Science, Faith, and the bridge of Metaphysics.
by Alex Marthaller on Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 1:51am.
The destruction of the relationship between man and God is largely due to the modern denouncement of metaphysics as relative in the realm of science. Metaphysics is the bridge between modern scientific understanding and of our relationship with God, as it is the science of the soul. Philosophers like Kant and Schopenhauer have wrestled with it as they tried to include mention of the will within itself and the Noumenon central to absolute reality, but as science entered the age of enlightenment the use for such terms was limited as philosophical flights of fancy, and God was reasoned out. Reasonability can not account for the consequences for our actions we must now face in a dying world. Science must be revisited to incorporate a system of modern cosmology and metaphysics that allow room for the spirit and for God to exist;likewise, religion and spiritual faith must be able to be strong in its foundations, yet allow for enough flexability to incorporate the observations and probabilities of good science. For example, I can believe in Christ and believe that the Earth is not the center of the universe; just as, I can believe in the probability of evolution over vast epochs of time and still believe that it is God's hand which guides such creation, and still believe in the virgin birth, crusifiction, and resurection. There are no contradictions except the minds which maintain them. This new paradigm, a marrage of sorts, will be the saving factor for our existence and the restructuring of a deep ecology.
Science and faith, which allows metaphysics to flourish, are quite compatible. This is an insight that is slowly beginning to build in the scientific and academic circles. For we are beginning to realize that everything we observe with our sciences, including our magnificent minds, are really phenomenal aspects, or material incarnations, of a much greater reality; the greater reality of which I speak can be metaphorically described as an onion. An onion is made of several layers of cells which incorporate to create the onion in totality. Our universe, and reality are similar to this model; in that, the totality of our universe, of reality, of nature is a rich multi-layered, multi-dimensional reality of which we are aware of the most minute aspects. The sciences allow us to understand physical phenomenon, while metaphysics and religion allow us to experience yet other reflective layers, there may even be layers that we can not begin to perceive until our material bodies die and we assume form in a higher spiritual dimention. The abstract source of our being which we understand through our personal faith’s and religions as God, can also be felt in the patterns of nature. Indeed, every time we look through a microscope at our DNA, or through a telescope at the mysterious vastness of the cosmos, we are looking at direct evidence, at artifacts of God’s creation and the inner-workings of God’s mind.
The very structure of the cosmos contains a spiritual message, and why wouldn't it for it is God who created that very stucture. The very structure which is way out in space when you look at galaxies and nebula, and the very structure within your own cells. These structures which we are identifying through the sciences are quite literally revelations coming from the same source as religion itself. Both the sciences and spiritual traditions of faith in God are manifestations of Universal Intellect, the Logos, the cosmose itself as an integral aspect of God and the total Universe of meaning in which man lives, contemplates, and dies, and continues on in his spiritual heritage.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Late night ramblings
During our life 500,000 cells die each second, each day about 50 billion cells in our body are replaced, resulting in a new body each year. So cell death is totally different from body death when you eventually die. During our life our body changes continuously, each day, each minute, each second. Each year about 98% of our molecules and atoms in our body have been replaced. Each living being is in an unstable balance of two opposing processes of continual disintegration and integration. But no one realizes this constant change. And from where comes the continuity of our continually changing body? Cells are just the building blocks of our body, like the bricks of a house, but who is the architect, who coordinates the building of this house. When someone has died, only mortal remains are left: only matter. But where is the director of the body? What about our consciousness when we die? Is someone his body, or do we “have” a body? Better yet, am I simply a body of cells and fluids; am I a body which is tied to a soul; or am I a soul that is temporarily possessing a body. If so could it be that the I that is the real me, my soul, already exist in an extra dimentional place out side the body, but linked in a body/mind/spirit relationship. And, if so, then perhaps it is that what I do here while possessing this body is what determines the dwelling place of my soul, a direct reflection. As I become either acts of hate or acts of love in this life, I am eminating onto my soul, and the dimention of which it exists, the light or darkness that will forever become its place once the earthly body is gone. In essence Heaven or Hell, but in an energetic or multi-dimentional sense rather than a physical one.
There are just so many rabbit trails to go down with this series of thoughts: for example, if 98% of our material bodies change completley within a year, then how is it that we can retain memories for decades? This only adds to the hard pro...blem of consciousness, and supports the idea that though thoughts are influenced by the matter of the brain, they actually originate and exist in a dimention higher than that of the matter itself. Perhaps thoughts are something like radio waves from God, and our individual minds are merely organic transducers of consciousness. This is why individual consciousness seems subjective, but really it is just a very small part of the total universal and objective state of consciousness, something like Jung's idea of the shared collective unconscious.
