Quote:
Originally Posted by Mightyboosh
So here you're claiming that there is empirical evidence of spiritual things. That's a contradiction in terms.
The best way to enter into an appreciation of the spiritual realities is to inwardly consider your thinking and thoughts as to their realities.
I'd invite you to consider the philosophical, scientific and knowledge laden symphonies of the western world and see whether great men like Plato, Aristotle , Aquinas speak to the outwardly hidden yet "empirical" or "objective" in the souls of these men. Look around you and judge appropriately.
You can't own "empirical" ; consider that you may believe that your thoughts are your own, created through yourself, in which case if each man had his own particular thinking and thoughts then the world would really be a welter of crass non nothingness.
And so if "the rational", or "logic" or the "intellect" is brought forth it will become apparent that we live in a world of "thoughts" to which each man is able to "sense" the reality of this world as "thinking is a sensory activity" .
"In thinking I experience myself united within the stream of cosmic existence."
Now of course, this is difficult for ancient peoples even up to our present age (15th century on wards) had no difficulty with these concepts (spiritual) but we have literally fallen to the state where that which was given by our natures now has to be earned through our own effort.
Another way of saying the last paragraph is that the ancient Greek, for example, could see the thought reality of that to which the senses gave them. the thoughts were there and they were aware of these thought beings "a natural " . Paradoxically the ancient Greek was not as individualized as we are as mankind no longer is immersed within an "atavistic consciousness" as the Greek or prior ages .
Man gains "freedom' in that the old consciousness is no longer, which means that each is individually responsible to regain that sight of the higher worlds while maintaining his individual intellect or individuality. Of course we are all in this together and therefore help and support each other.
Its a lot, I know, but comprehension is important, not docile "belief" but understanding, and we can all go on to our morning cup of coffee.