Educationally speaking we have to deal with the psychological forces so deeply embedded in the embracing of largely unquestioned religion for the last 2,000 years,
Educationally speaking we have to deal with the psychological forces so deeply embedded in the embracing of largely unquestioned religion for the last 2,000 years,
So true. I was fortunate to grow up (or at least begin the process) in Los Angeles with a catholic mom and a jewish dad. They mostly left me to figure things out on my own, and when you leave it up to someone growing up in LA, you pretty much end up with a taoist. Admittedly, a really bad taoist, but taoist, nevertheless.
This "over-caffeinated" wannabe Taoist" keeps a copy of the Tao Te Ching" in his bedside stand. (Stephen Mitchell translation) I wish that I had left one in each hotel room back in the day when I traveled for business. I love the irony.
Could it be that admitting to being "really bad Taoists" we have made some progress in discovering the way? I have a tendency to pull out the book when I feel enormous angst. Calms me. I guess a real student might approach it differently.
Thanks for the reminder that I need to pull out my dog eared copy and dive back in.
Oh, George, this brought back a memory from 1967! My soon to be husband (20) and I (17, would turn 18 3 days prior to our wedding) were looking for a place to be married. There was a cute little church near the beach in Montecito, CA that we thought would be nice, so scheduled an appointment. In the very short meeting the pastor asked if we were congregants & we replied no. He asked our religious affiliation & Greg answered that the closest he could come to тАЬreligionтАЭ was Taoist-ConfucianistтАж.you cudda heard a pin drop for the several beats the pastor paused before telling us he didnтАЩt think he could help us. I donтАЩt even think we even knew that it was an Episcopal church. Ended up getting married at a Unitarian Universalist church and a ceremony w/ quotations from Khalil Gibran. I donтАЩt have a religious bone in my body, just a bunch of curious ones with more questions than answers!
I was married by Father Ted -forever in my heart for his sincerity and sense of humor. Patti and I had to go through reconciliation sessions with him. When we talked about the ceremony he was struggling to remember the name of the celebratory candle. I tried to help. тАЬYou mean the Menorah, Father?тАЭ. We became friends in spite of my antipathy toward religion.
George, the lady (and companion du jour) who goes door to door proselytizing (tho havenтАЩt seen her since Covid emerged) & handing out the Watchtower pamphlet, always had pleasant chats & she is well aware of my non-believer beliefsтАж.I always bid her adieu saying тАЬmay the Force be with youтАЭ.
Yes! At the core of most religions are some good intentions. But then, they have been twisted to embrace bigotry and hate for others. Used for power and control over the peasants. That's not what any of the originators had hoped for. How many hundreds of millions have died in the name of a god they thought had their backs?
Educationally speaking we have to deal with the psychological forces so deeply embedded in the embracing of largely unquestioned religion for the last 2,000 years,
So true. I was fortunate to grow up (or at least begin the process) in Los Angeles with a catholic mom and a jewish dad. They mostly left me to figure things out on my own, and when you leave it up to someone growing up in LA, you pretty much end up with a taoist. Admittedly, a really bad taoist, but taoist, nevertheless.
A Taoist from LA! ThatтАЩs funny, George!
But important to remember, a really bad one who is likely over-caffeinated at any given point in time. :)
This "over-caffeinated" wannabe Taoist" keeps a copy of the Tao Te Ching" in his bedside stand. (Stephen Mitchell translation) I wish that I had left one in each hotel room back in the day when I traveled for business. I love the irony.
Could it be that admitting to being "really bad Taoists" we have made some progress in discovering the way? I have a tendency to pull out the book when I feel enormous angst. Calms me. I guess a real student might approach it differently.
Thanks for the reminder that I need to pull out my dog eared copy and dive back in.
Oh, George, this brought back a memory from 1967! My soon to be husband (20) and I (17, would turn 18 3 days prior to our wedding) were looking for a place to be married. There was a cute little church near the beach in Montecito, CA that we thought would be nice, so scheduled an appointment. In the very short meeting the pastor asked if we were congregants & we replied no. He asked our religious affiliation & Greg answered that the closest he could come to тАЬreligionтАЭ was Taoist-ConfucianistтАж.you cudda heard a pin drop for the several beats the pastor paused before telling us he didnтАЩt think he could help us. I donтАЩt even think we even knew that it was an Episcopal church. Ended up getting married at a Unitarian Universalist church and a ceremony w/ quotations from Khalil Gibran. I donтАЩt have a religious bone in my body, just a bunch of curious ones with more questions than answers!
I was married by Father Ted -forever in my heart for his sincerity and sense of humor. Patti and I had to go through reconciliation sessions with him. When we talked about the ceremony he was struggling to remember the name of the celebratory candle. I tried to help. тАЬYou mean the Menorah, Father?тАЭ. We became friends in spite of my antipathy toward religion.
George, the lady (and companion du jour) who goes door to door proselytizing (tho havenтАЩt seen her since Covid emerged) & handing out the Watchtower pamphlet, always had pleasant chats & she is well aware of my non-believer beliefsтАж.I always bid her adieu saying тАЬmay the Force be with youтАЭ.
I had no idea you were a Jedi!
Yes! At the core of most religions are some good intentions. But then, they have been twisted to embrace bigotry and hate for others. Used for power and control over the peasants. That's not what any of the originators had hoped for. How many hundreds of millions have died in the name of a god they thought had their backs?
Rove embraced the Baptist in 2004, the venom spread.