Patterns everywhere... 1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55... existing in and around us, like pieces of a holligram. 50 billion cells each day, 40 thousand people, 1,000 stars... The atom, the solar system, the galaxy... Branches on a tree, veins in a leaf, our lives, ripples on a pond, waves in the ocean... all just the rantings of a mind that needs to fall asleep
There are just so many rabbit trails to go down with this series of thoughts: for example, if 98% of our material bodies change completley within a year, then how is it that we can retain memories for decades? This only adds to the hard pro...blem of consciousness, and supports the idea that though thoughts are influenced by the matter of the brain, they actually originate and exist in a dimention higher than that of the matter itself. Perhaps thoughts are something like radio waves from God, and our individual minds are merely organic transducers of consciousness. This is why individual consciousness seems subjective, but really it is just a very small part of the total universal and objective state of consciousness, something like Jung's idea of the shared collective unconscious.
Patterns everywhere... 1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55... existing in and around us, like pieces of a holligram. 50 billion cells each day, 40 thousand people, 1,000 stars... The atom, the solar system, the galaxy... Branches on a tree, veins in a leaf, our lives, ripples on a pond, waves in the ocean... all just the rantings of a mind that needs to fall asleep
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Cult of Social Narcissism in the industrialized consumer Western Civilization (excerpt by A.K. Marthaller)
It is our own widespread social narcissism of epidemic proportion that eludes the majority from the fact that we humans too are fragile animals that could easily join the other 99.8% of all other species that once thrived on Earth but are now extinct. To vainly believe that our race is so superior and "entitled" to the point of negligent destruction of the world's biosphere reeks of the very arrogance and blasphemy of which many an ancient tale and holy scripture had warned against as it may anger God enough to allow us to perish. Indeed there are even those who observe the impending collapse of everything we know of as our world as a prophesy playing itself out into a manmade destructive crescendo of apocalyptic proportions. Narcissism arises in the child who "suffers from a prolonged state of unmet needs" (Winter, Koger, pg. 45). As a society who is displaced from the "source" of our being we too suffer a prolonged unquenchable thirst of unmet needs; thus, we have become a narcissistic society of starving consumers of material reality that just isn't as real as we think. The problem is, is that many of us are so far removed from the source of our being that we do not know how to properly feed our psyche; that is we do not know where to begin to find the correct and healthy food for our minds and souls. We will not find the proper nourishment on the television, nor will we find it in any consumer product or underwear ad, nor will we find it on any of the artificial summits of the mountains of distorted notions we climb in search of our selves. We're just not there, anywhere to be seen. We can never truly meet our psyche's needs by applying artificial and material things to ourselves to fill in the desolate void in our lives; inasmuch, we will always hunger and thirst for more money, more ego status, a faster car, a bigger house, and more power because these are not the things that our souls' and minds' need. This would be like eating nothing but cotton candy and drinking muck when we really need a sustainable meal and fresh clean water. This blinding epidemic of cultural narcissism and global ecological destruction allude to a greater dysfunction within the shared psychology of Western industrialized materialist consumer society.
Narcissism arises in the child who "suffers from a prolonged state of unmet needs"; thus, causing the individual to enter into a life long pattern of traits and behaviors which signify infatuation and obsession with one's self to the exclusion of all others and the egotistic and ruthless pursuit of one's gratification, dominance and ambition. This is a sever neurotic reaction to anxiety caused by lack of nurturing substance sometime during child development; inasmuch, the neurotic behavior eventually morphs into neurosis and eventually into a diagnosable (DSMIV) psychological disorder. The Narcissist must create and maintain a perceived reality that makes them the central figure, and all other persons merely extentions of themselves rather than real people with a seperate reality, lives, and boundaries. They will often think themselves to be elusive and somehow better than most everyone else, this may appear to them as being wealthier or more intelligent than anyone else; thus, relationships are very (black or white), they will either include others into their grand dilusion of being greater, or they will damn others to the opposite of them. If they think they are the most intelligent person in the world, others will be reduced to being imbeciles. The Narcissist believes much like an infant child, that the world revolves around their hunger for self and for nurturing. Often times the Narcissist will seek to feed their hunger-lust for nurturing and self by excessivley nurturing their false reality and delusion of grandure, or in manipulating others to gain the emotional attention they hunger for: much in the same way that a child cries when hungry.
That is the individual behavior of the Narcissist. It is a real disorder on a personal level, but it has also become a large scale epidemic as a social dysfuntion in the patterns of our societies behavior in terms of how we view ourselves, our rights, and our interaction with the rest of the world. Thus, we continue to hunger and inexhaustably consume our relationships, our natural habitat, and our spiritual identities. Narcissism is a sign of the times, and is the large scale psychosis that will dismantle our civilization as we know it.
Now think about that, then take a look around. Is it you? Is it someone you know? Is it a group of people you know? Do you belong to that group? Are the problems our world is facing a byproduct and symptom to the larg scale social epidemic psychological disorder of Narcissism?
