Peak Religion

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 05 Feb 2008, 11:08

To me there is a difference between religion and spirituality.

Religion is a psychological construct, often accompanied by an official worldly organisation. Spirituality is the essence of free thinking and pursuit of the truth in all its forms.

"Christians" is a label which has been attached to followers of a certain spiritual tradition. It means nothing more than who those people are, and what they do in the world.

The truth doesn't care what religion you are, or say you are . . . and therein lies wisdom, it seems to me.

Christ was someone who encouraged people to seek out the truth for themselves. My kind of guy.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 05 Feb 2008, 11:11

isenhand wrote:
Andy Hunt wrote:
isenhand wrote: Sort of opium for the people? To get them over the pain? Might be so but I hope not. If we are to emerge from anything like a TEC to a better world we would need a good grip on reality. Turing to delusions I don?t see as constructive.

.ui
Surely true spirituality is the pursuit of the truth?
No, truth is a relative concept to start with and spirituality is about what ever feels good.

.ui

No, I would disagree - that is your own view. If you are right that truth is a relative concept, then an absolute truth is allowable. Relativity itself, as a concept, must have something to be relative to. Without absoluteness, what is the meaning of relativity?

I'm sure being nailed to a tree doesn't feel especially good, but there are quite a few examples in history where people have ascribed a spiritual meaning to it.

The truth is quite often not pretty. Spirituality is the pursuit of the truth despite this. Materialism is about whatever feels good.

Initiation · Post by **Initiation** » 05 Feb 2008, 12:15

does anyone else see a rise in religion after peak? As people face declines in this world they want to ensure they get a good life in the next.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 05 Feb 2008, 12:24

I see the rise of a new value system which puts the Earth at the centre of existence, and a new techno-spirituality centred around biomimicry and the union of the natural and the technological.

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 05 Feb 2008, 12:31

Initiation wrote:does anyone else see a rise in religion after peak? As people face declines in this world they want to ensure they get a good life in the next.

I don't see any decline in religion NOW. A decline in Christianity, yes, but a corresponding increase in the religion of growth, science and economism. After that religion becomes irrelevant, something else will follow.

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 05 Feb 2008, 12:38

Scary topic to go for after our back-slapping self-congratulation about the lack of antagonistic posts on our board

Still, the thread has started out nice enough...

Personally I have a very strong religious side. I admire those who eschew consumerism for a life devoted to kindness, compassion and self-understanding. For a few years I've been quite drawn to a monastic type lifestyle, though in the Buddhist rather than Christian milieu.

Adam1 · Post by **Adam1** » 05 Feb 2008, 12:47

Tess wrote:Scary topic to go for after our back-slapping self-congratulation about the lack of antagonistic posts on our board

I was thinking that. We obviously feel self-confident enough to take on a biggy like religion.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 05 Feb 2008, 12:50

Adam1 wrote:
Tess wrote:Scary topic to go for after our back-slapping self-congratulation about the lack of antagonistic posts on our board
I was thinking that. We obviously feel self-confident enough to take on a biggy like religion.

Maybe we should start our own!

We could call it, "I can't believe it's not Buddha".

Adam1 · Post by **Adam1** » 05 Feb 2008, 12:58

I was told I sometimes sounded like a fundamentalist when I talked about peak oil. A bit below the belt, I thought.

syberberg · Post by **syberberg** » 05 Feb 2008, 13:01

Andy Hunt wrote:
Adam1 wrote:
Tess wrote:Scary topic to go for after our back-slapping self-congratulation about the lack of antagonistic posts on our board
I was thinking that. We obviously feel self-confident enough to take on a biggy like religion.
Maybe we should start our own!

We could call it, "I can't believe it's not Buddha".

With a name like that, it's bound to spread.

Adam1 · Post by **Adam1** » 05 Feb 2008, 13:01

Andy Hunt wrote:Maybe we should start our own!

We could call it, "I can't believe it's not Buddha".

Eroeism

Eroeianty

(Ok, so I should forget a career in slogan writing)

Erik · Post by **Erik** » 05 Feb 2008, 13:02

Initiation wrote:does anyone else see a rise in religion after peak? As people face declines in this world they want to ensure they get a good life in the next.

I can certainly imagine population decline after peak. Those who remain, after seeing so much suffering and pain, might indeed turn to religion, but I don't think we'll see a simple continuation of the organised religions as we know them. They'll either disappear or evolve or blend into each other, and new, more localized faiths will appear. I can certainly imagine things going more Pagan again, back to the worship of nature and the elements, back to basics in fact. But it might take hundreds of years for this to happen.

Anyway, personally I'm going to get a head start by praying to all the gods imaginable, past and present, just in case one of them is actually out there listening (and not laughing).

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 05 Feb 2008, 13:02

Adam1 wrote:I was told I sometimes sounded like a fundamentalist when I talked about peak oil. A bit below the belt, I thought.

You should have taken it as a compliment!

On another forum, the description I have under my avatar is "Suicide Gardener" . . .

Adam1 · Post by **Adam1** » 05 Feb 2008, 13:11

Andy Hunt wrote:... "Suicide Gardener" . . .

Is that as distinct from a "planticide gardener", the opposite of someone with green fingers.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 05 Feb 2008, 13:16

Adam1 wrote:
Andy Hunt wrote:... "Suicide Gardener" . . .
Is that as distinct from a "planticide gardener", the opposite of someone with green fingers.

Hehe . . . I use exploding cucumbers. Don't touch the spines!!!