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     %REFLEXIVE BELIEF SYSTEM SELF FULFILL PROPHECY+940512
    %PERSONAL COMMUNAL INTEGRITY SEEK COSMIC SPIRIT+940512
     %CONSCIOUS SELF CONFIRM TRUTH OPEN HONEST LOVE 940512

     It makes a great difference whether or not we believe
that it makes sense for us to seek  to be in communication
through a cosmic spirit or consciousness as an integrative
power  operative  in  our  lives  as  individuals  and  as
communities.  If we believe that it makes no sense, we are
likely  to live in ways which will  confirm our belief  in
our essential  isolation  from  each other.     Our belief
then  is  a  negative reflexive  self-fulfilling  prophecy
which   leads   us   to   our   personal   and    communal
disintegration. Results of our decisions  and actions flow
from  our beliefs,  and will often confirm  the predictive
powers of the paradigm, its beliefs and its technologies.

     If  we believe that it does make sense for us to live
in   terms  of seeking to be in communication  through   a
cosmic  spirit or consciousness,  we are  likely  to  live
lives  of open and honest dialogue in communities where we
truly feel safe to be vulnerable---because of the exchange
of  gifts  of true security known as  the  freedom  to  be
safely  vulnerable  in  intimate  relationships  which  we
together   perceive  as  true expressions  of  the  cosmic
spirit/consciousness.       Thus our beliefs are  positive
reflexive  self-fulfilling prophecies---which lead  us  to
our personal and communal  integration.    Results  of our
decisions  and actions flow from our beliefs,   and  often
confirm  the positive predictive  powers of the  paradigm,
its beliefs and its technologies.

     Mutually   exclusive   beliefs  can  (through   their
contrasting  self-fulfilling prophecies)  be confirmed  as
accurately  predictive through our reflexive decisions and
actions.    Some  beliefs lead to  personal  and  communal
integrity;  while contrasting beliefs lead to personal and
communal disintegration.  Both kinds of beliefs often have
the    power   to   confirm   (through   their   reflexive
consequences) that the beliefs are reasonable,  accurately
predictive, and valid.

     In  the  light of the above observations we  will  do
well to recognize that  it is often of little value to ask
whether  or  not the consequences of a belief  system  are
consonant with the belief system---for most belief systems
work  effectively  to fulfill their prophecies  in  either
reality  or  in appearances.   It is wiser to ask  if  the
consequences of a belief system lead  those people who are
the most focused upon the  belief  system towards personal
and communal integrity;  or  towards personal and communal
disintegration.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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