It is our own widespread social narcissism of epidemic proportion that eludes the majority from the fact that we humans too are fragile animals that could easily join the other 99.8% of all other species that once thrived on Earth but are now extinct. To vainly believe that our race is so superior and "entitled" to the point of negligent destruction of the world's biosphere reeks of the very arrogance and blasphemy of which many an ancient tale and holy scripture had warned against as it may anger God enough to allow us to perish. Indeed there are even those who observe the impending collapse of everything we know of as our world as a prophesy playing itself out into a manmade destructive crescendo of apocalyptic proportions. Narcissism arises in the child who "suffers from a prolonged state of unmet needs" (Winter, Koger, pg. 45). As a society who is displaced from the "source" of our being we too suffer a prolonged unquenchable thirst of unmet needs; thus, we have become a narcissistic society of starving consumers of material reality that just isn't as real as we think. The problem is, is that many of us are so far removed from the source of our being that we do not know how to properly feed our psyche; that is we do not know where to begin to find the correct and healthy food for our minds and souls. We will not find the proper nourishment on the television, nor will we find it in any consumer product or underwear ad, nor will we find it on any of the artificial summits of the mountains of distorted notions we climb in search of our selves. We're just not there, anywhere to be seen. We can never truly meet our psyche's needs by applying artificial and material things to ourselves to fill in the desolate void in our lives; inasmuch, we will always hunger and thirst for more money, more ego status, a faster car, a bigger house, and more power because these are not the things that our souls' and minds' need. This would be like eating nothing but cotton candy and drinking muck when we really need a sustainable meal and fresh clean water. This blinding epidemic of cultural narcissism and global ecological destruction allude to a greater dysfunction within the shared psychology of Western industrialized materialist consumer society.
Narcissism arises in the child who "suffers from a prolonged state of unmet needs"; thus, causing the individual to enter into a life long pattern of traits and behaviors which signify infatuation and obsession with one's self to the exclusion of all others and the egotistic and ruthless pursuit of one's gratification, dominance and ambition. This is a sever neurotic reaction to anxiety caused by lack of nurturing substance sometime during child development; inasmuch, the neurotic behavior eventually morphs into neurosis and eventually into a diagnosable (DSMIV) psychological disorder. The Narcissist must create and maintain a perceived reality that makes them the central figure, and all other persons merely extentions of themselves rather than real people with a seperate reality, lives, and boundaries. They will often think themselves to be elusive and somehow better than most everyone else, this may appear to them as being wealthier or more intelligent than anyone else; thus, relationships are very (black or white), they will either include others into their grand dilusion of being greater, or they will damn others to the opposite of them. If they think they are the most intelligent person in the world, others will be reduced to being imbeciles. The Narcissist believes much like an infant child, that the world revolves around their hunger for self and for nurturing. Often times the Narcissist will seek to feed their hunger-lust for nurturing and self by excessivley nurturing their false reality and delusion of grandure, or in manipulating others to gain the emotional attention they hunger for: much in the same way that a child cries when hungry.
That is the individual behavior of the Narcissist. It is a real disorder on a personal level, but it has also become a large scale epidemic as a social dysfuntion in the patterns of our societies behavior in terms of how we view ourselves, our rights, and our interaction with the rest of the world. Thus, we continue to hunger and inexhaustably consume our relationships, our natural habitat, and our spiritual identities. Narcissism is a sign of the times, and is the large scale psychosis that will dismantle our civilization as we know it.
Now think about that, then take a look around. Is it you? Is it someone you know? Is it a group of people you know? Do you belong to that group? Are the problems our world is facing a byproduct and symptom to the larg scale social epidemic psychological disorder of Narcissism?
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Einstein's brain and evolution.
The super folded neo-cortex which led to massive dendrite growth and to the extreme linking of the parietal lobe to the temporal lobe found in Einstein's brain suggests that mutation and variance can be detected in the brain, that brain evolution does happen. And, as we all know, those slight variations in Einstein's brain allowed him to access areas of his mind unknown to most other humans. We saw the power of his thought in the discovery of E=MC2; the prediction of black holes decades before they were confirmed; and in the nuclear explosion that ended WWII. Much power in the slightest of genetic variation in a small amount of time, in one species, in one generation; now, consider the power of genetic variation and brain development over 3 billion years, millions of species, and millions of generations.
