, 2013
Facts about radiometric dating methods.
I took the opportunity to clip this from a thread at Pandas Thumb:
you might find this link helpful as it explains the mainstream view of radiometric dating. It is written by a physicist that is also a Christian; the article is posted via ASA which is an organization of Christian scientists.
http://www.asa3.org/ASA/resources/wiens.html
you might find this link helpful as it explains the mainstream view of radiometric dating. It is written by a physicist that is also a Christian; the article is posted via ASA which is an organization of Christian scientists.
http://www.asa3.org/ASA/resources/wiens.html
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
An example of the quality of ID "research" arguments.
At the website After the Bar Closes, a website dedicated to discussing "Intelligent Design Advocates", a visit is made to Mr. Casey Luskin, an atttorney working for the Discovery Intstitute:
Mr. Luskins error is that he takes an ID-friendly article of dubious quality at face value and compounds the error by going on to defending it in an attack on Dr. Jennifer Raff.
(This should be of interest to our local cdesignproponentsist, KjellTveter), but he wisely stays away from any debate about his beloved Intelligent Design that he, like Luskin, defends without knowing what he is talking about.)
A little while ago I linked to Casey Luskin's EN&V attack on Dr. Jennifer Raff (of Violent Metaphors). He was unhappy that she implied that a DI affiliation might be considered relevant to an author's credibility, and impliedly challenged her to take ID research at face value. Challenge accepted!Violent Metaphors
Mr. Luskins error is that he takes an ID-friendly article of dubious quality at face value and compounds the error by going on to defending it in an attack on Dr. Jennifer Raff.
(This should be of interest to our local cdesignproponentsist, KjellTveter), but he wisely stays away from any debate about his beloved Intelligent Design that he, like Luskin, defends without knowing what he is talking about.)
Monday, September 30, 2013
Former Christian fundamentalist: Science robbed me of my faith
Link to article by Finnish ex-fundamentalist/creationist after experiencing the power of natural selction in genetic algorithms:
salon.com/2013/09/09
salon.com/2013/09/09
Sunday, August 4, 2013
A special for ID creationist Floyd A. Lee
A lesson on how not to do “research”.
Scare quotes because Floyd A. Lee, instead of researching his subject just search for arguments to use in creating his preferred view of how evolution works: God, Yahweh, performing magic on Earth over billions of years, creating the appearance of a natural evolution while in fact it all is an illusion. He sees God’s finger as the agent of biological evolution. I suspect he at the same time is a YEC and firm believer in a literal reading of the Bible as the only source of reliable information. All because of a desire to preserve unbounded faith in a literal reading of the Bible.A critique of Floyd A. Lee’s arguments for Intelligent Design.
Introduction.
Instead of pretending that my words are reliable arguments, I try to provide links to relevant sources. Creationists often reject Wikipedia, claiming it is unreliable. That is a cheap excuse for avoiding uncomfortable questions. My experienced is that Wiki uses lots of links to sources. If there is a will to research a subject, it can be done. I never have any problems researching a subject. I always find more stuff both from evolutionary as well as ID/creationistic quarters than I could possibly use.
But I always look for alternatives to Wikipedia. Well, here we go:
Mr. Lee’s text in blue + italics to differentiate from my interspersed comments.
Sometimes, when I'm discussing or debating issues with online atheists, agnostics, and evolutionists, the huge topic of Intelligent Design comes up, and they ask me to explain the Intelligent Design hypothesis to them.
They ask, "What is the Intelligent Design hypothesis, and why should the ID hypothesis be considered science?"
That's no small question. Many people -- including young people -- are seriously asking about the ID hypothesis, even today. They already know that the ID hypothesis, if true, would chop and drop the theory of evolution.
After all, YOU are the biggest confirmation of the ID hypothesis; YOU are the biggest disproof of the theory of evolution. So here's my answer, in my own words, based on the writings of ID advocates such as mathematician Dr. William Dembski and biochemist Dr. Michael Behe.
To begin with, Mr. Lee is using too much rhetoric in the above introduction to his argument for the scope and validity of the “ID hypothesis.” Rhetoric is not informative, it is hype. If you have good information, all you need is that information expressed in clear, understandable terms. Bolding of text goes in the same box, it is superfluous. If arguments are god enough, they stand on their own. If not, no icing on the cake makes it tasty. Let us examine his basic premise:
The ID hypothesis involves two simple concepts and three simple points. Check this out. The two simple concepts are:
1. Specified Complexity -- the best way to describe SC, is like the sentences and paragraphs you're reading here. Each sentence and paragraph is way too specific and at the same time way too complex, to have originated from natural causes.
A strange and irrelevant comparison. Below is link to a professional appraisal of
Dembski's specified complexity
(Your own DNA is like a complex language communication system or a very complicated computer algorithm, isn't it? Better start asking how all that complex specified programming popped up inside you!)
No, it isn't. Just more ID suggestive, irrelevant rhetoric. Why don't you tell your audience how it started, and evolved, respective where, how and when the designer aka Yahweh did it?
2. Irreducible Complexity -- it's a special case of specified complexity (Dembski), and the best way to describe IC is like those cheap mousetraps you buy at Wal-Mart. As Behe suggests, all parts of a mousetrap system MUST be present and work together all at the same time, in order for that system to fulfill its purpose. Mousetraps don't appear via natural causes. Each part must be in its proper place all at once, AND all the pieces must work together correctly all at once, or else the system doesn't catch mice, doesn't fulfill its purpose. So when you see a working mousetrap, you're seeing an object that displays Irreducible Complexity.
(By the way, multiple and compelling examples of Irreducible Complexity, can be found inside your own two eyes, right here and now. Go figure!)
Here we are faced with the mousetrap analogy, presented as a strong, incontrovertible argument for the concept that a structure that may be made useless – or made less useful by the removal of one of its parts, must default to be the product of an “Intelligent Designer”.
It is a problem with all of Mr. Lee’s arguments that he completely ignores all the science that constitute a massive body of critical analysis of the arguments used by Dembski and Behe. From the huge amount of scientific responses to claims of irreducibility, I chose at random
The Collapse of "Irreducible Complexity".
Both of the concepts touted by Mr. Lee here have been subjected to so much critical analysis that I find it both short-sighted and irresponsible when he just ignore scientific sources. I understand Mr. Lee’s concern; he is a religious person with the desire to “spread the Gospel” and restore faith in a literal interpretation of the Bible.
So you get the picture.
Specified Complexity and Irreducible Complexity are the markers that signal the
presence of Intelligent Design in whatever you're looking at. So now
here's the ID hypothesis:
Aha, Mr. Lee has made his
mind up, Dembski and Behe provide all the evidence he need, case shut and
closed. But is that really all it takes to scrap 160 years of science? How
reasonable is it to assume that a definite conclusion should be drawn without
even considering criticism and contrary arguments? After all, the critics are
well qualified, professional scientists. Are the biologists and other
professionals engaged in evolutionary research less qualified and competent
than their colleagues responsible for space flight, exploration of the moon and
the solar system, cell phones, LCD television, computers and all the other
marvels of the 21st century?
Of course not.
1. Specified Complexity
and/or Irreducible Complexity are well-defined and empirically detectable.
Really? Please show us how. Despite repeated claims that
“Complex Specified Information” can be calculated (because it is claimed that a
value beyond a specific limit is not achievable by natural means, ergo that
will be evidence of design.) when presented with simple examples of CSI, no ID
proponent have risen to the challenge. Nobody have yet calculated any example
of CSI. Why? Because they don’t know how. My guess is that it is not doable.
Can you spot the obvious confusion in Casey’s mind? He just doesn’t’ know what he is talking about, and anyone using his brain can see it! Can you? I’d say you don’t, because you don’t want to know.
2. Undirected natural causes, like naturalistic evolution, cannot explain Specified Complexity and/or Irreducible Complexity.
