O sung wu, one of the main problems with people who have religious belief, and also non-religious people who consider themselves 'spiritual', is they falsely think they have achieved a higher plane of insight. A lot of them use this belief in their superiority of insight to put down other people who have a more fact based approach; I notice runner does this a lot.

When I look around me I see evidence that nature exists and operates. When scientists look back billions of years in time via the light that reaches us, they see the same thing. We are creatures of the processes of nature, including our brains and our thoughts. Science will no doubt eventually be able to explain exactly the how and why of thoughts, and this will likely take several thousand more years to fully achieve. When this is all eventually factually explained, there will be no need for religions, mythical gods and spirituality with all their judgements, superstitions, punishment threats, feelings of superiority etc.

The fact is that we are nature, and nature is us. This applies to everything that exists, including our thoughts. Our thoughts only exist because our brain exists; when our brain ceases to function and dies, our awareness ceases to function because it's reliant on a functioning brain.

Pesky Boy,

"....one of the main problems with people who have religious belief, and also non-religious people who consider themselves 'spiritual', is they falsely think they have achieved a higher plane of insight..."

If someone feels they have found something the resonates in the right way with them...that's okay.

I agree, however, that defending one's faith by employing derogatory and spiteful argument always sullies the core aspect of the faith in question.

Regarding nature....I would hold up the Tao as having a spiritual realm - and yet it is strongly embedded in following the nuances of the natural world for instruction on how to live harmoniously with oneself, one's fellows and one's surroundings.

Again, in the Tao, "The Way" is indescribable and yet is the source of all - and the root - to which all return.

There are any similarities between the spiritual messages signposted on the different paths.

Dear Josephus,

<<Essentially you are not your DNA or your body it is only the carriage in which you are. Every cell in your body has been taken from other living organisms, and your body completely replaced every 21 years. Therefore who are you?>>

Indeed, certainly not your body.

<<You are your character, actions and wisdom or the lack of any of that.>>

But why have you stopped in there? Why not continue to apply the same logic deeper?

Just as your body changes, so does your character, so do your actions and so does your wisdom. As you just did, you spontaneously speak of "MY character", "MY actions" and "MY wisdom" - you never say "I character", "I actions" or "I wisdom", so you are also neither of those.

You rightfully identified that it is not our imperfect and ever-changing body which is in the image of God: so it is not our imperfect and ever-changing character, actions or wisdom - it is YOU who are in the image of God!

Poirot

'There are any similarities between the spiritual messages signposted on the different paths.'

I think you know that Christ does not leave the option for many differnet paths hence people find His message offensive. By all means question, reject, deny but don't misrepresnt Christ.

'I agree, however, that defending one's faith by employing derogatory and spiteful argument always sullies the core aspect of the faith in question.'

agree and yet the imperfections of the messenger certainly does not give people a valid excuse for denying the truth. You can not tell me that some of the High Priest of the new atheism movement that many are attracted to are the cuddly love everyone type. John the baptist came as a wild fire and brimstone type while Jesus ministered and associated with drunks and prostitutes. Many who heard both despite the contrast still rejected Christ. I am sure you have posted before that you know believers you respect. Using what you perceive the character flaws of another is a very poor way to reach a spiritual conclusion. If anything it should validate the Scriptural postion that all fall short of God's glory and its only by grace through faith in Christ that one can be saved from sin.

Interesting one of the main reasons Darwin rejected Christianity was not so much on a scientific basis but he thoroughly rejected the doctrine of damnation for those rejecting Christ.

Yuyutsu,
The only message others have of you is how you have lived as the person impacting our Universe. All those private thoughts have developed your character and is revealed in the sum of who you are. People do change in character, actions and understanding; but this is part of their imprint into history. Meditation and aspiration to emulate the admired character and actions of the divine will help us to leave a positive footprint on society.

Much of the admired Media characters in our current society are are leaving dirty footprints on human society rather than enhancing. There has been no person in human society more than Christ Jesus that has changed the attitudes of society more than he, except many supposedly claiming to be following him, fail to live as he.

Exactly, Josephus,

As I have recently posted, we are currently living in the "Dark Ages" where hedonism, and superficialiality rules, and the West has lost faith.

The only few heroes around are hidden (artists).

We are living in very confusing and divisive times. Technology has its negatives.

Mental health problems are increasing more and more. A friend in New York told me that everyone there is on anti-depressants. Why?

Please see the film "Donnie Darko".