This-essay is a7611212.htm which is available at the web-site www.essayz.com. See more notes at the bottom. Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay By-Months By-Years By-Words Webs of Like-&-Un-Like ESSAYS <==> Like-&-UN-Like This-One ========================================================== %MEANS TO SALVATION 761121 There are no means to salvation. Salvation is not a goal which is achieved via the use of any technique controlled by human beings. Because salvation is much desired there are those who pressure to sell or give to others the means to achieve salvation---with various overt or covert conditions associated with the transaction. Various types of means are offered: rituals, doctrines, governmental structures, services, diets, activities, taboos, mandates, ethical systems, moral systems, legal systems, methodologies, analytic procedures, synthetic procedures, transcendental procedures, etc. Each such creation may serve a useful human purpose, but to regard it as an ultimate means to salvation is to set the stage for the fall into idolatry. The technique which is regarded as the ultimate means to salvation acquires such a place of importance in the life of its technicians that they become the high priests of an idolatry. That which they have created becomes the focus of their ultimate concern, for it is perceived as the essential means to their salvation and the means to the salvation of all for whom they care. Salvation is not a goal which is achieved. It is an eternal presence which is rejected by those who do not know salvation, and accepted on its own terms by those who do not know salvation. The difference between them is a mystery to all, although some people presume to understand the essence of that difference. Such people attempt to capitalize upon their presumed knowledge---often perceived as the revealed knowledge of the difference between good and evil. Such technicians cease to be aware of the eternal presence which is one with salvation. In their technical efforts to save their lives they cease to live. Their efforts to achieve salvation on their own terms is counter productive. In a futile effort to authenticate their techniques,they learn to value the consequences of their use of their techniques. In this way the ends justify the means within the technocratic society where the means determine the ends which are achieved, rather than the ends determining the means which are chosen. Thus techniques become both the means and the ends. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in www.essayz.com Search for Integrity and Honesty (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================
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