You might be more trustworthy if you'd bother to qualify your statements! Althought you'd be hard pressed to find what you need to make credible arguments.
Still cocksure you know best?
3. Intelligent
causation best explains Specified Complexity and/or Irreducible Complexity.
That's an actual 3-point
scientific hypothesis of Intelligent Design. And yes, it IS
scientific, because that hypothesis makes a testable prediction which
can be falsified in the real world. Here's the testable prediction:
"The concept of
intelligent design entails a strong prediction that is readily
falsifiable. In particular, the concept of intelligent design predicts
that complex information, such as that encoded in a functioning
genome, NEVER arises from purely chemical or physical antecedents.
Experience will show that only intelligent agency gives rise to functional
information. All that is necessary to falsify the hypothesis of intelligent
design is to show confirmed instances of purely physical or chemical
antecedents producing such information."
-- philosopher of science Dr. Stephen Meyer
with Dr. Mark Hartwig, from the textbook "Of Pandas and People", 2nd
ed, 1993.
Okay, read that prediction
again, it's important. THAT is how you would kill ID,
especially when it comes to Origin-Of-Life. Like Wikipedia points out,
the observed presence of even ONE black swan will falsify the hypothesis
"All swans are white." So you have now been given a genuine,
real-world falsification criterion there.
There is no need to “kill ID” since it never was alive. It
was designed as a wedge, remember?
It is right up your alley, go read The Wedge strategy.
****
So now we can demonstrate that ID is scientifically falsifiable and therefore prove that it's genuine, real science. Let's pick the "Origin-Of-Life" science arena, because lots of folks are interested in that one.
So how is ID falsifable? Simple: You go to your bathroom sink (if you can't afford a fancy science lab), and you scientifically come up with a NATURALISTIC EVOLUTION discovery that accounts for all that "complex language communication system and very complicated computer algorithm" that's found inside your own DNA. That's it.
Wrong. There is enough evidence for
evolution. You falsify ID by showin all that is wrong with it, and by referencing
all the nonsense writen by ID-proponents, like Casey Luskin or Stephen Meyer.
Add Demski to the rooster as well. Besides, There is no “computer
algorithm inside DNA.”
"Peer reviewed life-origin literature presupposes that, given enough time, genetic instructions arose via natural events. Thus far, no paper has provided a plausible mechanism for natural-process algorithm-writing."
(The full details, and all the astonishing things that are involved in that origin-of-life genetic algorithm-writing process, can be found in, "Chance and Necessity Do Not Explain the Origin of Life," J.T. Trevors and D.L. Abel, Cell Biology International; Vol 28 Iss 11, http://www.discovery.org/a/2664 . )
So, you merely need to come up with that natural-process algorithm-writing stuff in your own bathroom sink, show how it naturalistically came to exist on Earth when it didn't previously exist, and then you'll knock out the Meyer-Hartwig prediction, kill the ID hypothesis, win the game for Prebiotic Evolution, and collect all the cold cash $$$$.
But at the same time, you'll have proven that the ID hypothesis is a scientific, falsifiable hypothesis. You'll have proven that ID is science.
That was easy, eh? Beg to differ, because you have shifted
the goalposts! Does not speak well for your insight and understanding, if not
your integrity and honesty.
All you saying the preceding paragraph(s) refers to the
question about the Origins of Life (OOL) on Earth. ID makes no distiction, ID
covers everything from before the Big Bang through the 21st
century.
Darwin, and evolutioanry theory is somewhat modest by
mereley acknowledging the evidence that there is, and have been for a very long
time, life on this planet. Darwin (and Wallace) came up with an explanation
about how the evidence of an evolution, the clear signs of , like Darwin
expressed it:
“There is grandeur in this view of
life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms
or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the
fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful
and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.”
Science acknowledge the obvious, life has a
beginning - on the order of four billion years ago. Whodunit? Not relevant in the context of evolution.
Might as well be God, the ToE would still be the same.
****
So there you go. Now you know what is the
Intelligent Design hypothesis, now you know why it's so powerful and
compelling, now you know exactly how the ID hypothesis qualifies as SCIENCE,
and now you know that YOU are chock-full of Intelligent Design in every single
cell of your body, right this minute.
Got it? Not just one or a few cells, but every one of them! And right this minute, the minute before, and even the next minute. What a miracle! The mind boggles.
(And don't forget the compelling IC evidence of your own
eyes!)
Therefore YOU are the final disproof of
Evolution, Atheism, and Agnosticism. YOU are intelligently designed, by
You-Know-Who upstairs. So send Him an email and talk things
over soon!
Not just the eyes, both of them, right this minute, but also your appendix, poor backbone, hernia, hemorrhoids, and the bacteria all both over you outsides and inside- without which you'd not survive.
Don't forget to ask him al thos pertinent questions that FL doesn't mention whn you write. You know he answers all prayers and emails.
Not just the eyes, both of them, right this minute, but also your appendix, poor backbone, hernia, hemorrhoids, and the bacteria all both over you outsides and inside- without which you'd not survive.
Don't forget to ask him al thos pertinent questions that FL doesn't mention whn you write. You know he answers all prayers and emails.
Better believe it, son! FL said it, that clinches it! No science, just religion, no mention of when, where – and how God has been doing it over 4 billion years time? It defaults to God performing magic.
Well, now you have been properly brainwashed. Are loose
claims as seen from FL’s eyes all it takes to falsify 160 years of science? Are
all the world’s scientists (spiced with a few creationists) complete idiots?
From the bulk of ID-creationist argument it appears that only a handful of scientisits knows what they are doing. Geology, paleontology, biology, genetics, heredity, mathematics, information theory, populations & heredity, radiometric dating, dendrochronoly. There ssesm to be few scientific areas that are totally irrelevant wrt the theory of evolution.
It simply is astonishing; for creationism to be true, there would be thousands of scientists that would be grossly mistaken in their scientific work - but only when it goes against the grain of ID/crationism. Down the drain with research, shut down the laboratories.
The ID laboratories are all we need? LOL.
It never ceases to amaze me: Science is trusted with everything, as long as it keeps its hands of biology in a manner that may cast doubt on creationism. They are wizards of physics and molecules, electronics and space flight, computers and cell phones, but in biology they fail miserably against the lawyers of the Discovery Institute?
There is no doubt about it: ID is religion, a companion myth to the two Genesis myths we already have..
It is so easy to ridicule all that FL says. The problem is that he is not just a creationist, the problem is that he is grossly ignorant.
……
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Legg inn en kommentar om du ønsker stoff på norsk.
Make a comment if you would like some articles in the Norwegian language.
Mineral Kingdom Has Co-Evolved With Life, Scientists Find
Another interesting clue:
Link to Science Daily
What made me want to publish that was my observation that here is another facts going against ideas and beliefs in a young Earth, the YEC position.
Link to Science Daily
What made me want to publish that was my observation that here is another facts going against ideas and beliefs in a young Earth, the YEC position.
Progress in the search for natural origin-of-life pathways
Under the title
Natural Affinities -- Unrecognized Until Now -- May Have Set Stage for Life to Ignite
Read the
Science Daily report here.
Natural Affinities -- Unrecognized Until Now -- May Have Set Stage for Life to Ignite
Read the
Science Daily report here.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Man and his symbols
Below
is a translated excerpt of a book by a Norwegian psychiatrist and
psychoanalyst, Arne Duve. I have taken the liberty of translating and
publishing. It was written and published in the 1950's and IMHO that
ought to be far enough in the past to make copyright issues rather
irrelevant. I am quite certain no harm is being done and that nobody's
legal toes have been stepped on. I have a full version that I may send
if there are anyone interested in reading the whole book
Here goes:
(The Book of Job is discussed at page 167, green text)
A particular
system of symbols is language, which is a recent creation in the
evolution of man. Language is a collection of sound-symbols. Utterance of the
symbols b-o-o-k as a sequence means “a book”. The aural symbol is associated
with the visual concept. Conversely, viewing of the written symbol activates
association with the sound symbol. The languages of speech and writing are
essential functions for the logical sector of the human mind.
