TRUTHS POUND THEIR WAY INTO YOUR MIND AND CHANGE YOUR SOUL

What is Truth?

Written by Albert L. Marzioli

Jesus said, "...I came into the world for this, to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice."

In response to this, Pilate rhetorically asked, "What is Truth?"

Many of us are asking the same question, "What is Truth?" For the sake of this discussion I would like to provide a simple definition of the words true and truth. Actually, this is not my definition. I found them in the Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (Tenth edition): true - in accordance with fact or reality

truth - the state of being the case: the body of real things, events and facts: actuality the property of being in accord with fact or reality.

reality - something that is neither derivative nor dependent but exists necessarily.

As Christians, these simple definitions capture what we mean by the word truth. The presentation of Christ and his ministry in the gospels is put forth by witnesses who reported what they had seen. Obviously, because they all had different perspectives they wrote those perspectives in the gospels. Yet the essential truth is reported by all. Do different perspectives mean that one or more of the perspectives are untrue. No! Just because something is viewed from a different perspective does not make either view untrue. They all report that Christ came to this earth to reconcile mankind to God.

The Apostle Paul was well aware of this meaning of truth. That is why he wrote "...if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is without substance, and so is your faith." We are bound by the truth. It is what defines us as Christians.

Edmund Husserl identified three world views: the world as I see it -- the world as you see it -- the world as it really is.

We are committed to seeing the world as it really is. What I mean by this is that the world exists of itself beyond our opinions and conceptions of it. If we die, the cosmos is still there and it remains what it is. This objective existence Husserl called the "thing in itself". We look at the world through our senses and we formulate ideas and conceptions of what the world is based on the stimuli that our senses bring to our brains and then using our thought processes, we make a semblance of what we think the world is. Our conceptions are further modified by the opinions of others, whether in writing or expressed orally. So, the cosmos may be everything we think or it may be none of the things we think about it.

We have learned in the course of our walks through life that not everything is what it seems. Although we generally hold scientists and scientific research in the highest esteem, we have learned that sometimes these same scientists are not the dispassionate objective researchers we took them to be. Instead, we have discovered that they have vested interests or we see them wielding their research as a philosophical ax they feel compelled to grind. We must make sure that we do not surrender or melt before "scientific proofs" which are ultimately based on metaphysical commitments.

If scientific truth is based on the definitions given above, then we are in agreement with the scientific view of truth. When we find ourselves in disagreement, it is not about the world as it really is, but rather, the world as an atheistic/agnostic scientist sees it based on his preconceived ideas and commitments with which they disallow or dismiss anything that might entail a supernatural explanation. Obviously, not everything is of a supernatural explanation. However, there are aspects of our universe which would seem to point to such an explanation. To dismiss something on the basis of preconceived notions or metaphysical commitments, would be to cut ourselves off from what may be truth about that particular subject.

As Christians, we must always hold ourselves open to truth, yes, even to truth that could ultimately disprove Christianity. Many scientists are not this intellectually honest. By committing themselves to finding explanations that do not include God or purposely exclude God, they may very well be cutting themselves off from the "Truth". For Christians to be willing to stand by our commitment to truth, we must recognize that not evething said in the name of Science or even of truth is valid. We must scrutinize every aspiring claim to see if it truly represents the world as it really is.

ON THE CONTRAST OF RELIGION AND SPIRTUALITY

Introduction

After observing a number of conversations taking place in various points of the Internet, all on similar subjects, I was reminded of this mini-talk/commentary that grew out of a personal exchange between myself and a few folks who were then studying with me. I found the talk and prettied it up into HTML. I'm not certain how interesting this might be to others, but I was entertained by the lines of reasoning that this commentary sparked at the time.

As always, all opinions and observations are my own and are not being suggested as universal truths. Even though they are my own, however, if they appeal to you personally, or if they impact your being in a positive manner, you are welcome to them.

In the course of observing a number of conversations, the following exchanges were found; whether or not Freemasonry is a Religion (an age old argument that some folks are never happy enough with an answer for); if spirituality is evolving, why should we be obsessed with studying old religions, particularly if organized religion is viewed as wrong (a common issue among "New Age" movements is that classic organized religion is either in error, corrupt or was created to control the people. Movement away from these traditional schools of faith is then encouraged, but this is balanced by an almost obsessive study of archaic religious movements from which traditional schools evolved.); if self examination and initiation is the utmost in spiritual activity, why is organized religious activity promoted in almost all spiritual pursuits.

I observed these three lines of argument and wondered how these subjects seemed to be in the forefront of these group's discussions. What was man's obsession with organized religion and why if we are constantly trying to move away from it, do we always try to reclaim it as a spiritual heritage? Why, if an organization is spiritual in manner, is it associated with being or having become a religion? Don't we know the difference? Obviously not. I offer the following observations. I do not present these as Truths, as they are personal opinions. I offer them as an example of how I personally organize my thoughts so to help me deal with new and incoming ideas and philosophies. If this does nothing more than help solidify your own opinions, it has served a purpose, anything else is a bonus.

