Religion vs Philosophy

              Religion vs Philosophy

Religion is based on God’s Dispensation for the Messiah and His revelation through the means of religion and it also includes religious practices, and a life of faith and prayer. In contrast philosophy is more or less the pursuit of higher knowledge or truth and a general awareness about life. Philosophy takes a critical and analytical viewpoint towards belief systems, because its approach is rational and seeks to prove and justify everything in existence. Religion  is supported by followers who are believers and usually have adopted their belief from their parents in a traditional way and haven’t been seekers of truth themselves. However, true believers are those who accept other people’s beliefs as their own and don’t want to be fanatics or hostile towards other beliefs. With philosophy there is no such antagonism and there is more respect towards other philosophies as they all have commonalities that are generally accepted without serious objections and malevolence. 

The content of a religious belief has an impact on our life because it conveys profound  values and principles which are general guidelines for a religious life. Morality and ethics are closely related to a religious lifestyle. A lot of people distinguish between religion and church, because they think church is only an institution and they see priests not necessarily as God’s representatives. The issue with christian denominations is that the pluralism of faiths contradicts its own nature that brings division instead of unity by creating antagonism and separatism. Claims that” I am the only one who is right '' and have the monopoly on truth do not help, but instead bring disunity and hostility. The fact that there are more than 400 different denominations within Christianity shows that the concept of religion is extremely subjective, strict and controversial as far as “religious correctness’’ is concerned. Jesus Christ’s thorough teachings and love concept  should serve as a catalyst that would bring unity and integration among all christian denominations. However, even though there is a willingness to converge and follow the same direction, there is a long way to go to achieve harmony and cooperation by today’s standards of a mutual endeavour. What should be learned from philosophy is the effort to express critical views without polemic and confrontation, but in respect towards other approaches to life and the theory of reality as well as ontology. 

Religion is quite knowledgeable about the situation in the world and has an answer for it. It is trying to explain why the world experiences conflict and war, immorality and suffering as well as unhappiness and despair. According to the Holy Scriptures the sin came into the world through the Original Sin or Fall of Man, a deviation that occurred in the Garden of Eden at the beginning of Human History. It is difficult to deny or dispute such truth since what happened afterwards shows exactly the contemporary miserable situation of the world. Adam and Eve failed to follow God’s Commandment (Genesis 2:17)))) and as a result were expelled from Paradise and were separated from God and continued living in alienation from Him. This failure is visible in their failed parenthood which led to bad education, self-centred love instead of true love, and as a consequence the murder of Abel by his brother Cain. This Biblical account is not a fantasy or utopia: it’s real, visible and touches upon each one of us, as members of a society from time immemorial. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, came actually to restore Adam’s failure and is therefore called, the second Adam. The mystery is we don't have clear evidence about the result! Theologians offer different and often controversial opinions about this.   

It’s wrong to believe that Religion and Philosophy cannot co-exist, because they have a different concept of the ultimate character of reality and their image  of God’s existence. Actually they are mutually inclusive as far as the pursuit of wisdom is concerned, which is a commonplace in their teachings, and if they differ in other concerns, this is their way to seek for awareness and truth. In religion revelation, worshipping and prayer practice are a source of spiritual experience and the pursuit of truth, while philosophy is using the path of intellectual research and rational reasoning in their search for truth. Philosophy by its own nature is not concerned with the existence of God or his essence and its purpose is not to attack religion, but there is a connecting point between them which is their awareness about morality and ethics. More than anything, I believe, that the connecting link between religion and philosophy is their pursuit for a higher perception and wisdom.“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” Albert Einstein

In conclusion, ever since the beginning and in the long course of history there have emerged a large list of religious philosophers like Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas and Leibniz along with Hegel, it proves the connection that exists between those two concepts of thought and insight. Their common link is moral values and ethics which are core elements in education and spiritual growth as well as the pursuit of maturity and integrity of character. Unless we stress those spiritual and moral core values in our education systems, there is no hope to create a sublime higher education that puts human character and integrity at the centre of their value system. It is then a matter of higher priority for our world community to work together in order to achieve the goal of a holistic educational system and approach for the sake of a sound and value oriented society for the generations to come.  