In a different
position stands the much older language, the language of pictures that in the
deeper and subconscious layers have to use – such as it appears in dreams, in
art, in religion, myths and fantasies. This means of expression can no longer
be understood by the human conscious. But still, structures in our inner
understands its meaning. It has been shown that a person under hypnosis may
understand his dreams, while when awake, they dismiss them as nonsense.*)
In earlier ages,
the understanding of this pictorial language was quite different from the
present. Especially in the cultures of the Orient, it has always been part of a
proper upbringing to be proficient in this mode of language, which in our part
of the world, due to ignorance is been considered nonsense. The Talmud says: A
dream not understood, is like a letter one does not open. In the book ob
Job it says that dreams are the speech of God. Major figures within Christendom
like Joseph and Jesus were masters of this pictorial language. And the prophets
used it as their mother-tongue. Freud’s greatest and lasting achievement is
maybe that he opens the door for modern man to this secret world.
_______
*) Erich Fromm: The Forgotten Language.
43.
This language of
symbols is the only universal means of communication that man as a species is
equipped with. It is based on particular conditions with respect to the way the
human mind functions. A peculiarity of the psychic dynamics is that this
pictorial language cannot express abstract terms. The development of such terms
are quite recent, they are functions of the conscious life’s connection to the
intellectual thought process, and more recent layers of the central nervous
system. Abstract terms in principle signify a property, a condition or an act.
A popular definition is that an abstract cannot be photographed, an explanation
that hits the nail right on the head. Whenever the deeper layers of the human
psyche, - “the deep” – is faced with the task of articulating its contents of
abstract nature, it actually is unable to – since it has only concrete images,
pictures at its disposal.
In such cases it has to use associations – symbols –
which then employs the concrete picture to express the contents that is hidden
within it. Symbols are the objects that the deep has to employ in order to
express itself. They are the language of the deep. We say that the real content
of the symbol lies hidden in the manifest image. Without knowledge of this
mechanism one always are at risk of taking the symbol literally.
Examples can
better than words illustrate this. Dreams are the prototype of this symbolic
language, and by the dream we may access the process of symbol creation.
A man dreamt
about a fight between a dog and a silver fox – on the surface, a meaningless
dream. And rightly, it is without meaning when we look at the literal contents
– the symbols without translation.
A dream most
often refers to the events of the day before. When we learn that the dreamer
that day had been preparing his income declaration the meaning begins to
transpire – namely the opposing tendencies that had made themselves manifest in
the dreamer. The dog, representing faithfulness, honesty and subjugation, had
been fighting the silver fox that, besides representing the economical
situation, also symbolise “white” cleverness. The important difference between
image and contents
……
When using
dreams in this manner, the individuals released conflict energies will be
centred with respect to the dreamer and the dream – so that they only in a
small degree are being transmitted to other persons. Thereby, unnecessary and
difficult processes of transference may be eliminated, - because a large part
of the conflict matter is being deflected in and by the dream.
When a dream has
been correctly interpreted, the individual “feels” this, probably because there
are inner entities that “knows” the connection, this seems to have been
confirmed by experiments with hypnosis.*)
What is
remembered of a night’s dreams after awakening is as a rule subject matter that
have matured to a point where it may be addressed by treatment and
incorporation into the personality. Or, it may be matter that an inner entity
now demands be addressed for revision and treatment.
Dreams thus are
a necessity of life, something that the results of modern dream research have
confirmed. If the dream process is prevented by artificial means, this may
relatively soon result in more or less serious psychic disorders, probably
because a vitalization has not been possible – resulting in the I-force not
being supplied with enough energy to uphold a required potential.
But dreams also
have the important purpose of presenting the conflict matter that needs
sanitization and transformation into available psychic energy and vitality.
The Bible
expresses these truths in the book of Job with the dream representing God as
talking to man – who must understand the language and act in accord with that.
Happiness and renewal of psychic and physical life results.
The fact is
unavoidable, that Christian lore to a large extent
_____
*)Erich Fromm
47.
is pictorial in nature, and it’s mode of expression is
characterized by the laws reigning in the human mind. To visualize spiritual
realities and to express longing, desires and hope – the deep of the soul needs
here, as always to utilize concrete pictures from outer reality. No other
options exist.
Since mankind by
and large is similar all over the world, it follows that many symbols are
universal in nature. We find realities like: life and death, birth, growth and
other body functions. IT is fire and water, air and earth, animals and plants,
celestial bodies and forces of nature, freedom and oppression, joy and sorrow,
guilt and atonement, salvation and loss and so on. Therefore we also find these
symbols used as central symbols in all religions. The elements in which the
forces make themselves manifest, are symbols of inner sources of power; they
are full of mana, the Melanesian word that has been adopted into
international language. It can be likened with a high voltage conduit that one
must handle with care and skill. Common people therefore need to protect
themselves – with prescriptions of taboo. Whether a man has mana can be seen
from how he conducts his life – if he lucky in his endeavours, if he has power
and authority. In particular, tribal chiefs are endowed with mana. If he looses
it, something that appears as accidents or such, it means that the power must
have left him, something that often had direct consequences for his social
position.
For the human
mind, there are many things that may be interpreted as support for belief in
spirits and a life after death. Firstly, one experiences through dreams that
even if the body is sleeping, one still may be active in other locations, as if
distance are nonexistent. Also, in dreams one can meet people long dead – a
fact that to a large degree has strengthened the belief in spirits and a life
hereafter. Besides, the will and thoughts of other people live in you as
invisible spirits. The norms of the society is caused by the process of
upbringing to be adopted into the child’s mind and will later appear as man’s
superego. The words spirit and spirits is related to the term respire or
respiration. Respiration is in most religions associated with creation and
life. God inspire his spirit into matter, making it alive.
…
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Unless we know the function of dreams and their mode of
expression, religion cannot be the means of salvation that reaches into the
centre of man and gives him stamina and power in his everyday life – and create
dignified human relations on the social level.
In the bible, however, the function and meaning of dreams
are quite clearly described – and with the proper interpretation as a
prerequisite for growth, happiness and a prosperous relation to God.
The book of Job therefore may become an important bridge
between religion and science – and between Judaism and Christendom – and
further on to other religions – because it points directly at the central
aspect of human life – the relation to God – dreams – and the common human
aspect of religion.
The story of Job is just
this:
He was a rich and wealthy man
– who was tried – just as we all are sooner or later in our lives.
Satan was given permission by
god to test him.
Job lost his rich herds, his
10 children, and personally, he got severe physical challenges in the form of
diseases.
Then Job began cursing his
life, his God and the entire being. Three friends came to comfort him and to
find out what wrong he had done. The only thing they had to offer was hard and
condemning words and they therefore were of absolutely no help to him.
Then came the fourth – Elihu
– a young man, who by theologians seems to be considered as a false teacher.
He puts his finger on the
essential point: Job has not recognized his dreams – and therefore is utterly
ignorant about what God wants of him.
I quote from chapter 33 –
14-33 verses:
For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men,
while they slumber on their beds,
then he opens the ears of men, and terrifies them with warnings,
that he may turn man aside from his deed, and cut off pride from man;
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he keeps back his soul from the Pit, his life from perishing by the
sword.
"Man is also chastened with pain upon his bed, and with continual
strife in his bones;
so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite dainty food.
His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen; and his bones that
were not seen stick out.
His soul draws near the Pit, and his life to those who bring death.
