/[aleader]/aleader/doc/aleader-rlgn.texi
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revision 1.8 by jpritikin, Sat Aug 30 03:47:54 2003 UTC revision 1.9 by jpritikin, Thu Sep 4 15:47:22 2003 UTC
# Line 569  Despite a history of religion reaching b Line 569  Despite a history of religion reaching b
569  years, religion retains some of the qualities of a new field of study:  years, religion retains some of the qualities of a new field of study:
570  there is a lot of confusion and disagreement about the meaning  there is a lot of confusion and disagreement about the meaning
571  and purpose of ``religion.''  and purpose of ``religion.''
572  Our opinion is that ``religion'' is the collection of ways to teach  Our opinion is that `religion' is the collection of ways to teach
573  people how to live together in harmony.  Implicit in our definition is  people how to live together in harmony.  Implicit in our definition is
574  an attack on perhaps the worst non-sense of religion: that there  an attack on perhaps the worst non-sense of religion: that there
575  exist different, separate religions.  exist different, separate religions.
576    
577  For example, Moslims have a word ``jihad'' which is often (but not  For example, Moslims have a word ``jihad'' which is often (but not
578  always) interpretated as "kill people who are enemies of Allah".  This  always) interpretated as ``kill people who are enemies of Allah.''  This
579  understanding is easily corrected if we stand back try for a ``one  understanding is easily corrected if we stand back and try for a ``one
580  religion'' intepretation.  Moses (of the Hebrew religion) recorded the  religion'' intepretation.  Moses (of the Hebrew religion) recorded the
581  commandment, ``thou shall not kill.''  We must also question ourselves,  commandment, ``thou shall not kill.''  We must also question ourselves,
582  what is good for society?  Accordingly, we propose that jihad means:  what is good for society?  Accordingly, we propose jihad to mean:
583  ``kill the enemies of Allah within ourselves.''  In other words, as a  ``kill the enemies of Allah within ourselves.''  In other words, as a
584  fanatical Muslim, I must interpret jihad as ``I promise to  fanatical Muslim, I must interpret jihad as ``I aim to
585  eliminate my inclination for violence and stupidity.''  eliminate my inclination for violence and stupidity.''
586    
587  Of course this is not to imply that the Jewish religion is unblemished  Of course this is not to imply that the Jewish religion is unblemished
# Line 598  Religion is a collection of best practic Line 598  Religion is a collection of best practic
598  Aleader is a religion (but of course not the only religion).  Aleader has  Aleader is a religion (but of course not the only religion).  Aleader has
599  religious significance because situation assessment is a support of  religious significance because situation assessment is a support of
600  self-realization.  Na@"{@dotless{i}}vely looking at the structure of  self-realization.  Na@"{@dotless{i}}vely looking at the structure of
601  attention, we expect that situation assessment has equal religious  attention, we presume that situation assessment has equal religious
602  potential as compared with the study of ideal role-models.  potential as compared with the study of ideal role-models.
603    
604  @node Logic, Maturity, Religion, Situation Assessment  @node Logic, Maturity, Religion, Situation Assessment
605  @section Logic  @section Logic
606    
607  The manifestations of logic can be an object of attention.  Therefore,  Even though logic is not at the forefront of our investigation,
608  logic is @emph{not} self-realization.  However, we want to discuss logic  we want to discuss logic because people are tremendously
609  because people are tremendously logical creatures.  To get some idea of  logical creatures.  To get some idea of how logical we are, please visit
610  how logical we are, please visit @url{http://cyc.com}.  Cycorp is  @url{http://cyc.com}.  Cycorp is building a gigantic database of
611  building a gigantic database of common-sense knowledge within the  common-sense knowledge within the framework of predicate calculus.  Their
612  framework of predicate calculus.  This suggests that every human  work so far suggests that every human adult contains the equivalent of
613  adult contains millions of logical assertions.  millions of logical assertions.
614    
615  What do we want to say about logic?  If we survey religion while wearing  What do we want to say about logic?  If we survey religion while wearing
616  our logician hat then we can find certain patterns in religious  our logician hat then we can find certain structures in religious
617  teachings.  We will consider logical, illogical, and tautological  teachings.  We will consider logical, illogical, and tautological
618  assertions.  assertions.
619    
# Line 630  assertions. Line 630  assertions.
630  Logic can be used to develop philosophical world-models which advocate  Logic can be used to develop philosophical world-models which advocate
631  religious behavior.  One of the many instances of this style  religious behavior.  One of the many instances of this style
632  can be found in Zoroastrianism, as articulated by Zarathustra.  He  can be found in Zoroastrianism, as articulated by Zarathustra.  He
633  proposed that all events in the world operate according to cause and effect.  proposed that all events in the world operate according to
634    ``cause and effect.''
