> > > > Well, I was thinking about the type of > > > > Gnosticism that denounces the world as > > > > evil, an abortion created by a monstrously > > > > incompetent and malevolent lesser deity. > > > > > > "The world is as you are..."- That Same Guy > > > > Gee, thanks, Jim. > > That Same Guy = Maharishi. It is a literal truth is it not that the > world is a perfect reflection of us; we create the world we > perceive? Or are our perceptions of the world not ours? And if not > ours, whose are they?
I think that this bit of obvious truth may be perceived as falling into the category of an insensitive liberated person hurting the feelings of persons in ignorance. :-) It would have been more "polite" not to point out that the Gnostic position in this regard is little more than sour grapes and the petulance of a child who hasn't gotten what he wanted out of life. As has been pointed out by many scholars, this aspect of the Dualist philos- does not exaclty represent the highest aspects of human thinking. It';s like their position was, "We can't deal with both suffering and a benevolent God at the same time, so our solution is to take God out of the equation and propose a world made by Satan/the demiurge." I think your point is very perceptive, Jim. Some people, faced with a world in which suffering exists and one doesn't always get what one wants, come up with a philosophy or religion that emphasizes compassion and understanding and patience. Others, faced with the same world, come up with a philosophy/religion that says that the fact that suffering exists and we don't get what we want is due to a malevolent deity fucking with us "The world is as you are" quote has *never* been more apt than when describing the Gnostics. To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