If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to
declare to man what is right for him;
and he is gracious to him, and says, `Deliver him from going down into
the Pit, I have found a ransom; (Italicized here.)
let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his
youthful vigor';
then man prays to God, and he accepts him, he comes into his presence
with joy. He recounts to men his salvation,
and he sings before men, and says: `I sinned and perverted what was
right, and it was not requited to me.
He has redeemed my soul from going down into the Pit, and my life shall
see the light.'
"Behold, God does all these things, twice, three times, with a man,
to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may see the light of life.
Give heed, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify
you.
If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."
Thus spoke young Elihu.
When Job understands and accepts this connection – when he admits to his
guilt and god’s wisdom and greatness – he is on the road to salvation.
But the wonder does not take place until he intercedes for his three
condemning friends – that god wanted to punish, because they had only hard and
condemning words for the one who was in need of help and clarification of the
causality and pointing out of the central importance of the contents of dreams
symbols.
Job becomes twice as rich as before, he gets 10 new children – his new
happiness surpasses all that went before his tribulation.
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And finally, it says that Jobs’ daughters were the fairest in the land –
and their father gave them the right to inherit besides their brothers.
This last passage is very revealing when we consider the extreme
patriarchic society in which this account of wisdom was created.
For daughter inherited nothing at all.
Some comments are in order for this mythical account – which otherwise
speaks for itself.
We see God and Satan operating together, something not in the least
strange when we consider the connection that exist between these opposite poles
of human life expressions – the right and the wrong side of the one and same
reality.
The three condemning moralists were powerless with their harsh words.
They even aroused Gods’ wrath by their attitude because they had not understood
anything of the nature of God, and therefore neither understood anything of the
process of human redemption.
Most interesting is how the young, authoritative Elihu shows dreams as
the vehicle for expressing Gods’ will – and that it is necessary that this
language is interpreted – and interpreted correctly. This has a wider address –
namely to religion as the extension of dreams – and to those who have taken it
upon themselves to interpret the religious images and symbols. Redemption and
renewal of life comes only with the proper interpretation. That also is the
sequence of the process that is the driving dynamics of a living religion.
The Bible – the symbols – must be given the right interpretation – in
order to give life, this is what the book of Job tells us.
But the end result comes first when Job intercede for those that God
wants to punish.
Not until one does something actively – and have a forgiving state of
mind – comes salvation and happiness – also on the worldly level. The story of
Job therefore has much to say to us, and above all, it teaches us the
importance of an un-condemning attitude – and that what we understand, must
find outlet in action.
The book of job also tells us something important about the lack of
balance
a patriarchal society creates. Male arrogance has to go – says Elihu.
Last, but not least, the book of Job points to the central fact that we have to
understand Gods’ language of images – dreams – and what they may give us. Only
then we become human – happy humans – freed from the curses and
intellectualized technocracy of the male society.
And religion will become the speech of God and life itself – that can be
understood by everyone – because it is the same universal language that is
alive in all mankind and may be understood by everybody on this earth – given
they will listen and learn.
The full effect of dreams may only be realized when it is fully
understood. When this happens, a process of development may begin – a condition
that is the driving force itself in a depth-psychological therapeutic context
with dreams as primus motor.
A correct interpretation clears room for subconscious and unsolved
conflict matter. This process to an extent guides itself with respect to speed
and mobilization of conflict matters – ant it stops when the proper
interpretation is not reached. Dreams shows in images and the inner trail of
development – the obstacles in the way – the possibilities at hand – and which
way one has to go.
If we have a series of nightly dreams- this sequence may often clearly
be seen.
Dreams in such a process of restructuring have as somewhat different
character than regular dreams that often are like snapshots in relation to
particular outer events. During the course of a therapeutic process of
development, it is quite remarkable how we may see images – themes – and
attitudes change character – such that like in a book of pictures may follow
this course of development far better than possible with other modes of
expression. The proper interpretation is built, among other things, on
associations to the various chains of meaning and singular elements. A symbol
may never be taken for given – and of a single meaning – for it may have a
quite different meaning – depending on the individual history and context
present. A rigid system of symbols with fixed translations will not do.
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Each individual speaks his own dialect of dreams, and when one gets on
the inside of this, a dream may be read almost like an open book. Whether the
interpretation of a dream is correct or not is determined by the dreamer
himself, who senses if the interpretation is correct, or not.
In dreams, conflict matters are abreacted with associated affects.
Thereby one does not have to enact the conflict in everyday life – in the
relation to the therapeut – and in relations to other people.
Dreams see to it that the right and important problems are kept in focus
– and stays alive in the process.
In the continuing process, as private conflict matters are shelled off
in a more personal formed register of symbols – we come down to the simple,
universal central human symbols that are the building blocks of religions and a
concentrate of the fundamental forces of life and existence, centered like a
pattern around the inner source of power that we conceive as the determining,
ordering and cosmic principle of existence – that we also call God.
Religion, as an extension of dreams, share all the moments of dreams.
Religion is, at the literal level, to be likened to a dream that is not
interpreted or wrongly interpreted – preventing anything of importance from
taking place on the inner arena.
The result is quite different if religion is used as a vehicle for the
development of an individual’s consciousness. This requires a correct
interpretation of the symbols such that a gradual understanding of what they
mean with respect to inner realities may ensue.
Discontinuation of an individual’s conflict matters - the development of
consciousness – and activation of human qualities, feelings and creative powers
leads to a unification with the inner power source – instead of continuously
driving with the brakes on – such as happens when the energy must express itself
in deflections and negative expressions. If religion is to be used in this
manner – it requires theologians that know their trade – and knows what they
are talking about – and know what to talk about.
Nothing human must be alien to them – they must
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know themselves and the human structure fully – in all its diversity.
What must be alien to them are the condemning, hard words – re the story of
Job!
The way religion is preached today, it automatically attracts a
particular type of people that to a large extent are of just that
disposition and little motivation for breaking with the traditional pattern of
letters whose slaves they are – and want to be.
When a new perspective enters into religion, it just as automatically
will attract another type of people as guides and mediators of the eternal
truths.
The
church does not require de-mythologizing or historical evidence for its Savior.
What it needs is awareness of the
importance of the mythical language of images it – and dreams – employs – so
that it may be translated into living language and living people – who may
establish the state of consciousness and the mode of co-existence that alone
may carry mankind safely through the mess into which it has gotten itself
entangled.
Dreams
in the night – and dreams in religion – we cannot live without – if there is to
be any hope that we shall be able to navigate out of the shipwreck that
otherwise may be our fate.
Religion
now is like some magic potion consisting of literalisms, symbols, manners of
speech, wishful thinking and faith. Religion is however, in its deeper and true
aspect no such easy formula. Its truths must be allowed to grow and mature from
within. Only thereby they become truths and inner experiences of
realization – with corresponding changes also on the outer level.
The road
ahead may offer many obstacles – but it is by no means impossible to go it.
It is not only suffering that is the
incentive and driving force; man has an urge for realization lying
non-extinguishable within him self. This urge will by and by grow stronger than
the fear of changing the established order of life that today is being attacked
from so many sides. What it is all about is to trust in oneself – to
plan of life – and goals.
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If
redemption proceeds along religious or psychological guidelines plays no
decisive role – the two roads may indeed meet.
One must
go the way oneself – no proxy will suffice. But one may to some extent read the
roadmap in one’s inner – by the light of the lamp of Diogenes that search for Man.
Here, as
usual, the first step is the hardest to take. If one has got going on the right
track, the one step automatically will be followed by the next.
The
first step is: End of self-condemnation! As a rule, no one is aware of
the mechanisms that automatically project all guilt onto the outer world.
Nonetheless, the condemning of others is caused by condemnation of
corresponding tendencies in oneself. One must understand the fact that one’s
own patterns of behavior – because of earlier experiences that have created it
– must be the way that they at present are. To begin with, one therefore has to
accept oneself with all one’s “faults” and patterns of reaction. Then, one also
becomes without judgment of others – because they also have their
behavioral patterns created by the same principles. To understand is to forgive
– this applies both to oneself as well as the way in which we look at others.
