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%ETERNAL MISTAKE PREJUDICE IGNORANCE CONFUSION FAIL+961227
%BLINDNESS DEAFNESS INSENSITIVITY DOGMA FAITH IDEAL 961227

     It  is  not  a simple matter to find  an  integrative
balance between being faithful to received ancient  truths
and wisdom on  the one hand---and testing received ancient
truths   and  wisdom  in  terms  of  recent   experiences,
perceptions, insights and revelations.

     If  we  are excessively preoccupied with  clinging to
ancient  received  truths  and  wisdom---we  may  live  in
prisons  of  eternal  mistakes,   prejudice,    ignorance,
confusion,  blindness, deafness,  insensitivity and dogma;
even  though  we try to be faithful to what we  regard  as
most worthy of trust and respect.

     On the other hand,  if we are excessively preoccupied
with  transcending received ancient truths and  wisdom  in
favor  of  new revelations and revolutions  which  we  are
prone  to trust and respect uncritically without reference
to  any  firm foundation---we are likely  to  disintegrate
both  personally and communally for lack of  any  coherent
framework  within  which  to  assess  wisely  the  various
changes  in our environment,  selves,   relationships  and
communities.

     We are fools if we trust only ancient received truths
and wisdom without any regard for recent experiences.   We
are  also  fools  if we trust  only  recently  articulated
truths and wisdom; without any regard for ancient received
truths  and wisdom.    Exclusivity in this matter,  as  in
many other matters,  is like to lead us into personal  and
communal  disintegration.   It is foolish before the fact,
and  will  be  impossible  after  the  fact,   to  justify
decisions  which lead us into total personal and  communal
disintegration.

     Some  people  justify proposed courses of  action  in
terms  of theories which have not been confirmed in  terms
of  honestly  shared personal  experiences,   perceptions,
insights  and  understandings.   They lift their  abstract
theories   to  the level of demi-gods,  and worship   them
in  idolatrous  ways  which are tragically  disintegrative
of  both persons and communities.   Such elevated theories
have  often   promised   much,    even though  they   have
delivered  nothing.     Many people trust in such elevated
theories in the  same  way  that  many poor  people   have
trusted   in  gambling    to   bring    them    salvation,
meaning     and   satisfaction---because   they  are   not
familiar  with   honest people  who  are   secure  in  the
knowledge   that   they  are accepted and loved by  people
who truly know them;  rather than loving just their money.

     We  need to be particularly suspicious of people  who
seek  to  manipulate or coerce us  into  accepting  either
ancient  or  new  received  truths and  wisdom;   or  into
rejecting  either  ancient  or  new  received  truths  and
wisdom.  People who are coercive, manipulative, dishonest,
collusive,  or violent, in any kind of way, are not worthy
of our  respect or support---even if they appear to be  on
our side now.

     If  people are now willing to act in ways which  lead
to  personal and communal disintegration for others---they
are  likely to be willing to act in ways which  will later
lead to personal and communal disintegration for us.

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