Brain Evolution and Theistic synthesis
Brain evolution is a perfect road map of brain development through epochs of time. At our base stem our brains are most like reptilian, and then emotional centers like dogs and cats, then into the neo-cortical regions found in other apes. Ours are the most developed. Does this mean that we are directly descended from these species? Perhaps, but not necessarily, but there is strong correlation to show similar genetic patterns that have emerged through time, and through the development of species. We could share common ancestors all along the way. We were never Chimps; however, we diverge from a similar genetic lineage, and the clues are in the genes. There have been some eyebrow raising finds in the fossil record more recently (in the past 9 months) to suggest that we share lineage, and that is the new idea in evolutionary science, and not that we are or were ever chimps. Looking for direct evidence in the fossil record is like searching for a needle in a haystack; inasmuch, where we will find the direct evidence of the process of evolution will come from our modern technical advances in being able to read the genetic code. The evidence is to be discovered right here in each of us, in our genes and by looking at the development of our brains. It does leave room to suggest that there are more general or common genetics shared by many species, and that through time and development we could share common ancestral genetics. Or one could even muse (from a theistic evolutionary point of view) that these genetics are common for the above reasons, and that they also act as a map or blue print of brain development through species as intended by a divine source of creation. The arguments between "Aquinas Creationism" and "Atheistic Evolutionists" are inexhaustible, full of holes, and rather boring. They are not supporting arguments for or against evolution as much as they are clinging desperately to narrow world views that are grasping at straws. Sad to me is that one would ever be caught in such desperation of belief that they couldn't even entertain possibilities, ever find commonality, or see beyond the intellectual smog and fallacy of reductionism. Both extremes are mistaken, there is a bigger picture, and it is called "Theistic Evolution". I contend that the contradictions raised in such arguments are perceptual contradictions, and not real contradictions. Because we can or can not perceive of something doesn't mean it doesn't happen or exist. This is the key to faith, because I can believe in the product without seeing the equation, or I can believe in the hand of creation without being able to put a glove on it. As far as I'm concerned there is no contradiction between theism and the observations of biology known as evolution. There is room for both theism and evolution to coexist.So really, evolution theory (variance, isolation, natural selection) can coexist with the concept of divine creation. Simply that, all of our observations in the sciences (cosmology in the times of Galileo, and biology now) are as accurate as our system of measurements and statistics; together these powerful tools of our minds are able to find "probability" in nature, A nature which was created and is perpetually being created by a divine omnipresent consciousness, God. So, I can believe in God, and that God created me with a mind to use and make sense of this amazing creation he placed me in... perhaps so that I can advance my civilization; enjoy the beauty; be amazed; and glorify him in all of it. Perhaps...
Friday, July 9, 2010
The mountian and I
think about how we are much more than we perceive on a day to day basis, in our worries, strides and struggles. It leads me to think not that I am simply just this body, and not even simply just a body that has a soul, but that I am a soul that is more currently entertaining this body. And that it is this same soul that transcends my body; moves beyond the subjective experience of "I myself" and into the objective experience of "I in of itself" or "I am" in that my soul is not only entertaining this body, but it is also entertain that which I usually perceive as my direct environment, and ultimatley a relationship with God. We can stand in the beauty of a mountian side and think, "wow, what a beautiful mountian, I am here and it is there; or, we can think "wow, what a beautiful existence, I am of the same quality which defines the mountain side of which I am able to directly perceive". The mountian and I are of different phenomenon, but we are of the same noumenon. Is this mountian really something separate from a deeper part of what defines me; or, is the real me something that converges with the existence of the mountain, of us both being an expression of the same creation by the same God? The more noumenal self awakening to observe and experience itself in greater depth through our more subjective central nervous systems.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Good enough for God.
Often times we think: "I believe in God, but I'm not sure if I am ready, if I am good enough, to have a personal relationship with God". Or we just don't pray because we think that we do not know how to pray. What we are doing then with this attitude is creating the self-fulfilled prophesy of our lives without God or prayer because we believe in the self imposed obstacle more than we believe in God. We actually do this with many other things and many other areas in our lives as well. If we ever want to get out of our rut; really begin to believe with our whole hearts in God, in prayer, we have to let go of that obstacle we place before ourselves. No one is greater than the next, we all mess up. Even after we forge into our relationship with God we still mess up, it is human nature, and it is forgiven if our hearts are true. Instead of thinking, "God isn't ready for me because I'm not perfect, or I don't know how to pray so I'll just skip it"; we could think something like, I am not perfect but God wants me anyway so that he can begin to perfect me, or maybe I'll just close my eyes and start talking to God right now, just a hello will do, or a thank you, or for help and guidance, or peace. We just have to get over that fence to get out of these trenches of lifelessness.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Poem by Alan Watts
You're breathing
The wind is blowing
The trees are waving
Your nerves are tingling
...The individual and the universe
Are inseparable
But the curious thing is
Very few people are aware of it
Everything in nature
Depends on everything else
So it's interconnected
We confuse ourselves as living organisms which are one with this whole universe
With something we call our personality
And what is our personality?
And our fundamental self is not something just inside the skin
It's everything around us with which we connect
When you look out of your eyes
At nature happening out there
You're looking at you
That's the real you-
The you that goes on of itself
Now listen
It's absolutely necessary
That we let go of ourselves- and it can't be done,
Not by anything that we call doing it, acting, willing,
Or even just accepting things
It seems that the human being
Really has a very simple kind of mind... ~ Alan Watts (Mid 20th century philosopher).