Self-condemnation
and extension outwards into other people was demonstrated and rejected by Jesus
in his Sermon on the Mount – that road led to perdition. When we see the many
patterns of reactions in one self and in others – without guilt and judgment –
one has taken the first and decisive step. The second step is: Understanding
of symbols. Now, intellect and knowledge may come to play in the process of
orientation. Thereby one may gradually be released from bindings and burdens
that hinder free expression of life. Then one will discover sight points in
life’s course that one have overlooked before – taken just for unevenness and
debris in the terrain. When one’s eyes are opened for the importance of the
symbols – and their meaning in personal
symptoms, in religion, in dreams and in arts, one sees with new eyes towards the
future. Then, one may be released from literalism and bindings of which one
have been unaware. One’s own inner bindings and images suddenly are discovered
as projected into other people, in institutions and symbol systems – so that
one may be freed from them. One then no longer need be afraid the negative
expressions of life or their
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concrete
expressions, but may release the powers they possess in a positive direction.
Christmas
– Easter – and Pentecost will not be empty celebrations, but they will be
included in one’s own way of development mediated by the symbols – birth –
death and new life directed by living spirit and truth.
The
third step on the road to self-redemption may perhaps be the most important and
difficult
It is: Take
the consequences of what you know! It is so difficult for us to give up our
laboriously obtained positions. We cannot cast off the mask. We dare not go in
ourselves. We find it so utterly impossible to change our behavioral pattern
and inner attitude. We would rather continue acting our more or less badly played
roles – to compensate inner weaknesses – instead of accepting them, so that we
may be finished with them.
We want
to continue our infantilisms, our masochism and other ism’s of this category.
Some wants to convert others – because they cannot convert themselves. Others
drown the voice of the deep of the soul in a self-indulgent stream of words.
Others again will continue their self-condemnation and attack themselves –
through their fellow men – to ease the inner burden of guilt. But as always
when one on a basis of affect attacks others, the object actually is conditions
in one’s own inner.
The
third step consists also of releasing one’s potential in creative action. It
may be artistic talents in some direction that have lain dormant – no matter
how insignificant they may be. Out in the open with them for one’s own benefit
and often also for others as well.
One
gains courage and ability to positive doubt – doubt on supposed lack of
capabilities, doubt in one’s own quality – doubt in one’s rationalizations –
doubt in inherited beliefs and traditional views. Then the true and original in
each of us may be exhibited freely.
One gets
courage to be unique – to make a fool of oneself if need be – to follow one’s
own inner plan of life and intuition.
The
third step is to get finished with the bindings of the past. Personal symptoms,
inferiority complex and compensating need for self-assertion, anxiety and fear
is shelled.
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Self-confidence,
capacity for love, joy of life and work, creative initiative and social
behavior will ensue. The elements will organize into a living pattern. Job was
redeemed through forgiveness, understanding and action. Thus, man’s and God’s
way become one.
Roads
may be just as different as people are. Each one will have to go his own inner
necessity’s way, according to capability, environment and experiences. Each one
must himself set the pace, terrain and length of stretches. But the goal
remains the same for all: Full realization of inborn abilities and talents –
full understanding of the intentions of the deep of the soul and the meaning of
the symbols – full inner confidence and acceptance – full potency on all
levels. Then, God realize himself in our life – then God will be experienced as
inner reality – the, guilt and ideals have been converted, burden of guilt
lifted and replaced with understanding and insight in life’s continuity.
The
split is brought to termination – projections are understood –inner unity,
strength and balance is established. Cramps disappear and one is filled with
enterprising spirit. Rebirth has been accomplished; the new “eternal” life
begins. To subordinate oneself under others may be necessary and wise. But if
the will of others are expression of hunger for power, need for self-assertion
and other symptoms, it is harmful for both parties if one without purpose
succumb. No man has the right to force
his whims and needs for compensation into the life of others. The results will
always be disastrous.
When a
sufficient number of people have joined the march towards the future on life’s
own road, society and inter-human dealings by and by change and come in tune
with the course of development – which tends towards greater degree of
consciousness. This must also make itself felt in the sphere of religion that now
is becoming an impenetrable wilderness of literalism, projection of symbols and
half-digested or un-digestible “truths”.
Religion
have lost its connection with many living and central realities – and the
modern worldview. It therefore no longer seems to be a usable means of
redeeming synthesis
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It only
functions poorly as re-unifying factor – religio. But maybe new bridge spans
may turn out to be able to carry the load. The human psyche is based on a mode
of consciousness that uses images as means of expression. That fundament itself
cannot be changed – cannot be explained away – and not be cast out, without the
causing the fundament of life to fail.
In
earlier times man was conformant with this way of experience and recognition.
Much of what was created then is met with wonder by modern man; in areas like
building technology and arts. But when the subject is a means of manifestation
like religion with what belongs to this sector of myths, parables and symbols,
it is met with a shrug and head-shaking – because it is no longer recognized
what it contains of living realities.
The mode
of recognition and the sciences that only depend on human ability for
reflection by the outer senses have in this time of ours been put on a
pedestal. But this mode of recognition is inadequate for understanding man’s
inner life. This may only be achieved by inner senses, by activation of
adequate capabilities of consciousness.
Man must
– if he is to survive – find the redeeming synthesis between mythos and logos –
symbol and consciousness. Only then will there be an organic and creative
continuity between past and present.
“Whether
we like it or not, we are blind and deaf if we do not recognize that psychology
rapidly is gaining ground with respect to theology, yes, that it even surpasses
it as attraction, explanation and dominating factor in modern religion,” writes
the theologian Potter – who are one of the very few who dare come forth and
take the consequence of the insight of depth psychology and the scriptures of the
Qumran-sect that was left, and found again.
The
question about the relationship between Christendom and psychology must be put
on the agenda such that a process of integration may be begun.
The
demands of the atomic age for new, redeeming thoughts seems to stand small
chances of being thought and heard. All continues in the same old track as if
nothing had happened.
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Racial
struggle, ideological infighting and religious animosity thrive under the
atomic umbrella.
How did
all this blindness come into the world? What is it that keeps it alive? What
are the new thoughts that the times require? The questions are calling us from
the dark – and disappear in our own darkness. No answer is coming forth,
because man lacks sufficient knowledge about himself – about the forces of life
– and about the language of images that man’s bound and un-understood forces
are left to use as their only means of expression.
We do no
know much about this inner field of power from where we get our vitality and
life energies. But we conceive it as the force that we call God – and that man
has tried to describe, transcribe, dramatize, and portray in a countless number
of ways.
This
force can only make itself known in a disguise of images and symbols, because
we do not know it and because it reside and pulsate in the deepest of deeps –
in man’ subconscious. But when the god-force and god is referred to make itself
known only in disguise, the danger that they will be taken literally and
projected outwards lies very near, - such as we have seen in the concept of
god, where the holy hierarchy is placed in outer space.
All that
is not recognized by man’s consciousness is doomed to employ this mechanism.
Dreams
are such a projection on the inner level – but here one is aware that something
is going on in the individual. Religion takes this one step further by creating
manifesting and systematized images and symbols – as a dramatization of man’s
inner reality.
In
dreams, one knows that the dramatization and imaging activity takes place inside
oneself.
In
religion, awareness of this causal connection may easily be lost – and then it
ends with literalism, projections and struggle, about the one true faith. But a
struggle like this is just as insane as a struggle for one of earth’s spoken languages
as being the right one – or that only one dream is true - while all
others are false.
