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  %GOD TALK THEOLOGY RELIGIOUS ARROGANCE DISCERNING 030514
 %MEANING COSMOS WHOLE FRAME QUESTIONS ULTIMATE SIN 030514
  %MINDING SELFRIGHTEOUSNESS PRIDE HUBRIS RELATIONS 030514
 %ALIENATED REMOVED ESTRANGED LIFE LOVE DYSFUNCTION 030514
 %MORTAL LIMITATIONS IMPOSSIBILITIES KNOWLEDGE LOVE 030514
 %TRUST RISK PRUDENCE WISDOM CERTAINTY ABSOLUTE SEX 030514

     A  small  fraction  of  human  beings  seem   totally
preoccupied with discerning the ultimate meaning of  human
lives within the life of the cosmos as a whole.    Because
they frame their questions in terms of ultimate  realities
and  concerns  ---   they  often fall  into  the  trap  of
presuming to know the "Mind of God".   Thus they lead each
other   into   the  tragic  and  dark   paths   of   self-
righteousness, arrogance, pride and hubris.   Their inter-
personal   relationships  are  often   dysfunctional   and
characterized  by contentious conflicts over what are  the
ultimate truths,  THE meaning of life ---  and how to best
share  those ultimate truths and meanings within perfected
human relationships --- from which they are far removed.

     Theologians  thus often fall into the trap of talking
a great deal about God, while neglecting to facilitate and
promote  open  and honest dialogue with each  other  about
their  own dysfunctional relationships with each other and
their neighbors --- as very limited mortals.  Because they
constantly  have  their eyes in the heavens  (far  removed
from  earth and each other)  they do not know  each  other
well; and cannot trust each other in Space-Ship-Earth.

     Pretentious  religious  leaders  seek  to  know  with
absolute  certainty much about far removed realities;  and
end upon knowing and understanding very little about their
own hearts and relationships.   Their relationships   with
God  are as dysfunction as their contentious relationships
with each other and their vulnerable neighbors --- because
of unexamined assumptions about what is most important and
meaningful  within Space-Ship-Earth,  a  tiny part of  the
Whole Cosmos of space-time-and-matter/energy.

     Many  theologians  often ignore and fail to  describe
openly  and  honestly  the  relationships  that  are  most
intimately  at  hand;  focusing instead upon  hypothetical
realities  in  realms  which are far  removed  from  them.
Their  discussions are not grounded in the empirical   and
existential    evidence    of   their   own    contentious
relationships.    Instead  they  revolve   around    their
differing  fantasies  about their imaginary  gods.    They
cannot see how foolishly arrogant,  flawed and dysfunction
their  own methodologies and relationships are.   They  do
not   learn  from their own experiences ---  what mistakes
they have  made  in how they have focused their  attention
and  energies  upon  things  about  which they  can   have
very limited secure knowledge.

     Many    religious    leaders   seek    security    in
invulnerability  ---   rather  than  in  open  and  honest
dialogue  which entails taking prudent risks on the  paths
where  truly  humane sanctuary communities  are  built ---
by  people  learning much about human relationships within
our tiny  Space-Ship-Earth  on its voyage through   space-
time-and-matter ---   a  voyage which they cannot control.
What does matter most?    What ways/paths lead us into our
most creative energies?

     As arrogant humans talk most passionately about their
Own God ---  while ignoring each other's most basic  needs
and desires --- they fall into some of their most inhumane
kinds of dysfunctional relationships.

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