Further Musing:
In this poem it seems as though Dr. Watts is speaking of the Noumenon central to existence. This is the same Noumenon expressed by Immanuel Kant and Schopenhauer as that central point of reality that exists behind the scenes as an abstract potential causing existence to occur by a "willing of will itself"; the same centrality expressed as "The Way of Things" or Te Tao by the ancient Chinese philosophers, including, more contemporary, Bruce Lee and Alan Watts; the same omnipresent spirit of God who created everything and expressed himself as the great "I am".
Monday, June 28, 2010
Health Benifits of Fasting
There has been much contention in the scientific field about whether or not fasting is beneficial to one's health. Fasting is an integral part of many of the major religions including Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Many are dubious as to whether the physiological effects are as beneficial as the spiritual promoted by these religions. There is a significant community of alternative healers who believe that fasting can do wonders for the human body. This paper will look at the arguments presented by these healers in an attempt to raise awareness of the possible physiological benefits that may result from fasting.
Fasting technically commences within the first twelve to twenty-four hours of the fast. A fast does not chemically begin until the carbohydrate stores in the body begin to be used as an energy source. The fast will continue as long as fat and carbohydrate stores are used for energy, as opposed to protein stores. Once protein stores begin to be depleted for energy (resulting in loss of muscle mass) a person is technically starving.
The benefits of fasting must be preceded by a look at the body's progression when deprived of food. Due to the lack of incoming energy, the body must turn to its own resources, a function called autolysis. (2) Autolysis is the breaking down of fat stores in the body in order to produce energy. The liver is in charge of converting the fats into a chemical called a ketone body, "the metabolic substances acetoacetic acid and beta-hydroxybutyric acid" (3), and then distributing these bodies throughout the body via the blood stream. "When this fat utilization occurs, free fatty acids are released into the blood stream and are used by the liver for energy." (3) The less one eats, the more the body turns to these stored fats and creates these ketone bodies, the accumulation of which is referred to as ketosis. (4)
Detoxification is the foremost argument presented by advocates of fasting. "Detoxification is a normal body process of eliminating or neutralizing toxins through the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph glands, and skin." (5). This process is precipitated by fasting because when food is no longer entering the body, the body turns to fat reserves for energy. "Human fat is valued at 3,500 calories per pound," a number that would lead one to believe that surviving on one pound of fat every day would provide a body with enough energy to function normally. (2) These fat reserves were created when excess glucose and carbohydrates were not used for energy or growth, not excreted, and therefore converted into fat. When the fat reserves are used for energy during a fast, it releases the chemicals from the fatty acids into the system which are then eliminated through the aforementioned organs. Chemicals not found in food but absorbed from one's environment, such as DDT, are also stored in fat reserves that may be released during a fast. One fasting advocate tested his own urine, feces and sweat during an extended fast and found traces of DDT in each. (5)
A second prescribed benefit of fasting is the healing process that begins in the body during a fast. During a fast energy is diverted away from the digestive system due to its lack of use and towards the metabolism and immune system. (6) The healing process during a fast is precipitated by the body's search for energy sources. Abnormal growths within the body, tumors and the like, do not have the full support of the body's supplies and therefore are more susceptible to autolysis. Furthermore, "production of protein for replacement of damaged cells (protein synthesis) occurs more efficiently because fewer 'mistakes' are made by the DNA/RNA genetic controls which govern this process." A higher efficiency in protein synthesis results in healthier cells, tissues and organs. (7) This is one reason that animals stop eating when they are wounded, and why humans lose hunger during influenza. Hunger has been proven absent in illnesses such as gastritis, tonsillitis and colds. (2) Therefore, when one is fasting, the person is consciously diverting energy from the digestive system to the immune system.
In addition, there is a reduction in core body temperature. This is a direct result of the slower metabolic rate and general bodily functions. Following a drop in blood sugar level and using the reserves of glucose found in liver glycogen, the basal metabolic rate (BMR) is reduced in order to conserve as much energy within the body as can be provided. (2) Growth hormones are also released during a fast, due to the greater efficiency in hormone production. (7)
Finally, the most scientifically proven advantage to fasting is the feeling of rejuvenation and extended life expectancy. Part of this phenomenon is caused by a number of the benefits mentioned above. A slower metabolic rate, more efficient protein production, an improved immune system, and the increased production of hormones contributes to this long-term benefit of fasting. In addition to the Human Growth Hormone that is released more frequently during a fast, an anti-aging hormone is also produced more efficiently. (7) "The only reliable way to extend the lifespan of a mammal is under-nutrition without malnutrition." (5) A study was performed on earthworms that demonstrated the extension of life due to fasting. The experiment was performed in the 1930s by isolating one worm and putting it on a cycle of fasting and feeding. The isolated worm outlasted its relatives by 19 generations, while still maintaining its youthful physiological traits. The worm was able to survive on its own tissue for months. Once the size of the worm began to decrease, the scientists would resume feeding it at which point it showed great vigor and energy. "The life-span extension of these worms was the equivalent of keeping a man alive for 600 to 700 years."