Health is Wealth

                                        Health is Wealth 

            A group of young women on a sand beach doing exercise in front of the splashing waves

Health is Wealth 

Firstly, we need to become more sensitised about health issues like wellness, medical awareness, prevention, a balanced diet, regular exercise, etc. What is your health worth? Health is priceless and invaluable, and there is no comparison to its value. Actually, a lot of people realise it after they have been sick or have some serious health issue. Health is such a crucial issue in our life that we should be more aware of its importance for the sake of our well-being. We live in an environment which is becoming increasingly polluted and insecure, if not unstable and perilous. Four important factors that greatly affect our lives are food, environment, diseases and stress. 

The ancient Greek philosopher Thales (Miletus, 624 – 546 BC), from Miletus stated a famous quote:’’A sound mind in a sound body” which signifies the sound relationship that has to be cultivated between the mind and body. Health is complete only if it relates to both: mind and body in oneness and in harmonious balance creates joy and happiness. In order to appreciate ourselves and the profound meaning of life itself, we need to feel its immense value with gratitude and not to take it for granted. Life is such a gift, and it was granted to us by our Creator God for free, of course through our own parents as His tools. Furthermore, the benefits that come with the application of such a healthy lifestyle, both mentally and physically are amazing if we only think how valuable it is to enjoy an increased self-esteem, better mood, mental alertness and an overall wellbeing and performance. The mind should be in a position to dictate and have the body follow and apply the mind's commands. An educated mind with high moral standards and ethics would be the guide to implement such values in life and society. 

To pursue and achieve mind-body unity and balance is a cherished goal that, when attained, fills a person with confidence and a sense of achievement. Of course, this is a process that requires several stages of growth to reach the expected standard of mental, emotional and physical completion and maturity. “If you want to feel connected to your own purpose, know this for certain: Your purpose will only be found in service to others, and in being connected to something far greater than your mind/body/ego.” Wayne Dyer   In order for our mind to spiritually grow, it needs the parental attachment that is expressed through parental love, warmth and acceptance. When you embrace your baby as God’s entrusted gift to you, expressed through his divine grace, then there is no doubt that this child will grow in the most ideal place, under the best possible conditions to achieve maturity and excellence in life. Any of us who haven’t had such profound emotional, affectionate and heartwarming experiences are surely deprived of such touching, life-changing experiences. And it’s absolutely true that we cannot give what we don’t have. Simply put, you cannot give love if you haven’t received or experienced love in your life, especially as a kid. Education starts at home and within the family, which is the school and beehive of emotional health, love and acceptance. 

Ηealth is a unique gift from Heaven and we should cherish it and not take it for granted. Our body is a holy sanctuary and God’s Temple according to Jesus Christ. And we have an explicit command not to abuse it. 1 Corinthians 6:19 “You know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God, don't you? You do not belong to yourselves.” Unfortunately, the majority of people spend their lives without the awareness of value and identity that defines a true human being as God’s creation whatsoever. Even though our purpose and value is given and set by the Divine, we are those who are supposed to have the awareness of self value and give value to our actions and especially raise the value and status of the people surrounding us. “To get rich never risk your health. For it is the truth that health is the wealth of wealth.” – Richard Baker 

How grateful one should be to have been born without any serious health problems and be happy to enjoy life as a physically unimpaired and wholesome individual. How many of our fellow men cannot enjoy life because they are crippled, disabled mentally or physically? We should always have a good attitude, empathy and understanding towards such people. They should feel accepted, embraced,  understood  and equally treated by all members of society.  

Religion vs Science

  
  Religion vs Science

Medieval wall painting displaying the glory of Heaven with angels and other spiritual beings

Religion and science are both trying to explain the natural world and life, inextricably linked to our existence here on earth. Religion relies on a subjective faith in God, while science relies on empirical evidence tested on observation and experiment. There should be no confrontation between them, but a common approach to the world and life for the sake of a harmonious cooperation that benefits both. Until now, that was not the case, and we have seen animosity and discrepancy separating those two major concepts and fields of perception. We should pay tribute and respect to all major religions (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism etc) as sources of truth, love, faith and wisdom.                  

