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%ANCIENT TEXTS SCRIPTURES AUTHORITIES INTERPRET LAW+960821
 %UNKNOWN CULTURAL CONTEXTS LANGUAGE SUBTLE EXPERTS 960821

     If  we  accept  the  notion that  we  must  base  our
ultimate  decisions   (about  what  is best for us  to  do
and  what   is   wrong for us to do)   only  upon  ancient
scriptures and texts;  then  we are bound to encounter the
following dilemmas and problems:

     1.  How  are  we  to  transcend  the  ambiguities  of
translation  from the ancient languages to our own  modern
language?     Whom shall we rely upon for the  translation
and  interpretation?   How shall we know whom we can  rely
upon?  By relying upon what ideals, values and principles?
By  relying  upon what authorities,    ancient  texts  and
scriptures?

     2.  All texts and scriptures were written within  the
context of specific cultures and historical settings.  How
are  we  to  allow  for  major  changes  in  cultures  and
historical  settings  between back then and now?   Not  at
all?    If  in  some  ways;   how are to  to  decide  what
allowances  to  make?   By relying upon what  authorities,
ancient texts and scriptures?

     3.  What  are  we  to  do  when  we  encounter  major
conflicts between what is "said"  by our accepted versions
of the ancient texts and scriptures on the one  hand---and
by  the  personal experiences of a very large majority  of
people  today  within our culture and historical  context?
Ignore  one  or  the other?   Pretend  that  there  is  no
conflict---when   in  fact  there  is  a  very   troubling
conflict?    Give up being open and honest about conflicts
which  confront us?   In terms of what ideals,  values and
principles  are we to decide?   In terms of ancient  texts
and scriptures?

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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