In conclusion, it seems that there are many reasons to consider fasting as a benefit to one's health. The body rids itself of the toxins that have built up in our fat stores throughout the years. The body heals itself, repairs all the damaged organs during a fast. And finally there is good evidence to show that regulated fasting contributes to longer life. However, many doctors warn against fasting for extended periods of time without supervision. There are still many doctors today who deny all of these points and claim that fasting is detrimental to one's health and have evidence to back their statements. The idea of depriving a body of what society has come to view as so essential to our survival in order to heal continues to be a topic of controversy.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Learning how to go with the flow.
Success comes in being able to set goals, make a plan; however, more importantly, in being able to be flexible enough to change with the greater changes and still keep in mind those goals. I tend to think that while I make plans for my life and set goals, that God, "The Almighty", has an ultimate plan and goal for me. ...The Eastern Taoist "philosophers" would understand this wisdom as: that while I try to "do" life, life has a way of "happening". The wisdom, in one sense, comes in learning how to access that greater plan and have faith that God has plans to prosper us; and in another more philosophic translation it is to be an active part of the "happening" that seems to be part of life, all of life.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Approaching the hard problem of consciousness.
So, how is it possible for the intangible yet personally subjective experience of consciousness, can come from mere matter? Is this hard problem of consciousness something that can be answered through biochemistry and psychology, or will an answer come from knowledge not yet understood? Perhaps we are approaching the question in a reverse order than it really is, maybe we should ask, "how is it that perceived matter can exist from conscious experience. Or even possibly, it may be such that perceived matter and consciousness are two different forms of something fundamental to the existence of the universe. They could be just two different experiences of the same thing: matter is perceived through phenomenon, while consciousness is felt in a form more closely to the noumenon. Both matter and consciousness behave quite similarly to that which we call light. Light can be both a particle (matter) and a wave (consciousness). Just as light behaves as a wave until observed, when at that precise moment it collapses into a particle; quite similarly, may be the way matter and consciousness behave. They are simply two different forms of the same stuff. And, I believe it to be the stuff of the universe, of which it is made. And, yes, made as in created by an omnipresence in a patterned image of itself (like the infinite fractals within a hologram) known to mankind as God.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Center and Circumference of the self.
Without the center there is no circumference, and without the circumference there is no center. .. In this way the human being is inseparable from the whole of the universe... one's centrality of existence is something like an aperture of which the fundamental principle of the universe has come alive and can view itself.
Noumenon and consciousness
An excerpt from one of my analytical papers on the nature of consciousness:
Consciousness, is an awareness; however in its noumenon form it is a particular series of energetic principals and patterns occurring in nature that we may understand as “I” myself, and is not separate from our bodies and souls; however, is of o...ur body, which is greater than mere physical consideration, that exist in a conjoined relationship with our environment and universe; inasmuch consciousness is the unifying factor of self between what separatist logic deems as the body and as the divine...
As noumenon is an archaic word predominately utilized by Kantian philosophers, I will define it here as from the same paper.
Noumenon: The aspect of reality that is the true form of the phenomenon, not based on appearance but something greater and usually undetectable by ordinary means. Or, The noumenon (from Greek νοούμενoν, present participle of νοέω "I think, I mean"; plural: νοούμενα - noumena) is a posited object or event that is independent of the senses. It classically refers to an object of human inquiry, understanding or cognition. As a concept it has much in common with objectivity, that which is tangible but not perceivable; the reflection of phenomenon.
The term is generally used in contrast with, or in relation to "phenomenon", which refers to appearances, or objects of the senses. A phenomenon can be an exceptional, unusual, or abnormal thing or event—but it must be perceptible through the senses; A noumenon cannot be the actual object that results in the phenomenon in question. Noumena are objects or events known only to the mind - independent of the known and ordinary senses. It may be further contrasted with the perception and processing of a phenomenon in the human mind.
If you think about the fact that we human beings utilize less than 10% of our brain capacity, and many of us even less than that, there is yet another 90% which is a potential or unseen.
To also consider, briefly, what ancient Chinese philosophers called Tao Te is most simply translated as The Way. The way that oceans wave, the way that the sun shines, the way that birds migrate, the way of things in their most natural state. What they were talking about was that deeper sense of things, that Western philosophers call noumenon. I ... See Morefind it even more interesting that Jesus Christ, the "I am" also understood himself as "The Way". Perhaps that because of the very nature of his Divinity was rooted in the source of that which is the ultimate nature of God and God's way. How else would the son of God be able to tell the world that he is indeed the Divine one of prophesy than to describe himself "I Am" (the transcendentally divine consciousness), and "I am The Way". Furthermore, he stated he is The Way, The Truth, and The Light, all of which when considered in the context of the noumenon would be ways that would best describe that the truth central to the core of reality, that which is beyond existence, that which is the noumenon itself.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
You get what you pray for.
