[Wat (temple) in Chiang Mai, Thailand]

A friend of mine and fellow zaadzster, James Norris, wrote a really interesting note on Facebook that I'd like to share. James is kind of a guru to me, as he's a few years older, much more experienced, and no doubt wiser. I responded to his note at length, and it was written for a facebook audience so it may be a little different in terms of what and how I would articulate my views.This post goes well, I hope, with C4Chaos, Bill Harryman, (I really appreciate the perspective and information both of you copiously provide) and others writings on atheism, religion, morality, and all that surrounds these huge topics. I would love any feedback or information because a lot of you out there know much more about these subjects.


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I'm an open-minded, tolerant atheist (nontheist, really). And a radical skeptic at heart.

I really admire the ability of people of faith to commit so firmly to something. But to be honest, I would personally prefer that this something involved a rigorous pursuit of ethical living or rational inquiry into the universe, but to each their own. [Or even committing to give me money for my causes. That'd always be nice!]

That said, I am curious about why people believe what they believe. So what "are" you and why? What do you believe? And more specifically, help me understand some quotes that I find thought-provoking for one reason or another. I hope these aren't considered offensive.

A. Why One and Not the Other?
"We don't have a word for not believing in Zeus, which is to say we are all atheists in respect to Zeus. And we don't have a word for not being an astrologer." -Sam Harris

"We are all atheists about most of the gods that societies have ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further." -Richard Dawkins

B. Religion & Birthplace
"If you have a faith, it is statistically overwhelmingly likely that it is the same faith as your parents and grandparents had. The most important variable determining your religion is the accident of birth. The convictions that you so passionately believe would have been a completely different, and largely contradictory, set of convictions, if only you had happened to be born in a different place. Epidemiology, not evidence." -Richard Dawkins

C. Respecting Faith Unconditionally
"As long as we accept the principle that religious faith must be respected simply because it is religious faith, it is hard to withhold respect from the faith of Osama bin Laden and the suicide bombers." -Richard Dawkins

Note: I still would respect their ability to have disciplined convictions, despite my thoughts on the ideology.

D. Divine Basis of Morality
"If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed." -Albert Einstein

E. Theism Used to Justify Atrocities
"The most heinous and the most cruel crimes of which history has record have been committed under the cover of religion or equally noble motives." -Mohandas Gandhi

F. Proof & Belief
"What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof." -Christopher Hitchens

Note: evidence isn't everything, in my opinion.

G. Problem of Evil
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?" -Epicurus

H. Similar Stories
“Nearly all peoples have developed their own creation myth, and the Genesis story is just the one that happened to have been adopted by one particular tribe of Middle Eastern herders. It has no more special status than the belief of a particular West African tribe that the world was created from the excrement of ants.” -Richard Dawkins

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My response:

Joseph Campbell: God is a metaphor for human existence and the 'beyond'. Theists: metaphor + real, atheists: just metaphor.

One cannot decide which side to subscribe to, even though we do, but only experience the truth. This experience occurs during the evolution of consciousness. Passion, eloquence, or logical complexity cannot create certainty or understanding in consciousness relating to the question of God.

Religion has been divided by some into two main categories: dogmatic and contemplative. Dogmatic religion necessitates a belief and thereby a following of certain rules and regulations. Contemplative religion lives by the axiom of, by doing certain things (exercises of body, mind, and intuition/spirit), certain results follow: evolution of consciousness. The founder of every major religion has mastered all/most of these exercises and has theoretically achieved a stage of consciousness that all human beings aspire to. When comparing contemplative traditions, a map of stages and states emerge with such high correlation that the research merits a major psychological expedition (ask me about evidence). However, most people remain generally unaware of the transformative nature of contemplative religion. The bastion of reason often prevents people from perceiving a state or stage of consciousness that cannot be understood 'logically'.

"Only in the senseless will the senses be confided" - Rumi

This expedition/adventure/mission/search for holy grail is a central metaphor for human life, replaying itself constantly in socio-cultural unfoldings. All humans by nature of their being must embark on this quest, but modern society has not been built in order to facilitate this evolution. Hence, mass anomie and psychological stunting. At the core of each major religion is a map (map=religion in some sense) of self-actualization. Contemplative religion works by a 'self-actualized' person guiding a group of 'working to self-actualize' people. But remember,

"The thing we tell of can never be found by seeking, yet only seekers find it." - Bayazid Bistami

To respond,

A. Fuck Dawkins. Only half kidding. His eminence often dogmatizes the dismissal of God though. As far as I know, he is a materialist, meaning that he does not understand the phenomenological nature of consciousness and therefore cannot understand the concept of God properly, let alone figure out if 'it' exists. I think Harris understands phenomenology.
B. Yes.
C. Good point.
D. Irrelevant, at least temporarily, for discussion of God's reality.
E. Yep.
F. Phenomenology=internal science=interior research of stages and states of consciousness. Materialists don't understand this and therefore dismiss the proof without proof. Hmm..
G. That comes later.
H.Forget Dawkins, read Joseph Campbell (preeminent mythologist) if you want to see why that quotation is foolish.