In my view both concepts express a quality which is interconnected to humankind and add value to our existence. Religion is a tool that encapsulates internal truth, while science incorporates external truth. Albert Einstein maintained that "science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." They cannot only simply coexist, but they have to organically complement each other in a mutual attachment and trust. A large number of scientists believe in God as the primordial Creator or the Driving Force of the universe according to the description in the  book of Genesis in the Bible. Of course, we can distinguish them by the fact of what they define respectively, and for religion this is the natural world, while science defines the supernatural realm. 

It is quite evident that the Scriptures often use symbols and metaphors to express deeper meanings and truths. In fact Jesus Christ commonly used parables and allegories to express deeper meanings in his teachings. Similarly there is no clear explanation in the Bible about the Fall of Man or the Original Sin. In this sense, the two Biblical Trees, the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden have had a symbolic meaning. God instructed them to eat from all the fruits in the garden, but from one specific fruit they were not allowed to eat. That was the “forbidden fruit” which Adam and Eve were tempted to eat and whose act led to the Fall of Man or the Original Sin (Prospect magazine the Beast of Eden) and Tyler Hendricks: Fall of Man). By no means, God is someone who intends to punish his children. There exists the approach that God is intangible and beyond reason and this is an intellectual approach of an alien God. However, approaching God from the emotional and heartistic point of view, the Christian viewpoint is that God as Father or Parent and we as children are in an intimate relationship only if we cultivate faith and the Christian ideals of love, prayer, compassion, forgiveness etc. 

Therefore, religion should be open to accept scientific views based on scientific evidence of which an example is the Creation of the Universe by God in 6 Days which is in fact a much longer period of time. Ancillarilly, science can contribute in clarifying religious symbols and metaphors that need to be decoded and scientifically documented. Of course, there exist a lot of scientists who do not believe in God and are atheists and on the other hand religious people who do not accept science to interfere with religious matters. However, in the course of history, the relationship between religion and science has undergone serious confrontation and animosity. This crisis now belongs to the past and this relationship has evolved to better understanding the other side creating harmony and collaboration. Creation vs evolution has been a matter of dispute for an extensive period of time, but today we have come to terms to accept a theistic and God driven evolution according to which God, the Creator acts through the laws of nature. In this regard it proves that the concept of an existing Creator is compatible with the research of modern science, encompassing evolution.

It would be very essential if religion and science respected each other since they are complementary and their task is to transcend all barriers of the past and create a new vision for world peace. Scientific development is very crucial  for humankind because it can help humankind solve many problems in relation to production, food industry, transportation, medical research and telecommunications. But on the other hand, science is sadly used to produce warfare machines and nuclear weapons and that has moral implications for society and the world. In that regard religion can help because it conveys profound concepts and its mission reaches beyond the choice of war and geopolitical issues. “In a darkened world no longer illuminated by the light of this centre [God], technical advances are scarcely more than despairing attempts to make Hell a more agreeable place to live in. This must be particularly emphasised against those who think that by spreading the civilization of science and technology even to the uttermost ends of the earth, they can furnish all the essential preconditions for a golden age. One cannot escape the Devil so easily as that.”

― Werner Heisenberg, Across the Frontier

In conclusion, for the sake of prosperity, happiness and world peace, it is now more imperative than ever that religion and science work together in concert to face all the challenges of the millennium and bring hope to a world that is facing a lot of serious issues and disunity. Above our national interests, our world community should put a holistic view as priority in order to achieve the supreme goal of peace, prosperity and happiness for all.

References: (1.The Harmony which must exist between Science and Religion 2. Unity Of Science and Religion 3. International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences)

Freedom is Bliss

      

Freedom is Bliss 

 

Young man on a hill jumping in the air and facing a beautiful lake on the background

Blessing or a Curse, Freedom is a Grace  

Consider its Importance, Don’t Lose Your Face 

You are not a Slave, You Do Have Your Rights 

They Were Granted from Above, Yet You Need to Fight. 

 

You Don’t Know Freedom, if You Don’t Know Slavery 

Slavery is Worse than any Prison or any Drudgery 

You Are a Lucky Generation and Freedom You Can Enjoy  

Think of those who Don’t Know or Cannot Have it.  

 

Be Grateful for your Fortune that You Can Decide 

That You Can Make Plans, and Choose, what You Like 

There Are a lot of People who are Deprived of Privacy  

And Nobody Can Blame them and it’s not their Fantasy. 

