While I am thinking about religion and it consequences, let me ruminate very briefly about the recent trend in the West to worship nature. There are essentially only four models of religion.
I. Secular Humanism-The notion that nothing spiritual or transcendent exists. We are locked in a closed system of space, time and energy. All things that occur can be explained as "Uniformity of causation in a closed system". There is no God, Spirit or intervening force outside us so there is no such thing as a conscience, morals, ethics, healing, etc except those we design ourselves.
II. Pantheism-This is the opposite of Secular Humanism. God is everywhere and in everything. The moon, stars, trees, dirt, bees, crickets and weeds are sacred. This view tends to worship Mather Earth. (Notice that the term is capitalized.)Eastern mysticism of Hinduism, Confucius, Buddhism, etc are Pantheistic.
III. Greek Dualism-There is a God and also nature but the two do not interact. Spiritual matters do not belong in daily life.
IV. Judah-Christian Holism- God created all things and humans in His image. In God we live and move and have our being. The Holy Spirit is with us and in us at all times.
I will post more here and upload some papers to my web page.
Gary Sweeten
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