Indeed, it seems, that for any of the wisdom virtues to grow and become incorporated into the soul, they must be challenged. I prayed for patience and I was gifted with a son who is as challenging as myself. I prayed for my life to change for the better, and I was allowed to nearly destroy myself prior. I prayed to never feel alone again, and I was... See More gifted with an amazing wife and children. I prayed to become humble, and I was given a job to toilet and bathe the demented and dying. I pray for wisdom daily, and it usually comes threefold in personally challenging ways that are more like exercises or tests. I think that when we talk to God directly and ask him to increase our potential, if our hearts are aligned, we are given just what we pray for; thus, "Be careful of what you pray for, you just might get it". Now, think of a good parent as a steward, nurturer, and trainer, as our Heavenly father is our ultimate parent in these ways. He doesn't just give us what we ask for because that would not really "create" us in a lasting way; instead, he acknowledges us and allows us to receive these wisdoms and spiritual fruits through meeting the challenge of circumstances. Again, this is why faith is of the most important virtue for taking upon the path of such internalized wisdoms.
Spiritual tools of faith
Immanuel Kant described reality observable through scientific things as phenomenon, and aptly called the central unseen center of reality as the Noumea, or Noumenon.Our world seems to readily believe in things that it can see and measure with ruler and pen; however, there are others tools with which we encounter the me...taphysical, the spiritual, God in essence. Those tools are glimpsed in the peripherals of our conscious experience, and are internalized as things like faith, love, forgiveness, etc... They are the spiritual tools of which have been implanted in each and every human being so that each of us may indeed come to know (personally) that which is beyond existence and time and space, so that we may come through faith to know God. Indeed, Kant left off with simply stating that this needed more investigation in a metaphysical work, because at the time he was writing "The critique of pure reason". Still, however, as a fellow INTP (who impulsively searches for meaning and truth) he could not dismiss the overwhelming fact of the human experience to those intuitive kinds of tools that seem to be ingrained somewhere deep in our souls.I can see that Faith is belief in things unproven and unseen, for it is itself something unseen but surely felt; more deeply in some than in others. It has also been said that Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see (Heberews 11:1) On a bit of a rabbit trail this is an excellent chapter discussing deeply the virtue and wisdom of faith.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
INFJ + INTP = LOVE
The theory of why INFJs are theoretically supposed to be the "perfect match" for the INTP, I would appreciate input from the INFJs on the list as well, as I am focusing more on the INTP side, as I am myself an INTP and that is just plain easier.
It is my theory that within the relationship between the INTP and the INFJ, there is a grand accident that lends itself to compatibility between the two types.The INTP is most happy when allowed to rationally examine, explore, and explain his motivations and self-analysis and observation to an intimate partner. This is simply because the INTP loves self exploration, loves to gather knowledge and insight into his own actions, not for the sake of emotional discovery, simply out of a sense of curiosity and need to analyze and collect data.The INTP unemotionally and detachedly explains why he or she thinks in a certain way - that is what INTPs are best at, observation, particularly of themselves - and the INFJ then thinks that they are opening up to them, and becomes moved and emotionally attached to the INTP. The INTP sees that their observations are being received and interesting to the INFJ, so they continue. A fascinating relationship between two types. A relationship of total mutual miscommunication, the motivations are completely different, but with a reinforcing result. The INTP feels the closeness and intimacy of being able to share their scientific self-analysis, and the INFJ feels that the INTP is sharing their innermost thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and so the cycle of miscommunication keeps them locked together in a positively reenforcing relationship.
It is my theory that within the relationship between the INTP and the INFJ, there is a grand accident that lends itself to compatibility between the two types.The INTP is most happy when allowed to rationally examine, explore, and explain his motivations and self-analysis and observation to an intimate partner. This is simply because the INTP loves self exploration, loves to gather knowledge and insight into his own actions, not for the sake of emotional discovery, simply out of a sense of curiosity and need to analyze and collect data.The INTP unemotionally and detachedly explains why he or she thinks in a certain way - that is what INTPs are best at, observation, particularly of themselves - and the INFJ then thinks that they are opening up to them, and becomes moved and emotionally attached to the INTP. The INTP sees that their observations are being received and interesting to the INFJ, so they continue. A fascinating relationship between two types. A relationship of total mutual miscommunication, the motivations are completely different, but with a reinforcing result. The INTP feels the closeness and intimacy of being able to share their scientific self-analysis, and the INFJ feels that the INTP is sharing their innermost thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and so the cycle of miscommunication keeps them locked together in a positively reenforcing relationship.