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If for
instance a number of persons have been involved in, or have been witnesses to
one and the same dramatic event and they subsequently dream about it, all the
dreams will be different depending on each persons background, life history and
cultural pattern. Bu therefore one dream is no more true or correct than the
others – even if they may reveal various degrees of deflected life and degree
of consciousness. What really sets people apart actually is the various levels
of consciousness. But something can be done about this difference. And all that
it takes is that we help each other to gain ever-higher levels of
consciousness.
Struggle,
self-assertion and war with accompanying affects always will darken the field
of consciousness – and therefore is extremely dangerous in the situation of
today. It therefore is deeply tragic that the past and the errors of the past
keep being dug up again and that people of different races, faith and
philosophy of life fight each other unto death – in an age where all struggle
should be towards evening out all the artificial differences that have been
lasting for thousands of years.
What is
required – accentuated by the atomic age – is a higher level of awareness about
the essential human problems that we all share. For this purpose a new and
above all more correct way of thinking is needed – not least with respect to
religion. For religious controversies and lack of awareness in this area is to
a large extent responsible for man’s hatefulness and attitude of readiness for
fight with other groups. And from this darkness the same attitude has been
carried over into the modern replacements for religion – the ideological antagonism.
When
awareness of the religious language of form and mans’ conflict matter are not
present, the religious systems tend to be a dividing element between different
religious groups – instead of being a means of recognition, inner growth and an
integrated coexistence also with other religious group who speak a different
symbolic language.
The
various religions are nothing but different shapes of the same language and the
same common human basic needs. For man is one, and mankind a unity.
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The same
inner laws apply to all of us – regardless of religion, race, ideology or
cultural pattern.
Life is
a continuous process of evolution both with regard to species as well as to
individuals – a continuous evolution from simple to more complex structures.
With
regard to the biological evolution, man may be considered a finished product.
The biological fundament with instincts, emotions, psychic apparatus and
activities therefore is given – and is what we have for building both our own
as well as the life of the collective upon.
But what
still may evolve is the human consciousness and understanding of connectivity
in life – about causes and effects and insight into symptoms, symbols and
patterns of behavior.
What we
now above all have to do is to create order in the biological fundaments – in
our conflicting relations, projections and developmental factors, and expand
our awareness and the bound spiritual power.
Evolution
of mankind now has its main center of gravity in the spiritual sector. – The
human spirit has a potential for evolution that we today only may guess at. In
this area we are underdeveloped with respect to our potential.
Our
world mirrors our inner, unsolved conflicts and conditions of struggle. The
psychic conflicts create inner blind spots, making them difficult to see and
recognize.
We
therefore need a cleansing global Pentecostal weather that may enrich being
with new and more adequate approaches to conflicts. What is needed now are men
and women with courage to come forth with renewal and knowledge about life’s
forces and needs. It is demanded of each and every one of us that we are
capable of carrying the order of life forth. This require courage, overview and
insight to see and declare that the various religions are special creations of
the urge for inner unity, power, community and consciousness that is common
property of all men, because we all, as human beings, are built to the same
specifications under the same laws.
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All the
religions are created on the basis of the same psychic apparatus that is common
for all mankind. Therefore religion is life’s own means of reconciliation and
medium for simplification that may take us from chaos to greater contours of
consciousness.
Christendom
today builds on a supernatural historical event that cannot either be proven or
disproved. Therefore, the belief that this is true becomes of central
importance. But at the same time, the common human truth and the inner message
that is independent of person, time, place and history, is weakened.
The Christian
teaching with history and selection has been taken over and carried forth from
the Old Testament, where these elements had their special function. Christendom
is permeated with man’s original sin: projection of conflict and energies – up
into space – into history – and on to people.
God is
no personal being but spirit, life and force. God is the principle of life
itself, common to all peoples and at all times. It is only mans’ lack of
insight that causes the bitter struggle about the right concepts of God and the
right creeds.
The
ongoing ideological struggle for power is a direct continuation of the belief
in the on right god and the right lore – that therefore must be forced on other
people.
But
man’s struggle for freedom and peace is not won on the outer arena, but in the
inner – against all that blocks, burdens and darkens.
When
this inner struggle has been brought to conclusion, the kingdom of God will
arrive – the kingdom within; this is one of the Bible’s great and universally
valid truths that often are being covered up and explained away. For the road
there is narrow and winding. It seems fare easier to fight for the one right
concept of god and the only possible solution about the inner conditions – on
the outer level.
Selection
and belief in historicity is the great enemy and temptation against the kingdom
of God.
In
addition comes the fact that man keeps stuffing himself with the fruits of the
tree of knowledge of good and evil, which according to the Bible has brought
sin and all human misery into the world. Also her, the Bible is right!
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For
thereby dualism – the inner double cloak of guilt and fear, the death-grip on
mans soul.
Beside
the old, rotten tree of knowledge about the difference between good and evil,
struggles a small, crippled bush with bright green longings in bud. That is the
tree of knowledge to know the good in evil, the tree of knowledge to know man
inside out; the tree of knowledge to see the unity in the learned opposites,
the tree of knowledge to see and experience the red thread of God running
through all religions as a interdependence in all that divides.
This
bush needs time to grow, and it demands proper care and fertile soil – that is
living and free human spirits. Even if this tree contains the collected
biological force of life, there is something that keeps preventing growth:
ignorance – the lack of knowledge about the conditions for growth and cultural
conditions.
The fate
of mankind depends on just this tree being permitted to grow tall and strong. For
the fruits shall not only feed the 5000 in the desert, but all of mankind.
This new
wonder of feeding is our only way to salvation and a secure future.
This
tree needs skilled care and knowledge that uncovers the depths of man’s mind
and the stumbling blocks that stands in the way of knowledge about the laws
that reign in the sphere of life and the human psyche. The tree of knowledge to
know the unity of good and evil grow its will up into the great light – and has
a tiny root-string into each of the earth’s human minds.
It is up
to each of us to provide nourishment for the tree, so that in due course it may
become strong enough to cover all of mankind with its fullness. Centuries of
cutting at the roots have slowed growth.
We have
cut at the roots and nationalized the God that was meant to be the redeeming
and committing power of consciousness. We have made God to a pawn in the
political and theological play of forces.
182
The
forces of living and the light of consciousness have become a paper god of
letters that beats itself and us down.
*
The
white man’s root-cut culture with “the unenlightened plutocracy” has been
exported to the whole world. The outgrowth has been greedily accepted with the
consequence that soon all of the worlds peoples are marching, armed to the
teeth, and with hearts and minds full of hatred and wrong faith. That is the
heritage we have given. As we have sown, now we reap.
Our own
wind has become a global storm. We have exported the power struggle,
materialism, war, profit-greed, belief in selection and the right of the
strong. What we should have passed on, was an example to be followed, of a
quite different character and founded on a religion with global elements and
universal in contents that could elevate consciousness and, nourish solidarity
and provide for all peoples a rich and vigorous life with inner freedom,
equality and brotherhood. We have this religion, but we have not been able to
use it the right way. We have been browsing in it like naïve and gullible
children in a book of pictures, without worrying about the clarifying and
obliging text of the symbols in the foreign language of signs.
The
result is that what we believe is not what the text says.
This is
the reason why the Christian cultural circle has not been able to establish a
stable, cultural structure with fresh potency of development. Nor have we been
able to get on speaking terms with other cultures or religions, because we do
not understand our own. Therefore, we have treated other peoples as heathen and
inferior creatures that only had perdition in store unless they were converted
to our religion that alone could provide salvation and life. This hubris has
made us masters of slaves. “Forward Christian soldiers” is being sung in “Gods
own country”. Or in another country, “Gott mit uns”. In Soviet or China there
is no official God. Instead, the party, the general secretary of the party and
its chairman have become gods.
The
Church and Christendom lost its inner power when they lost themselves in
history, state and images. For the church may only stay alive
183
in the
wake of the Holy Spirit of Truth that always needs to be flying. Otherwise, it
falls to the ground.
