Sunday, April 13, 2008

The Necessity of Religion





As I sit oblivious, in the most public of places developing my embryonic God through silent meditation. I am suddenly disturbed by the loud obnoxious Christian with her scornful look at life. The woman driven to convert all within ear's reach, shouts prophetic threats at the people unlucky enough to be riding in the subway-car with her. My first reaction is a fantasy; to slay her from afar with my spear. Then I laugh inwardly at the foolish woman forcing unwelcome belief unto the general public. Most passengers try to block her out as she continues to rejoice in her false hopes for wings, so she can fly to heaven and look for Jesus. After my amusement passes I gain some sympathy for the woman as I realize the necessity of religion, let me explain...
In my past understanding I have been very much anti-religious however, the religious channel of knowledge based on belief systems within a faith structure continues to serve its original purpose; to convert ignorant superstitious people or “pagans” to use a religious term and introduce them to the path of true knowledge. The problem is that most people is unwilling to use their own intellect to move past this introductory level and access the higher realms of wisdom, this is the trap of the Simpleton.
The Simpleton is unable to reach enlightenment and never realize that religion is only the beginning. Much like the fool who thinks having money is the end goal instead of realizing money is only a tool used to accomplish goals. Yet, it is unrealistic to expect people to go from a beastly superstitious existence or a meaningless materialistic existence straight to enlightenment. Therefore, it is to be expected that the whole truth would be withheld in the early lessons. Just as one would not expect a child to fully comprehend advanced mathematics and Science so only the fundamentals are taught to them until they are deemed ready to move on to the next level.
For example 1+1=2 yet the effects of negative numbers and fraction of numbers are not taught until much later as not to confuse the beginner.
Similarly, advanced knowledge is withheld from the Simpleton by the High Priests. Instead the High Priests simplifies to provide a portion of knowledge that can be easily understood by the Simpleton. The employer of the High Priests, the Church gains much power by manipulating the Simpleton so they are not motivated by an reason to provide continued levels of instruction on spiritual matters. Therefore, it becomes the Simpleton's own desire for enlightenment that will drive him to seek more knowledge and cross reference the knowledge he has been taught by the High Priest, the failure of which benefits the Church by creating dependence and thus control over the Simpleton.
If advanced knowledge is achieved and wisdom is produced The Simpleton becomes Enlighten, The Enlightened has no need for religion and sheds it like a skin since he has surpassed the levels therein.
Allow me to provide an example so the Simpleton can understand:
A man needs good shoes to protect his feet from the harsh ground, since he has no knowledge of shoe making he wisely decides to buy his shoes from a shoe store. The man is happy and satisfied with his shoes. After many years of wearing mass produced shoes and various pairs he begins to notice the imperfections in the fit because of the uniqueness of his feet. So he begins to think about what is good and bad about his shoes and how he would make a pair customized to fit his own feet.
He then takes the next step and begins to study the art of shoe making and soon figures out how to make a pair for himself that fits his feet perfectly. However, he would of never even had the idea if he had not used the mass produced shoes first.
In much the same way mass religion is the starting point for the knowledge seeker but eventually the wise will have to leave religion in order to attain true Enlightenment. Yet still, it is the most realistic starting point.
To the Enlightened religion is but a speck of light among a vast sky full of stars all of which compose on enormous point of light that is the Universe. It is from this perspective that I took my earlier anti-religious stance explained in My Own Master. Upon further reflection it was a selfish point of view since each person can only access the wisdom deserving of their own level and while religion is useless to the Enlighten it is useful to the Simpleton and it is a path through which the Simpleton can become Enlightened.

1 comment:

  1. THIS IS SO TRUE YO!I FEEL THE SAME WAY!THE SIMPLETON IS SO OBLIVIOUS TO THE THINGS OUTSIDE THE BOX OF HIS OR HER DICTATED FAITH TO WHERE THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE FEAR THAT REALLY CONTROLS THEM.

    NOW THE NECESSITY OF RELIGION OR A FAITH IS A MUST FOR HUMANS AND MANKIND BECAUSE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF SPIRIT,RELIGION(STEMMING FROM THE GREEK MEANING TO HOLD BACK OR RESTRAIN)IS A FORM OF SUGAR COATED SLAVERY(CONTROL).

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