I am: INTP
The ThinkerAs an INTP, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you deal with things rationally and logically. Your secondary mode is external, where you take things in primarily via your intuition. INTPs live in the world of theoretical possibilities. They see everything in terms of how it could be improved, or what it could be... See More turned into. They live primarily inside their own minds, having the ability to analyze difficult problems, identify patterns, and come up with logical explanations. They seek clarity in everything, and are therefore driven to build knowledge. They are the "absent-minded professors", who highly value intelligence and the ability to apply logic to theories to find solutions. They typically are so strongly driven to turn problems into logical explanations, that they live much of their lives within their own heads, and may not place as much importance or value on the external world. Their natural drive to turn theories into concrete understanding may turn into a feeling of personal responsibility to solve theoretical problems, and help society move towards a higher understanding. INTPs value knowledge above all else. Their minds are constantly working to generate new theories, or to prove or disprove existing theories. They approach problems and theories with enthusiasm and skepticism, ignoring existing rules and opinions and defining their own approach to the resolution. They seek patterns and logical explanations for anything that interests them. They're usually extremely bright, and able to be objectively critical in their analysis. They love new ideas, and become very excited over abstractions and theories. They love to discuss these concepts with others. They may seem "dreamy" and distant to others, because they spend a lot of time inside their minds musing over theories. They hate to work on routine things - they would much prefer to build complex theoretical solutions, and leave the implementation of the system to others. They are intensely interested in theory, and will put forth tremendous amounts of time and energy into finding a solution to a problem with has piqued their interest. INTPs do not like to lead or control people. They're very tolerant and flexible in most situations, unless one of their firmly held beliefs has been violated or challenged, in which case they may take a very rigid stance. The INTP is likely to be very shy when it comes to meeting new people. On the other hand, the INTP is very self-confident and gregarious around people they know well, or when discussing theories which they fully understand. The INTP has no understanding or value for decisions made on the basis of personal subjectivity or feelings. They strive constantly to achieve logical conclusions to problems, and don't understand the importance or relevance of applying subjective emotional considerations to decisions. For this reason, INTPs are usually not in-tune with how people are feeling, and are not naturally well-equiped to meet the emotional needs of others. The INTP may have a problem with self-aggrandizement and social rebellion, which will interfere with their creative potential. Since their Feeling side is their least developed trait, the INTP may have difficulty giving the warmth and support that is sometimes necessary in intimate relationships. If the INTP doesn't realize the value of attending to other people's feelings, he or she may become overly critical and sarcastic with others. If the INTP is not able to find a place for themself which supports the use of their strongest abilities, they may become generally negative and cynical. If the INTP has not developed their Sensing side sufficiently, they may become unaware of their environment, and exhibit weakness in performing maintenance-type tasks, such as bill-paying and dressing appropriately. For the INTP, it is extremely important that ideas and facts are expressed correctly and succinctly. They are likely to express themselves in what they believe to be absolute truths. Sometimes, their well thought-out understanding of an idea is not easily understandable by others, but the INTP is not naturally likely to tailor the truth so as to explain it in an understandable way to others. The INTP may be prone to abandoning a project once they have figured it out, moving on to the next thing. It's important that the INTP place importance on expressing their developed theories in understandable ways. In the end, an amazing discovery means nothing if you are the only person who understands it. The INTP is usually very independent, unconventional, and original. They are not likely to place much value on traditional goals such as popularity and security. They usually have complex characters, and may tend to be restless and temperamental. They are strongly ingenious, and have unconventional thought patterns which allows them to analyze ideas in new ways. Consequently, a lot of scientific breakthroughs in the world have been made by the INTP. The INTP is at his best when he can work on his theories independently. When given an environment which supports his creative genius and possible eccentricity, the INTP can accomplish truly remarkable things. These are the pioneers of new thoughts in our society.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Archtypes and moral evidence for the existence of God.
Killing the innocent is not right in any case, I agree. And, while societies may be different in superficial elements, rights and rituals, there is a core of right and wrong that is central to all humanity. Somewhere burried within the hidden archtypes of the human collective, encoded in our DNA and the pathology of ou...r minds, there has been placed...(by God) a natural law of right and wrong. This is a natural law of the human being just as gravity is a natural law in physics. Throughout history and time, archtypical elements arise within each culture that are the same. There are the archtypes of the blessed mother, the heavenly father, the shadow, and possibly thousands more. I mentioned these three because of the topic of discussion comes down to how these archtypes are being played out currently in our exterior world, creating a sense of universal right and wrong in regard to nurturing vs. killing. If we look around we can see that this pattern between the archtypes really affects our world in many ways: in the way we interact with our environment; in the way we have a blood thirst for war; in the way that we find infanticide as appropriate means to personal ends excluding saving the life of a mother. This line of thought is of my mind, and is inspired by the works of C.G. Jung and C.S. Lewis. It would be the marriage of Archtypes and evidence for God in human morality.
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