I have not read this, and lots of other stuff. My reading has become quite narrow in scope, but that may change again in my life. I now read what comes to me that has a ring of truth to me, and it always validates my latest realizations. Quite a wonderful process, really. I would some day like to get back to literature...so much of it is beautiful. So little time, so much to read...that is, if you include time in your reality...
On May 24, 7:22 am, Pat <[email protected]> wrote: > On 23 May, 20:03, Molly <[email protected]> wrote: > > > perhaps with a focus like the B'hai, that brings the individual to > > becoming rather than possessing as the basis of the social contract, > > it may some day come about. > > Perhaps, but have you read their "Book of Certitude"? I have, and > there is more uncertainty in it than any other 'scripture' I've read. > I'm sure, like most people, they mean well, but the faith itself is > ill-founded although well-intentioned. And the Book of Certitude is > confounding. I find it difficult to believe that anyone would accept > it AS a scirpture; but then, hey, it's better than David Koresh...of > THAT, I'm sure. > > > > > On May 23, 1:59 pm, DarkwaterBlight <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Quite a tall order OneCell, I think that is pointing in the right > > > direction but I highly doubt that the powers can/will be able to agree > > > on much other than we need to save the planet in order to save > > > ourselves!LOL!Surely this statement reflects self intrest as well! > > > > On May 22, 11:34 am, 1CellOfMany <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > In response to your question,archytas, here is a direct quote from the > > > > article: > > > > "Ultimately, the transformation required to shift towards sustainable > > > > consumption and production will entail no less than an organic change > > > > in the structure of society itself so as to reflect fully the > > > > interdependence of the entire social body—as well as the > > > > interconnectedness with the natural world that sustains it. Among > > > > these changes, many of which are already the focus of considerable > > > > public discourse, are: the consciousness of world citizenship; the > > > > eventual federation of all nations through an integrated system of > > > > governance with capacity for global decision-making; the establishment > > > > of structures which recognize humanity’s common ownership of the > > > > earth’s resources; the establishment of full equality between men and > > > > women; the elimination of all forms of prejudice; the establishment of > > > > a universal currency and other integrating mechanisms that promote > > > > global economic justice; the adoption of an international auxiliary > > > > language to facilitate mutual understanding; and the redirection of > > > > massive military expenditures towards constructive social ends[iv]." > > > > > On May 21, 9:19 pm, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > The majority seem scared of anything like this Onecell. Peoples like > > > > > the Amish still live under wider protection, and the B'hai are > > > > > persecuted in Iran. How do we protect our sustainable communities > > > > > from bandits and mad, violent religionists? > > > > > > On 21 May, 21:48, 1CellOfMany <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > Here is a different perspective on Prosperity. The article below > > > > > > was > > > > > > copied from the Baha'i News Service:http://news.bahai.org/story/770 > > > > > > > A new statement challenging the common assumption that human beings > > > > > > are slaves to self-interest and consumerism has been issued by the > > > > > > Baha'i International Community. > > > > > > > A more profound look at human nature would reveal the ability to > > > > > > respond to a higher calling, suggests the document – issued this > > > > > > week > > > > > > for the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development as it > > > > > > began its annual two-week session. > > > > > > > "The culture of consumerism ... has tended to reduce human beings to > > > > > > competitive, insatiable consumers of goods and to objects of > > > > > > manipulation by the market," it says. > > > > > > > In fact, "the human experience is essentially spiritual in nature: > > > > > > it > > > > > > is rooted in the inner reality – or what some call the 'soul' – that > > > > > > we all share in common," it states. > > > > > > > The document, titled "Rethinking Prosperity: Forging Alternatives > > > > > > to a > > > > > > Culture of Consumerism," challenges the view that there is an > > > > > > intractable conflict between what people want – which supposedly is > > > > > > to > > > > > > consume more – and what humanity needs. > > > > > > > "Much of economic and psychological theory depicts human beings as > > > > > > slaves to self-interest," it says. "The faculties needed to > > > > > > construct > > > > > > a more just and sustainable social order – moderation, justice, > > > > > > love, > > > > > > reason, sacrifice and service to the common good – have too often > > > > > > been > > > > > > dismissed as naive ideals. Yet, it is these and related qualities > > > > > > that > > > > > > must be harnessed. ..." > > > > > > > Peter Adriance, a member of the Baha'i International Community's > > > > > > delegation to the Commission, said the statement is a contribution > > > > > > to > > > > > > a dialogue on the development of a 10-year framework to encourage > > > > > > new > > > > > > programs that advance sustainable consumption and production. > > > > > > > "The document deals with the issue of consumerism by reflecting on > > > > > > the > > > > > > question of what is human nature," he said. "We must look at who we > > > > > > are and what our purpose in life is. > > > > > > > "The transition to sustainable consumption and production is one of > > > > > > the great challenges of our times, and to achieve it will require a > > > > > > transformation in both thought and action. The cultural forces at > > > > > > play > > > > > > are powerful and demand re-examination if we are to move forward," > > > > > > he > > > > > > said. > > > > > > > The statement can be read > > > > > > athttp://bic.org/statements-and-reports/bic-statements/10-0503.htm.-Hid...text > > > > > > - > > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text -
