Today's radio show will be about the state of American religion. Reports indicate that we may be in the midst of a some type of spiritual awakening, but what type of Awakening is it? Is the current trend towards "spirituality" a good development or not? Tune in as we discuss.
Some articles we will be referencing:
Economist sees signs nation in grip of another Great Awakening
A nation of religious illiterates
Survey: Teens Religious Knowledge Shallow
U.S. Teens Share Parents Religion, Survey Finds
The Do-It-Yourself Doctrine
The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience
See also my continuing posts in the "Thoughts on the Church" category link in the right column.
UPDATE: Had a great time doing this topic and will write out the thesis I presented in a post sometime in the coming week. In the meantime, check out the recorded show and make sure to listen for a conversation in the second half hour with a nice gentleman named Al. Al is a self-professed Panthiest who objected to our "intolerance" of other religious views.
Last night's program was an excellent topic. In fact, my monthly Newsletter for March has a similar theme: "Awakening West." However, it is sent to an ezine following who seem to be far more spiritually advanced than your audience. For, you define Awakening merely in conceptual terms, as though there were beliefs & choices involved. Whereas, my understanding of "Awakening" is the actualization of the same Enlightened Consciousness as Jesus, Buddha & other Masters. And, this is the movement which is happening now in the West, & which young & old alike (who are spiritually advanced) are being attracted to. There are many Enlightened Ones now living among us.
It was an interesting conversation on the Program last night, with the old man who challenged your definition of Truth & Reality. He was unable to communicate what is false regarding your definitions. Therefore, a small attempt will be made here to clarify the way many view Christianity.
Many years ago, the quite-intelligent minister of the Presbyterian Church I was attending, made the (private) comment that his sermons were always geared to a Jr. Hi mentality, since none of the congregation were much beyond that level of spiritual maturity.
This reiterates what you said last night regarding your 2nd point: "Increase in knowledge." However, there is a huge discrepancy between Christian Theologians & church-goers. For, the Theololgians have e-mythologized everything to the extent that there is nothing left! (See Time Magazine @ Easter) Unfortunately (for some reason) they have been unwilling to look in the direction of the East, to discover the next more advanced stage, that Jesus himself found during the years He spent in India.
In the past, we knew nothing about Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism. Now, there are books available in every bookstore. And, what one discovers is an advanced level of Spirituality, that is not found in Christianity (from Billy Graham to the Pope.) These are the books that are being read by Truth Seekers & young people today. Spiritual Awakening does not come from ignorance, but an expanded Understanding, beyond the boundaries of conventional theology. If & when the Church is ever ready to acknowledge that it does not yet have the "Final Answer," there may be a total revitilization of Christianity; but if not, it may not be around for long. A religion based on myths, beliefs, & social issues alone, will not endure.
The challenge of Jesus is: "Seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of Heaven" (i.e. Enlightenment.) As long as definitions of Truth & Reality are stated in relative terms, one's audience knows immediately that the speaker is unconscious of his Absolute Identity. Realization of the Absolute does not come from relative knowledge (learning the Bible, Doctrines of the Church, etc.) It comes from within. One Master defines it as "Absolute Subjectivity".........it is the "I AM that I AM."....God within. As one Guru so beautifully stated: "God dwells
within you, AS you."
Namaste....................................
(Which means, "I honor the God in-you.")
Posted by: Audrey | February 27, 2005 at 04:13 PM