I hover at the threshold between atheism and theism because I cannot 100% be sure that God exists until I experience the reality of God, if such a perception can take place. From my research, this perception can take place and is the root of religion. I do not follow a religion but I have studied some and I am most drawn to Sufism because I believe it most profoundly expresses the complexity, chaos, and depth of the human being poetically and theologically.

I try to use reason to answer my basic questions of how to live a meaningful and altruistic life day to day, but ultimately we must get into metaphysics/religion if we're trying to figure out why we're living...which is what I'm guessing this post is for.

My faith is guided by the following vision, and although I cannot be sure it's true, I now know how to find out.

"Everything you see has its roots in the unseen world.
The forms may change, yet the essence remains the same.
Every wonderful sight will vanish,
Every sweet word will fade,
But do not be disheartened,
The source they come from is eternal, growing,
Branching out, giving new life and new joy.
Why do you weep?
The source is within you
And this whole world is springing up from it."

Bowl of Saki

The wise man should keep the balance between love and power; he should keep the love in his nature ever increasing and expanding, and at the same time strengthen the will so that the heart may not easily be broken.

                        Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:

Many seek protection from all hurting influences by building some wall around themselves. But the canopy over the earth is so high that a wall cannot be built high enough, and the only thing one can do is to live in the midst of all inharmonious influences, to strengthen his will power and to bear all things, yet keeping the fineness of character and a nobleness of manner together with an ever-living heart. To become cold with the coldness of the world is weakness, and to become broken by the hardness of the world is feebleness, but to live in the world and yet to keep above the world is like walking on the water. There are two essential duties for the man of wisdom and love; that is to keep the love in our nature ever increasing and expanding and to strengthen the will so that the heart may not be easily broken. Balance is ideal in life; man must be fine and yet strong, man must be loving and yet powerful.

From LiveScience:

DNA molecules can display what almost seems like telepathy, research now reveals. 

Double helixes of DNA can recognize matching molecules from a distance and then gather together, all seemingly without help from any other molecules, scientists find. Previously, under the classic understanding of DNA, scientists had no reason to suspect that double helixes of the molecule could sort themselves by type, let alone seek each other out.

The spiraling structure of DNA includes strings of molecules called bases. Each of its four bases, commonly known by the letters A, T, C and G, is chemically attracted to a specific partner — A likes binding to T, and C to G. The scheme binds paired strands of DNA into the double helix the molecule is famous for.

Scientists investigated double-stranded DNA tagged with fluorescent compounds. These molecules were placed in saltwater that contained no proteins or other material that could interfere with the experiment or help the DNA molecules communicate.

Curiously, DNA with identical sequences of bases were roughly twice as likely to gather together as DNA molecules with different sequences.

The known interactions that draw the bases together are not the factor bringing these double helixes close. Double helixes of DNA keep their bases on their insides. On their outsides, they have highly electrically charged chains of sugars and phosphates, which obscure the forces that pull bases together.

Although it looks as if spooky action or telepathic recognition is going on, DNA operates under the laws of physics, not the supernatural.

To understand what researchers conjecture is really happening, think of double helixes of DNA as corkscrews. The bases that make up a strand of DNA each cause the corkscrew to bend one way or the other. Double-stranded DNA with identical sequences each result in corkscrews "whose ridges and grooves match up," said researcher Sergey Leikin, a physical biochemist at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Bethesda, Md.

The electrically charged chains of sugars and phosphates of double helixes of DNA cause the molecules to repel each other. However, identical DNA double helixes have matching curves, meaning they repel each other the least, Leikin explained.

The scientists conjecture such "telepathy" might help DNA molecules line up properly before they get shuffled around. This could help avoid errors in how DNA combines, errors that underpin cancer, aging and other health problems. Also, the proper shuffling of DNA is essential to sexual reproduction, as it helps ensure genetic diversity among offspring, Leikin added.

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Interesting...The researchers don't seem to understand why this 'telepathy' takes place, but I'd be curious to see if the theory of morphic fields and resonance explains this phenomenon.