*
The idea
of God and the religious phenomena as projections of the human psyche is not
new. It was first vented with force and strength by the German philosopher
Ludwig Feuerbach in the book: “Das Wesen des Christentums” published in 1841.
It soon became quite important, not least for the young Karl Marx, who carried
Hegel’s musings on the so called dialectic principle and Feuerbach’s thoughts
about projection and its inherent entfremdung of one’s own forces over on
material and economical areas, where the new means of production due to
technical progress had lead to a similar entfremdung in relation to means of
production and products.
Here we
can se clearly how a political ideology stems directly from the write-off of
religion – and a lack of knowledge about the meaning of the psychic
projections. Marxism eventually became one of the poles of an ideological
struggle. Religion was written off as superstition and regarded as a
considerable obstacle against brotherhood and justice. The other pole of the
worldwide ideological power field that since then have been developing, is
capitalism, which also is materialism. But capitalism, in contrast to Marxism,
operate with religion as spiritual foundation, which in practice means
Christendom, where a tabu still reigns against the mention of the mechanisms of
projection in connection with religion.
When
these projections are not understood, the result becomes secularism or a faith
lacking the contents it should and could be instrumental in bringing about.
In both
cases, man has become a stranger to himself and the forces at play inside
himself.
Man in
the contrary, ideological power fields, thus cling to beliefs about
relationships and forces that are quite different from the ones proclaimed by
the religious faith and the system.
184
Man has
spirit and psyche as central functions in his inner life – not politics and
living standard. We therefore see, in the ideologicized and secularized areas,
a growing political tiredness in spite of the massive propaganda.
In the
capitalistic countries, a noisy barbwire-entertainment attempts to keep
tiredness away from us. The means of effect continue getting coarser in
attempts to counter entfremdung, loss of contact, anxiety and spleen.
Man as a
living spirit being and development as intellectual history have gotten into
the doldrums.
Men have
as never before become strangers to themselves and towards each other, because
religion and its political offshoots as phenomena remain the unsolved cardinal
issues that whirls up affects and attitudes of animosity from the deep and
dangerous subconscious layers of the minds – and from there threaten continued
existence.
Therefore,
this complex of problems now must find their solution, so that people at
last may come on speaking terms with each other. A responsibility is laid on this
generation who needs to find the way out of this wilderness, and no longer can
let it all slide with armchair-opinions – or bitter struggle and blind fight –
full of prejudice and wrong approach to the problems with rigid dogma and
assumptions.
A
question of whether socialism or capitalism – Christendom or paganism –
democracy or other ways of structuring society – are actually outdated problem
approaches.
The real
frontlines now run inside mans mind, regardless of what creed, race or social
order one belongs to.
Man is
at last becoming the focal point with respect for life – and with knowledge
about central, psychic and physical conditions of causality.
This
will by and by enforce the occurrence of social systems and cultural patterns
that correspond with this new knowledge.
A new
heaven and a new earth – with a new life – may only grow
185
from
this expanded acknowledgment. But this presupposes spiritual awareness and
activity and an open willingness for orientation.
These
are in shortage, and therefore development is painfully slow.
*
Because
of the common upbringing with restraint and enforced adaptation to the moral
norms of the family and the group, men become filled with conflict that on the
one hand wants to retain the shape of the personality structure, while on the
other they long to settle the inner conflicts and the anxiety, uncertainty,
aggression and guilt that always accompany the conflicts, so that the
individuals shall not fall to rest with their bindings. Depending on which of
these to directions of conflict that dominates, the attitude will be
characterized by submission or rebellion.
There is
only a small group of people on each flank that manifest these attitudes
actively and in extreme degree. Most people become pacified for good and may
hardly be awakened from hibernation. The rebels – the radicals – have not given
up on their former, unresolved demands. They will not fall to rest with the
order of things as they are. This subconscious wish for inner change from the
bottom up, will often be carried over to the political arena, because of among
other things channeling over to the religious sphere has become so difficult
for many that radicalism has become an international movement. If the will for
revolt, aggression and the talent great enough in this area, we get the
political man of power – the dictator – who drags other people into his own
inner play, where the losses may run to millions upon millions of lives.
These
rebels often are driven by a father-hatred that often is combined with
mother-bindings.
They have
a obsessive wish to become the strongest that can enforce on other people their
own authoritarian will – such as we have seen in for example Stalin and Hitler.
The
father-hatred of Hitler stretched even further generations back. His father was
born out of wedlock as the son of a Jew.*)
*) Der
Spiegel, p. 43, No. 34, 1966
186
The
conservative wants to preserve – they are against changes to the existing.
The
radicals want to change, down to the root (radix). Since these basic attitudes
with subconscious motivations are tied to the way the personality is shaped –
these two types of people never can agree about what ought to be preserved –
and what should be changed.
As a
rule, the law of all-or-nothing will apply. All shall be conserved, also
aberrations. Or all should be changed, even if it is conditions that have the
right of life.
A
consequence of Marx’s lacking knowledge about human nature, was his
relationship with religion, as he looked upon as a means of domination and a
result of the material distress of the masses.
In a
communistic society, religion would fall away by itself.
This has
not happened – just as with so many of Marx’s prognostications.
In spite
of a persistent atheistic propaganda and the many practical difficulties that
have been created, religion still lives in Soviet, so that the authorities have
had to handle this complex of problems in quite another manner than before.
A recent
survey shows 41% or 91 millions of the Soviet population as being of a
religious faith – Christian, Islamic, or Jewish.
When a
Russian astronaut after his sky-mission with triumph declare that he could not
observe God in space, and thereby thinks he have shown religion to be simply
superstition, it shows what naïve and primitive concepts one have about god and
the nature of religion.
In order
to find out about the problem of religion that refuses to behave according to
Marxist doctrine, in the summer of 1965, in Jena, a conference called “First
international colloquium on religions-sociology in the socialistic countries.”
Plans have been made for further conferences to be held.
On the
colloquium in Jena concessions were made, albeit in rather vague terms, that
religion not only was dependent on social conditions, but that it also has an
independent and different foundation –
187
a claim
that is quite sensational and maybe signals a new attitude towards the question
of religion.
Because an admission like this is in
Marxist terminology about equal with the abolishment of a dogma in the
Christian world. Under the latest rulers – Kosygin and Breschnew – a marked
liberalization in the domain of religion has taken place.
What
Marx did not know and that the Marxist ideologues do not know, but maybe
senses, is that the religions are the organs that should and could manage mans
spiritual heritage and carry it along sight points along the lines of life. But
the religions at present have almost no clear elements of consciousness; they
have mostly become canalizations for subconscious conflict matters and also partly
a means of domination, so that they have a limiting and rigid effect with
respect to development and towards other groups of people. The spiritual
foundation on which man’s life man’s life needs to rest, therefore have become
dissolved.
This
again extends outwards to the general tendencies of dissolution that are so
abundant in our time.
The
Christian churches are aware of their responsibility in this process. But
ignorance, defaitism and a faith in a pre-ordained end of time with the
creation of a thousand year reign after the horrors, causes the church to
remain strangely passive in view of what now needs to be applied of new
thinking, power, engagement and ability to see other and greater relationships.
The Vatican consistory shows that a certain softening has taken place in the
relationship with peoples of other faiths and diverging views. But this is but
a small step towards fulfillment of what must come about.
The
protestant churches in the summer of 19666 in Geneva held a convention of the
World council of churches, where the participants should be updated about the
situation of the church in the state of the world today – its relation to the
modern society, so changed by modern technology. Emphasis was placed on
confronting the church with the modern world and on the basis of this think
over the positions of the church. Participation was on a personal basis; the
participants had no authority to represent their respective churches.
188
Representatives
from 87 different countries attended this large meeting. About on third came
from USA and Europe, the other two thirds came from Africa, Asia and South
America. This distribution tells us something about the change of center of
gravity taking place.