 

 You Don’t Realize what it Means to Live in such a Regime 

It’s a Shame and Outrage to me to See such Things 

But I Feel Mercy and Compassion for those Fellows there 

And if I Could I Would Fight this Battle against the Monsters.  

Utopias and Visions

    Visions and Utopias     

Night view of an illuminated city with skyscrapers and fireworks turning night into day

The word "Utopia" originates from the Greek language and literally means a "place that does not exist" or as pun a "good place."In fact, it is a fantastic or an imaginary ideal place or vision of an ideal world, a world close to perfection where all people enjoy prosperity, equality and peace. In fact, the ancient Greeks, with Aristophanes and Plato, (student of Socrates) were pioneers who introduced this vision of an ideal state as feasible to the world. However, the human quest for an "Earthly Paradise"accompanied people for ever more with Saint Augustine and his work in reference to "God’s State"or "De Civitate Dei", a vision later adopted by the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Charlemagne. The English statesman Thomas More in his work"Utopia" underlines the significance of a perfect imaginary ideal world. Jesus Christ openly spoke that his purpose was to build the Kingdom of God on Earth and in our days a Korean scholar and spiritual leader Rev Sun Myung Moon proclaimed the Chonil Guk, an idealistic version of a unified, prosperous and peaceful world. Another visionary of the 21th century is the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader who is an advocate of nonviolent resistance and the author of Compassionate Life and the Wisdom of Forgiveness.  Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948 AD) was an extraordinary Indian spiritual figure, who introduced a non-violent revolution that led to the independence of his country from British colonial rule. Even though he didn’t have a Christian background he would apply Christian values and ethics in attaining peaceful grand goals. Those are some of the memorable personalities who proved to be visionaries who dreamed of or had utopias of a better and peaceful world. I wish I could have included more, but there will be more opportunities for that. 

Ancient Greek comedy playwright Aristophanes (450 BC-388 BC) in his comedy “Birds” demonstrates the desire of two middle-aged Athenians who are in search of a more ideal world. They are fed up with their life in Athens, her bellicose statesmen, the political corruption, the falsehood of oracles and the injustice of the system. According to the story, the two men persuade the world’s birds to build a new city in the sky which were to gain authority over all communication networks between the earth and gods. This would allow them to take control over men and the gods and establish their lordship high above the clouds for eternity. This story shows the failure of the human race to establish a harmonious world of peace and prosperity for all humans. On the other hand the great Greek philosopher Plato (428-388 BC) in his work The Republic, one of the most significant and influential books ever written, stresses the importance of being just in relation to attaining true happiness. He criticized Athenian democracy for having mistaken anarchy for freedom and claimed that excessive freedom jeopardized the essence of democracy. Plato also argued that in that system everyone can come to power and rule despite the fact that he might be a person lacking integrity and moral values, while being motivated by selfish desire and motivation. He maintained that it would be wiser if people with good character and integrity would come to power and rule and that humans should choose to do good things because otherwise, they would end up unhappy. Bad immoral people should never be allowed to rise to power in a society because that would lead to failure and disaster.  

 

Saint Augustine (354 – 28 August 430) was a scholar and theologian with a vision for a better world, a world with values like spirituality and faith in God that goes beyond ephemeral earthly pleasures and sensual satisfaction and in quest for God’s love. In his memorable work the “City of God” he compares the essence of stability and eternity as well as an ultimate consolation in contrast to earthly temporary pleasures and hedonistic lifestyle. He used the city or Rome as a decadent immoral and pleasure-seeking place in contrast to his imaginary ideal place of the “City of God.” However, there was a figure in later days, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Charlemagne (Charles the Great), who totally adopted and believed in the realization of Saint Augustine’s “City of God.” As a matter of fact, he made efforts to apply some of the principles and doctrines of Christian faith in his statesmanship and is considered the man who had the vision of a unified Europe. During his reign he achieved to unite much of what is today Western Europe, and contributed to spreading Christianity throughout his empire. It became a period of increased literacy and cultural activity as well as the development of science and education.  

