(June 20, 2011 at 10:17 am)Nick_A Wrote: As I' understand it, Man has the potential for conscious evolution but it can only be built on a foundation of experiencing ones inner life and the external world for what it is: the genuine seach for truth and knowledge. The chaotic human condition perverts the objective search preferring instead self justification and the defense of imagination. Religion is perverted to support this tendency for self justifiction.
This tendency is symbolized by the Devil in Christianity and Mara in Buddhism. Man is tempted to sacrifice the real for the imaginary. Sacrificing attachment to the goals of the "world," "false gods" and the meanings they supply for the sake of conscious growth, becoming oneself. The secularization of religion has largely led to justifying our imagination.
Here is a bit about Mara.
http://buddhism.about.com/od/iconsofbuddhism/a/mara.htm
I understand that, but from interpreting exactly what you have said, it almost sounds as if the point is that there is no room for the supernatural. It seems the only basis for understanding and knowledge should be rational and based on observable evidence. This includes philosophy, which are hypotheses based upon observable evidence. I'm still not seeing where the supernatural is being referred to at all.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