The
speakers were by and large non-theologians, and the participants were not
subjected to any advanced theological problem issues.
The
speeches were pre-printed, with contributions from over 80 capacities in
various areas. The preprinted literature in English consisted of no less than 4
thick volumes, of which the last one: “Man in Community” of 382 pages purported
to cast light on the subject among others from both psychological, psychiatric,
anthropologic and artistic aspects
Many
words – but relatively sparse in content. Psychiatry was left to a female,
Swiss psychiatrist working in India, while psychology was covered by a
psychologist in the Syrian church.
None of
these papers seemed to contain any views of significance.
Depth-psychological
viewpoints or problem definitions were entirely absent.
The only
capacity of real format was the American anthropologist Margaret Mead. She
concluded her contribution by saying that we must see Christ in all peoples and
accept that it is through the differences in human culture that the common
human aspect can be found. And this may only become meaningful when we realize
that man who time and again fight against the loss of his innocence and today
have at his hand powers almost as horrible as those with which Christ were
tempted in the desert – needs a stronger and more vital spiritual vision
that the times when planted wine-yards and harvested grapes in a cattle-herding
society 2000 years ago.
These
words probably might easily get lost in passing – and they represent only her
opinion. But we would do wise in taking heed.
Arts and man’s creative activities was covered in an inspiring chapter by the American Malvin Halverson.
Arts and man’s creative activities was covered in an inspiring chapter by the American Malvin Halverson.
189
He says among other things that when we begin
to consider human life and the symbol-activities the possibility of a dawn for
renewal of religions, arts, work and pastime. Halverson quotes Picasso: “Art is
a lie that may make us realize truth”. Picasso might well have included dreams
and religions, which are also truth in disguise. In contrast to Picasso, the
church claims to have the ultimate truth. But this is a truth with considerable
limitations, because the truth is wrapped in symbols.
The
church believes and teaches that the packaging is the contents. The church is
in a way right when it claims to have the truth. But it has not been unwrapped.
Thereby,
the church sets itself as a central spiritual factor out of the game. Neither
does it become able to incorporate into itself all the new knowledge with new
recognition and perspectives – thus rendering it static in an ever-changing world
and without the inner guidance that religion ought to be, and which is one of
its essential functions.
The
beatnik-generation is – probably unknown to may – to some extent very searching
in the area of religion and with strong reproach towards the church that offers
rocks as bread. So they make a try with marihuana as a surrogate for the
missing experience of inner contact. Because the church today because of its
lack of recognition of the function of the symbols is not – and neither can be
– the fundamental spiritual power, it neither can take a clear and unambiguous
stand against war and atomic weapons, even if the Geneva-meeting declared that
nuclear war was against the will of God and was the greatest of all evils.
*
Another
important question needs to be considered. If research into the Dead Sea
Scrolls or new findings should make it necessary to assume that Jesus and his
teaching have their roots in both the Old Testament and in the Qumran-society
wherefrom Christendom under any circumstances have received essential impulses
– and that his life and lore not are the unique revelatory quality that the
church claims
190
– then
the intra-psychic, common human aspect at one fell swoop becomes the main point
of Christendom; in the way it is shaped and explained.
Mankind
has because of it subconscious, unresolved conflict situation and its
subconscious symbolic language had use for just this shape where legends, myths
and supernatural intervention plays an important role as substance for
dramatizing subconscious, central, psychic processes.
The
symbolic contents may however also be employed to keep the impulse for change
at bay, because one does not know what it is aimed at, and because one senses
what it really demands in the way of inner struggle and reorientation.
The
legends and the dogmatic faith must gain new life. A de-mythologizing is
required, not by writing off the myths, but by understanding them and making
them living life.
There
are signs that a new age with respect to this may be dawning within the church.
Thus conclude the Swedish theologian Egon Åhman in a newly issued book
“Sekulariseringsprosessen och kyrkan” (The process of secularization and the
Church) that a deep analysis of the symbols is an absolute necessity.
*
The
great and fundamental reality and truth is that God is the living and active
principle in all men – the center of vitality wherefrom all is governed
inexorably according to its own law – regardless of what we believe or not –
and regardless of whether we like it or not. To come to terms with this inner
principle of government and continuously attempt to live in conformity with it
– is humanity’s great task and obligation.
This
inner force lives now as before its hidden life. Bu it needs people who want to
listen and understand and subject their lives to the great and eternal
interrelationship in which we have been put.
God
lives! – and he is the same for all human beings. He chastises us in his way,
until we understands his will and succumb to it.
191
To
understand him and his ways we must be guided by the Holy Spirit of Truth.
“God-as
father-theology” and “Son-as-God” are stages that now probably are going to
lose terrain to spirit – understanding – consciousness about what religion is,
and what it tries to say in its own particular way.
For the
time being we see only the first buds of this new center of gravity, but they are
there.
Thus
said James McCord – leader of the catholic seminar at Princeton University,
that he believes that we are at the threshold of a new era in theology with
main emphasis placed on the Holy Spirit – “the God of this age”.
McCord
also says that many people who are not attached to any church society, even
declared atheists, are participating in the struggle for this coming kingdom of
God on earth – where the spirit is rich and living – and redeeming.
The
theme of the Holy Spirit is being treated to in ever growing extent. At a
meeting in Frankfurt (Germany) in 1964 held by the World alliance for the
reformed and Presbyterian churches, the theme was “Come creator spirit”. In
June 1966 an ecumenical meeting in Chicago of Methodists and Catholics treated
the same theme. And the World council of churches that is to have its next
meeting in 1969, shall have as its theme “See, I make all things new!” – where
Gods promise of change from death to life – “resurrection” – for all men
through the Holy Spirit.
The
spirit that gives life and makes all things new, so that we may get a new
heaven and a new earth and a new life – are working with us and in us from many
corners and in many ways.
In this
perspective, we must test and be willing to change our attitudes, institutions,
organizations, cultural patterns, regulations and teachings of faith, so that
we may find God in ourselves, in our fellow men and in what happens.
The god
becomes a living god. And we ourselves become living in this inner contact.
Christ
went against the contemporary. That we also need to in order to try to change
all that is wrong.
192
He was a
spiritual revolutionary and a conservative radical.
That
cost him his life. Now, our own lives and the future of mankind is at stake.
He alone
overturned a whole world. Together, we may also contribute to anew direction
for development.
When
religion has become a spiritual function and social consciousness – the new,
global era of human history may become fact!
The
riddle of religion is actually man’s unsolved problem no. 1. Because this
riddle has not been solved, the world goes from bad to worse and worst.
Religious
wars – crusades – religious intolerance – superstition – and witch processes
have today been superseded with ideological intolerance – political
conversion-fanaticism, greed for power and superstition – that all have cost
uncounted millions of innocent human lives.
The intellectual
elite of the Christian culture has by and large turned its back on Christendom,
instead of trying to find out what its elements and message represent of inner
forces that demand a place in the sun and will not succumb to the miserable and
absurd shadow-life we now are leading at almost every level.
However,
there are signs of a vague interest in religious problems also in the area of
recognition slowly beginning to awaken in ever growing circles, not least among
the brighter of out youth.
Christendom
stumbled at the outset of history and on unimportant, ever more disputable
data.
It is
only today that history reluctantly begins to disclose its secrets by the caves
at the Dead Sea where about 400 various scriptures – whole or in pieces – now
have been excavated. The spiritual roots of Christendom are piece by piece
coming to light. Much of what we have learned must be revised from the bottom.
It may be a tough time for many. But, better late than never. It is rather
fantastic that it should take almost 2000 years before the solution would begin
to come – and in such an unexpected manner.
193
When
Christendom even in spite of all has been able to survive, it has been in spite
of the historical apparatus – because it channels mans inner, timeless forces.
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