 It was Sir Thomas More (1478 – 1535 AD) the English humanist statesman who had the vision of an ideal perfect state. His most known fictional work is “Utopia” which was published in 1516 AD and illustrates an ideal state on an imaginary island in the ocean that has been cut off from Europe for a very long time. He supports the idea of a largely classless society similar to a Christian communism (vs. Marxism-Leninism). The state is supposed to supply all the necessary tools so that people can sustain a happy, prosperous lifestyle and live up to the Christian values of brotherhood, love, charity, altruism, goodness, self-control, peace etc. and above all emphasizing the pursuit of God’s will.  

 

Jesus Christ, the Messiah or second Adam, proclaimed God’s Kingdom on Earth as his primary mission. Why would Jesus compromise what was to be his main mission? Wouldn't that be an admitted failure? Can the Messiah or even God himself fail? It's now clearly understood why he pledged of his Second Coming. However, due to the faithlessness and opposition of the chosen people this was postponed until the Second Coming, Revelation 21:1-6 NIV, as he promised. Jesus was not meant to die on the cross because he came to restore Adam’s failure who disobeyed God’s commandment that led to the Fall of Man and the Original Sin. His crucifixion, despite the immense value of his sacrificial love, leaves much more to be desired in terms of his Second Coming. In fact, Jesus Christ’ unparalleled impact on human history brought a revolution of heart because he taught humankind the priority of God’s will, the love to our fellow man and even the love to the enemy.  

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948 AD), Indian pacifist, politician and writer, was one of the most influential, most respected spiritual leaders of the 20th century who is honoured by his fellow Indians as their father, because he was actively involved in their liberation from British rule. He believed in the doctrine of nonviolent resistance to reach independence for his homeland and could inspire the whole world through his  concept of modern civil disobedience across the planet.   His morality-bound approach of non-violent resistance against the British colonial oppression of his people in their struggle for freedom has been unprecedented and will be remembered for its effectiveness. Some of his quotes:

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

 "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

 "An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.

Documentary about Gandhi:

Mahatma Gandhi – dying for freedom | DW Documentary

The Korean evangelist and pacifist  Rev Sun Myung Moon, often accused of being a self-proclaimed Messiah, can persuade any truth-seeker that his ideal and vision for an ideal world is not just an elusive dream, but has a realistic approach and magnitude. Despite persecutions and polemic, his movement has expanded throughout the world and has been a catalyst for embracing all religions and cultures. His international  and intercultural marriages have created an effective impact in uniting a divided world, even though this is an unparalleled effort on a limited scale. His teachings are a matter of case study for those who want to understand the world of cause and effect, the principles of creation, the concept of duality, the fall of man, the mission of Jesus Christ and God’s intent to restore the world. His explanation about the human fall and root of sin is extraordinary, even though subtly encoded for the profound reader, all included in his basic teachings.

Some of his quotes:

 

Even though we are deceived, still believe. Though we are betrayed, still forgive. Love completely even those who hate you.

In my opinion, if we have not achieved peace, it is because people forget its most fundamental aspect. Before we talk about peace among nations, we must settle our peace with God.

Up until today evil has lured goodness into evil, but goodness has not been able to lure evil into goodness. This may be the reason why up to today Christianity has not been able to boldly fulfill the Will of God.

The Divine Principle. – DIVINE PRINCIPLE TYLER HENDRICKS - YouTube 

 Part 1 - Reverend Moon live interview from the 1972 in the USA with Al Capp - YouTube 

Part 2 - Reverend Moon live interview from the 1972 in the USA with Al Capp 

https://www.tparents.org/Moon-Talks/sunmyungmoon77/SunMyungMoon-770000.htm 

DIVINE PRINCIPLE TYLER HENDRICKS - YouTube 

The Dalai Lama (1935-) is a Buddhist monk and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, a pacifist who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace for his efforts to promote peace with neighboring China, even though his country was invaded and occupied by Chinese troops.  The essence of his doctrine and teachings is human values, cultivation of compassion and empathy, warmheartedness, self-control, forgiveness and tolerance. He advocates that all human beings are equal in value and their main desire is to pursue happiness and transcend suffering. 

Interview with the Dalai Lama - BBC News

Dalai Lama teachings

Dalai Lama quotes:

   "Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."

  "Our   mother earth is teaching us a lesson in universal responsibility."

  "Tragedy should be utilised as a source of strength."