I agree that Communists and similar will try to subvert the image of Christianity in order to replace it. Perhaps Christians can identify with the term Traditional Christian, Traditional Faith, or similar.

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Dear Yuyutsu

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Yes, I think we basically agree on the meaning of the word truth. As for the way our memory works, it doesn’t necessarily record everything we would like it to, nor does it necessarily recall every single detail at the drop of a hat. The importance, so far as truth is concerned, is that we do not hold anything back and do our best to relay our perceptions as well as we can and as soon as we can.

As I understand it, Yuyutsu, nothing in the universe remains static. Everything is in constant evolution and the mutations last not just billions but trillions and trillions of years on the cosmic scale. In that context, I sometimes wonder what, if any, significance can be attributed to concepts such as reality and truth.

It all seems so insignificant and futile.
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You wrote :

1. « … the truth of the statement is relative to who made it. »

I don’t think the word “relative” is appropriate, Yuyutsu. Relative, in this sense, means “considered in relation to something else; comparative” (OED).

A person can make a statement and it can be that person’s statement, but a statement cannot be relative to (compared to) a person.
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2. « I was not referring to a concept of God, I was referring to God ! »

Of course, you never refer to a concept of God, Yuyutsu. I never suggested that you do. You always refer to the God of your belief. I stated that we inherited the God concept from primeval man – not from you, Yuyutsu !
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3. You assimilate God to reality, but while there are numerous synonyms for God in the English language, reality is not one of them.

Reality is “that which exists independently of ideas concerning it” (OED). Whereas God is defined as :

« The Supreme being, Creator and Ruler of the universe » ( OED ).

The two are quite different and I, personally, do not feel the need for a God or gods – real or supernatural !

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Dear Banjo Paterson,

«nothing in the universe remains static. Everything is in constant evolution»

In order to perceive motion, like in a moving vehicle, there has to be some static background. The universe is moving and you notice this because your consciousness is static.

«It all seems so insignificant and futile.»

Except your consciousness.
You as pure consciousness remain regardless of the fluctuations of the universe around.

«Relative, in this sense, means “considered in relation to something else; comparative”»

Yes, considered in relation to another person who lies, a person whose thoughts and words are equal, is saying the truth.

«God is defined as :

The Supreme being, Creator and Ruler of the universe (OED).»

Not a bad attempt by the OED authors. The Sanskrit term which they refer to is 'Ishvara'
http://www.britannica.com/topic/Ishvara
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishvara

I don't want to bombard you with too much information, but essentially, Ishvara is a reflection of God, a very refined reflection, probably the finest a human can ever see, but still only a reflection.

«The two are quite different»

Yes, Ishvara and God/Reality are quite different, like a reflection in a mirror is different from the person who stands in front of the mirror.

The image depends on the person in front of the mirror, but the person in front of the mirror does not depend on the mirror.
Similarly, Ishvara (or the 'God' as defined in the OED) depends on God/Reality, but God/Reality does not depend on Ishvara.

Unlike "The Supreme being, Creator and Ruler of the universe", the universe might not exist and still that would have a zero effect on God/Reality.

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Dear Yuyutsu,

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Thanks for introducing me to Ishvara. Very interesting.

As for everything in the universe being in constant evolution, you might be interested in viewing this :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD4izuDMUQA&ab_channel=melodysheep

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Dear Banjo Paterson,

I watched the clip you referred me to.

What I saw there was panic and despair, "how will I continue?".

The reason for this panic is our unfulfilled desires, and these stem from our firm belief that time is real. We hope that given enough time, whatever universes we will pass through, eventually, somehow, we can fulfill all our desires and finally find peace.

However, your desires will never be fulfilled in full so long as you experience time as being real. If nothing else, there will always be the thought, "I haven't seen it all yet, there is still time to come, could things be even better and more wonderful in future?", and along this thought also the intolerable horror of possibly falling into oblivion without ever fulfilling your desires.

Our troubling desires, which keep making us miserable, can only be gone once we shake up this illusion of time.

The Hindu scriptures touch on and explain some of what is shown in the clip, including even the "lifeboats" between worlds. However, these descriptions and explanations are sporadic and terse because the topic of how the universe works and what will happen to it, is only secondary, is not really important relative to the ultimate question that takes most of the space: "How can I shake up the illusion of time so that once and for all I will be free from its ravages?".

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Dear Yuyutsu,

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Yes, time is something of a conundrum.

The only thing of which I am aware is that we all live in the present, from cradle to the grave. There is no way we can escape from the present and enter the past or the future. Every minute of our life is the present minute.

I am also aware that it has been scientifically proven that time is inversely proportional to the speed at which we travel. The faster we move through space, time passes at a slower rate. It has also been scientifically proven that a clock slows down in a stronger gravity field and shows less time. A clock on the ground shows less time than a clock on the ground.

The OED defines time as "the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future, regarded as a whole."

I, personally, am not inclined to see time as reality any more than the OED suggests I should. For me, reality is all the physical matter and energy in the universe.

If and when all that finally disappears, that will be the end of time !

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