I haven't read more than a few articles about morphic fields, but after reading the above article I went to Rupert Sheldrake's website and read the article entitled Morphic Fields and Morphic Resonance: An Introduction. In it, I found some intriguing parallels with this DNA telepathy.

"I suggest that morphogenetic fields work by imposing patterns on otherwise random or indeterminate patterns of activity. For example they cause microtubules to crystallize in one part of the cell rather than another, even though the subunits from which they are made are present throughout the cell.

Back to the DNA article:

"Previously, under the classic understanding of DNA, scientists had no reason to suspect that double helixes of the molecule could sort themselves by type, let alone seek each other out."

It seems that morphic fields create probablistic blueprints for this 'seemingly magical' sorting ability.

"Morphogenetic fields are not fixed forever, but evolve. The fields of Afghan hounds and poodles have become different from those of their common ancestors, wolves. How are these fields inherited? I propose that that they are transmitted from past members of the species through a kind of non-local resonance, called morphic resonance..."

"I believe that the natural selection of habits will play an essential part in any integrated theory of evolution, including not just biological evolution, but also physical, chemical, cosmic, social, mental and cultural evolution..."

"The morphic fields of social groups connect together members of the group even when they are many miles apart, and provide channels of communication through which organisms can stay in touch at a distance. They help provide an explanation for telepathy. There is now good evidence that many species of animals are telepathic, and telepathy seems to be a normal means of animal communication, as discussed in my book DOGS THAT KNOW WHEN THEIR OWNERS ARE COMING HOME. Telepathy is normal not paranormal, natural not supernatural, and is also common between people, especially people who know each other well. "

Hmm...seems in the right direction to me. Anyone have some interesting experiences related to telepathy?

I was lying in bed last night after finishing A Moth to the Flame: The Life of the Sufi Poet Rumi by Connie Zweig (recommended by zaadzster Julian) earlier that day and 50 pages of SES Ken Wilber before turning off the lights (almost done!). I was contemplating the role of suffering in evolution and love while witnessing my fleeting thoughts. Donnie Darko's sounds came in and out from above my room as I pondered. Mad World as composed by Gary Jules drifted its haunting yet captivating melodies through the floor...

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very mad world mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very mad world ... world
Enlarge your world
Mad world

What a brilliant song...it captures the fragility and seeming spuriousness of life. The utter mediocrity of the modern life seeps into our waking consciousness every now and then and we realize that we're going nowhere. The man of modern life suffers not from the hardship of physical struggle with the earth but from the psychological torment of not evolving and not loving. Instead we consume...over and over and over again in the name of capitalistic narcissism. Our new clothes and toys and cars are empty; they do not satisfy. What is this suffering? What sustains us? Where is this all going...?

"All of your sorrow exists for one reason - that you may end sorrow forever." - Rumi

This quotation agrees well with the idea of being born in limitation in order to discover the limitless. But oh the pangs of separation from infi-ternity! To not be able to love other people because we love ourselves burns our hearts and destroys the natural vivacity and spontaneity of love-as-being. We must shed the love of self. It is the goal of Sufism - fana = annihilation (of ego).

"And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had"

In some strange way this part of the song relates directly to what A Moth to the Flame is about: the agony yet necessity of dying to the self. There is a nihilistic freedom to death, but from a spiritual perspective it is a submission; a surrender to God. Islam = submission. But Rumi says that we must not surrender ourselves to sharia (Islamic law), or even tariqa (inner path), but to the immediate immanence of God-consciousness. Of course he knows quite well that through sharia and tariqa one may cultivate the ability to perceive God-consciousness, but ultimately we must destroy every indirect bridge to God.

"This sanctuary is not what you seek. The holiness of the human heart  - that is the real mosque. The moment we proclaim His name, the domes and minarets dissapear. He alone remains."

He/She/It/transgendered God alone remains before and after this universe and individual consciousness. And after annihilation, baqa = remaingness (of God). The ground of being, this emptiness, is the remaingness of God-consciousness.

The man of God
    is drunk, but drinks no wine;
He is full, but eats no meat.
The man of God
   spins with ecstasy,
   and doesn't care about food or sleep;
He is a king beneath a simple cloak,
A diamond amidst the falling ruins.
His wisdom
   is born of the supreme truth,
   not from the pages of a book.
   He is beyond faith and doubt,
   he knows not right or wrong.
The man of God
   has bid farewell to Nothingness (causal consciousness)
   and has returned in all his glory. (nondual consciousness)
   - Rumi

What an amazing book: A Moth to The Flame . I will blog more about it...