I make this chief distinction between religion and superstition, that the latter is founded on ignorance, the former on knowledge; this, I take it, is the reason why Christians are distinguished from the rest of the world, not by faith, nor by charity, nor by the other fruits of the Holy Spirit, but solely by their opinions, inasmuch as they defend their cause, like everyone else, by miracles, that is by ignorance, which is the source of all malice; thus they turn a faith, which may be true, into superstition.
Spinoza, Letter 21 (73) to Henry Oldenburg , November (1675)
I feel that Jung is correct in that our religions are projections of higher truths from the collective consciousness that tell us about ourselves.
The Bible can be read symbolically and we can learn much about what we are inside. If we learn about our own internal truth, we may get closer to see that which we reflect? The higher truths?
I also feel that Spinoza is correct in the quote above...Just because the Christian religion may have apsects that seem fantisitcal, we should not reject its message as a whole outright but at the same time not make the mistake of defending as literal that which may be best looked at as symbobolic. I am not saying this is exactly what he meant, but it is what his quote inspiried in me.
I feel that instead it should be examined for what it can tell us about ourselves as a collective consciousness here in the west. What do the symbols of Chrisitianity tell us about higher truths within ourselves?
Spinoza, Letter 21 (73) to Henry Oldenburg , November (1675)
I feel that Jung is correct in that our religions are projections of higher truths from the collective consciousness that tell us about ourselves.
The Bible can be read symbolically and we can learn much about what we are inside. If we learn about our own internal truth, we may get closer to see that which we reflect? The higher truths?
I also feel that Spinoza is correct in the quote above...Just because the Christian religion may have apsects that seem fantisitcal, we should not reject its message as a whole outright but at the same time not make the mistake of defending as literal that which may be best looked at as symbobolic. I am not saying this is exactly what he meant, but it is what his quote inspiried in me.
I feel that instead it should be examined for what it can tell us about ourselves as a collective consciousness here in the west. What do the symbols of Chrisitianity tell us about higher truths within ourselves?
