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 |
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 |
|
|
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: |
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 |
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 |
|
|
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 |
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|