Spiritual, Spirituality, Religion and Religious

A religion is a structure of beliefs and guidelines surrounding these beliefs. A religion is a set of rules. Can a person belong to a religion without being religious? Of course! How often do we hear about folks who attend church on a regular basis, yet violate a majority of the tenats of that religion that they are so obviously a member of? Yet, we have many folks in the world who are deeply religious, yet belong to no one religion.

Things spiritual are those things, times or elements in life that have an impact on our inner being. Brightened emotions, personal enlightenment into some type or kind of universal truth, a moral understanding of a previously complex social idea, these are all spiritual instances and actions. Spirituality is an expression of things spiritual. You can act in ways expressing spirituality all day long and never possess a spiritual impulse. In the same manner, you can be of the highest spiritual awareness, yet outwardly project little spirituality.

In viewing the four elements now in discussion, can we have a religion without spirituality? Of course! Board meetings, fund raisers, social committees and daycare are all elements of organized religions, yet very few of these are expressions of spirituality, unless consciously made to be so. Many church members may belong to each and every committee possible, yet have never had a spiritual motivation in their life. On another side of this issue, there is the deeply religious person, who is outwardly expressive of their spirituality, yet, to their own dismay, have never experienced a spiritual insight.

Can we then have Spiritual people who are not religious? Again, of course! The solitary hermit, may have no concept of the religious expressions of faith and worship, they may never have prayed and have not even the least expressive idea of God, yet they are deeply aware of their surrounding in the world and nature, kindly and moral in their actions toward other humans and be very feeling about life and goodness. All of these are spiritual impulses and expressions, yet none of it is religious. Again, you can take this person and teach them religious actions; prayer, meditation, sacrifice; all outside of, or in the absence of religion, and you can cause this spiritual person to be a religious and spiritual person. The damage comes when the spiritual impulses become shadowed by the religious acts. The spiritual essence is lost in the pursuit of the religiousness of the acts themselves.

You can take this same person and in seeing that they are the most spiritual person you have ever met, make them the head of the church board of directors. Teach them budgets and fundraising, church politics and social issues. This person may retain their spiritual nature as they learn religion, yet they may not. Perhaps the expressiveness of their spirituality remains intact, perhaps they continue to act in ways of spirituality yet the spiritual content is gone. This is another tragedy. The spark is gone from the spirit and feeling has been replaced by hollow actions. This wasn't done by intent, it is (unfortunately) a natural occurance when feeling are standardized and impulses become directives.

It is possible to maintain a balance of the four. To be honest though, the greatest lesson to be learned in the great quest is that of the four elements; Being Spiritual, Expressing Spirituality, Being Religious and Being in a Religion; no element is dependent upon the others for existence. They can and frequently do exist independent of each other. Becoming a Spiritual being is (or in my opinion, should be) the goal. The other three my help or hinder in the quest and often become confused with the goal itself.

Our goal is to obtain a spiritual existence. Period. If expressive spirituality is necessary for this, so be it, be as expressive of your spirituality as you need in order to reinforce your confidence in your feelings. If you find spiritual awareness in religious actions...study them, follow them. Ritual is a time tried and true tool for tuning the essence of awareness. If you find spiritual growth in a body of religion, join. Know that these are tools only! They are to serve a purpose and be set aside when that purpose is fulfilled. No one can be kept from spiritual awareness because they are not expressive about it. No one can be denied their own awarness for lack of a membership card. You don't have to wear beads and have "Love All" bumperstickers to be truly spiritual. You also don't have to be religious or in a religion. If you find these helpful, do them, try them. when their use runs out, set them aside as the tool that they are and pursure your spiritual quest in another manner.

I utilize religion and religious activity as a tool of focus. Religious acts and habits, along with the rules and guidelines of religion act as physical mantras or repetitive guides. Through the employment of such tools I seperate the mind from the body, find the elements that assist in lifting the awareness and "tune" of both and then, again, use the "tools" to approach awareness as a whole, mind and body. I could just as easily dig a ditch as execute finger weaving, but the religious act of finger weaving appeals to some inner part of me and I have therefor made it part of my expression of spirituality. My expressions of spirituality make up my tool box of utilities that I currently employ in my quest for spiritual growth. It changes with time and grows with me. They are never allowed to become blocks or obstacles in my quest. That is not their purpose or their intent.

I encourage exploration of classic theology because we have, for generations, been taught that there is One Way and One Way only to reach God, attain spiritual awakening. This is wrong! The best way to rid one's self of this erroneous teaching is to recognize that spiritual awareness exists, independent of doctrine and that each person may achieve it in different ways. As soon as you KNOW this as a truth you are free. Most of us, can say we "know" it, but we don't "KNOW" it truthfully. We must convince ourselves of the accuracy of our new understanding. Copmarative study and historic study can provide the information and illustrations through which we can see that "these folks had a piece of the Way, and those folks had an understanding also." By exposing ourselves to these facts about spirituality and religious experiences, we can begin to "KNOW" that there is more than One Path to The Way. Truth be told all is of THE WAY because THE WAY encompasses all that we are. Our moment of awakening will come˙ when we find our piece of the puzzle; that path or method or manner of expression that unlocks the truth held within our being and we become One with Being. We shouldn't strive to find "The One Path to Being"; we should be looking for Paths that bring our Being into the One.