PDA

View Full Version : Religion and Spirituality Book Discussion Invitation


HolyHandgernade
01-22-2007, 11:04 PM
I'm going to lead a book discussion on another forum for which I am one of the moderators. Its an interfaith forum, so there will be (hopefully!) some diverse viewpoints participating. I thought about having the discussion on multiple boards, but I was afraid I might get overwhlmed and decided to consolidate. Since the subject was meant to apply across the vast religious spectrum, the interfaith board seemed most appropriate.

Since I know there are a few here who enjoy discussing these type of topics I wanted to extend an invitation.

The book is Integral Spirituality by Ken Wilber and the discussion will begin two weeks from today. Here's a link to the discussion thread and an overview of the book, hope to see you there:

http://www.interfaithforums.com/showthread.php?p=46305#post46305

Introduction: The Integral Approach: An overview of Integral Theory highlighting quadrants, levels, lines, states and types of human consciousness. These are the basic tools of the theory.

1. Integral Methodological Pluralism: Yikes! That's a mouthful! This is basically how the theory charts at tleast 8 fundamental and apparently irreducible methodologies, injunctions, or paradigms for gaining reproducible knowledge and how they are integrated together. These 8 include phenomenology, structuralism, autopoiesis (i.e. cognitive science), empiricism(i.e. neurophysiology), social autopoiesis, systems theory, ethnomethodology, and hermeneutics. Don't be frightened by the unusual names, it'll be explained in much easier terms.

2. Stages of Consciousness: What are they?

3. States of Consciousness: What are they?

4. States and Stages: How do they interact?

5. Boomeritis Buddhism: A look at pathologies and disfunctions in consciousness development.

6. The Shadow and the Disowned Self: A look at pathologies in egoic development and why transcendental practices are not equiped to spot them.

7. A Miracle Called "We": A look at social structures and what they are and are not.

8. The World of the Terribly Obvious: A look at he science of consciousness

9. The Conveyor Belt: 50-70% of the world's population are Nazis! Shock statement? Of course, so what's he trying to draw our attention to. An interesting outline on the roots of terrorism and its relation to religion and what religion can do about it.

10. Integral Life Practice: How to pull it all together to supplement the practice you already have. Doesn't matter if you are a theist, deist, agnostic, or atheist. Suggestions on how to supplement your current path integrally.

Hope it sounds interesting, I think it could generate some very interesting conversations, especially its claim to introduce post-metaphysics. That's right can you actually save Spirit in a modern and post-modern sense? See if its plausible to you.

Mr. Kotter
01-22-2007, 11:28 PM
I, for one, would love to join you in this. I've just got too many "irons in the fire" right now. Hopefully, others will take you up on the offer.

scott free
01-25-2007, 08:20 PM
The universe is so much more complicated than 90% of people want to believe, most scientists think that they have the answers, but their arrogance blinds them.

I would ask anyone capable of deep thought to look up the Hubble photo called "Deep Field Universe" & look at all of the galaxies in that 1 single frame & then consider that we are just 1 of those countless star systems.

G-d has healed me of a lifelong medical plague & whatever you wish to call him, i know that we are NO accident.

BucEyedPea
01-25-2007, 08:24 PM
I believe in stages of consciousness but I would not know what they all are.
I also believe man is capable of attaining them. There's probably more than one route though.

Logical
01-25-2007, 10:47 PM
The universe is so much more complicated than 90% of people want to believe, most scientists think that they have the answers, but their arrogance blinds them.

I would ask anyone capable of deep thought to look up the Hubble photo called "Deep Field Universe" & look at all of the galaxies in that 1 single frame & then consider that we are just 1 of those countless star systems.

G-d has healed me of a lifelong medical plague & whatever you wish to call him, i know that we are NO accident.

In all honesty sure it could have been God, but it also could have been a superior race from another Galaxy that intervened on your behalf. When you consider the vastness of the Galaxies how can you deny the possibility?

Halfcan
01-25-2007, 11:21 PM
ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZ

scott free
01-26-2007, 07:56 AM
In all honesty sure it could have been God, but it also could have been a superior race from another Galaxy that intervened on your behalf. When you consider the vastness of the Galaxies how can you deny the possibility?

Who knows???

Ezekiel was taken from Earth by God, never to be seen again, in a "fiery wheel".

HolyHandgernade
01-29-2007, 07:51 AM
Just a reminder that the discussion will take place a week from today, hope some of you great thinkers will be there. Heck, we'll even take a few of the mediocre ones. :)

-HH