635  For example, if a person steals from someone then he should not be  For example, if a person steals from someone then he should not be
636  surprised when some day he will be robbed as well.  This principle is  surprised when some day he will be robbed as well.  This principle is
637  clearly a logical implication:  clearly a logical implication:
# Line 645  out how logic is used as a vehicle for r Line 646  out how logic is used as a vehicle for r
646    
647  On the other hand, reliance on logic opens up a dangerous vulnerability.  On the other hand, reliance on logic opens up a dangerous vulnerability.
648  An improbable sequence of events may violate the stated logical  An improbable sequence of events may violate the stated logical
649  implication.  What if I steal something but am not punished?  It could  implication.  What if I steal something but then nothing is stolen from me?
650    It could
651  happen, and then I might be tempted to test the empirically validity of  happen, and then I might be tempted to test the empirically validity of
652  other religious implications.  Worse, I might start a business based  other religious implications.  Worse, I might start a business based
653  upon the empirical evidence that a religious principle is only true 75% of  upon the empirical evidence that a religious principle is only true 75% of
# Line 675  it, does it make a sound? Line 677  it, does it make a sound?
677  Cautiously we speculate on a teacher's justification for the use of  Cautiously we speculate on a teacher's justification for the use of
678  koans: The typical aspirant of self-realization is constantly involved in a  koans: The typical aspirant of self-realization is constantly involved in a
679  logical thinking process, out of habit.  He is not able to suspend his  logical thinking process, out of habit.  He is not able to suspend his
680  mentation by force of will.  His addiction to mentation is preventing  mentation by force of will.  His addiction to mentation is blocking
681  the experience of self-realization.  If the logical process can be  the experience of self-realization.  If the logical process can be
682  throttled then self-realization will have a chance to occur.  Therefore,  throttled then self-realization will have a chance to occur.  Therefore,
683  let us very seriously put the aspirant to the task of analyzing a koan.  let us very seriously put the aspirant to the task of logical
684    analysis of a koan.
685  Thereby, the aspirant's logic will fail enough times that his reliance  Thereby, the aspirant's logic will fail enough times that his reliance
686  on logic will diminish.  on logic will diminish.
687    
# Line 693  then I can decide: ``I don't want to wor Line 696  then I can decide: ``I don't want to wor
696  find food and shelter somehow.''  find food and shelter somehow.''
697    
698  On the other hand, we cannot condemn illogic. Controlled use of illogic  On the other hand, we cannot condemn illogic. Controlled use of illogic
699  may trigger an exporation of new solutions to sticky problems.  Ideas  may trigger an exporation of new solutions to sticky problems.  A novel
700  which are ulimately found logical may seems superficially illogical  idea which is ulimately found logical may seem superficially
701  until we are familiar with all the background details.  All we can do is  illogical until we are familiar with all the background details.  All we
702  suggest caution.  Care should be taken when entertaining illogical  can do is suggest caution.  Care should be taken when entertaining
703  assertions, especially illogical assertions of religious significance.  illogical assertions, especially illogical assertions of religious
704    significance.
705    
706  @node Tautological, Logic in Aleader, Illogical, Logic  @node Tautological, Logic in Aleader, Illogical, Logic
707  @subsection Tautological  @subsection Tautological
# Line 725  case, there are 108 equivalences: Line 729  case, there are 108 equivalences:
729    
730  The idea of tautology also suggests a rebuttal for those who claim  The idea of tautology also suggests a rebuttal for those who claim
731  Hinduism is a polytheistic religion.  No doubt there are many Gods in  Hinduism is a polytheistic religion.  No doubt there are many Gods in
732  Hinduism.  However, we can consider all these Gods to be different  Hinduism.  However, we can consider all these Gods as different
733  personalities of a single God by collecting them into a tautological  personalities of a single God by collecting them into a tautological
734  expression.  Furthermore, our opinion is that this is the only sensible  expression.  Our opinion is that this is the only sensible
735  way to understand Hinduism, as a monotheistic religion which makes  way to understand Hinduism, as a monotheistic religion which makes
736  extensive use of tautology.  extensive use of tautology.
737    
# Line 888  tool. Line 892  tool.
892    
893  If your AQ measures as average (or better) then the meaning is not  If your AQ measures as average (or better) then the meaning is not
894  clear.  However, a below average AQ indicates that a student is lacking  clear.  However, a below average AQ indicates that a student is lacking
895  self development.  Such as lack is otherwise undetectable.  This is seen  self development.  Such a lack may be otherwise undetectable.  Examples
896  historically. Many people made some claim of being religious leaders and  are seen historically.
897    Many people made some claim of being religious leaders and
898  then, after some time, got exposed.  Part of the reason for this pattern  then, after some time, got exposed.  Part of the reason for this pattern
899  is because we had no tool to objectively quantify situation assessment  is because we had no tool to objectively quantify situation assessment
900  ability.  ability.  Now that we have such a tool, we hope potential religious
901    leaders will quantitatively qualify themselves.
902    
903  @end table  @end table
904    

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