[MD] New Model Army, Mystic(DQ) Experience, and Religion (SQ) as Power

[ian glendinning]

Hi David

Interesting, in your case, I'm not sure I understand how dropping
atheism meant you became a theist ... or do I not know you as well as
I think ?

You're right though, whilst I express atheism, it's really a non-issue
for me, quite different to say DMB for whom it is an almost crusading
issue to be fought at each opportunity. Which isn't to say I don't
denounce dogmatic (religious) extremism in "real life" ... I just see
no point denouncing theism per se.

And strangely it's probably the only point where I find myself at odds
with DMB. I love his thoughts (and his writing) in every other
respect. Weird.

Which always makes me question whether I'm just agnostic. I always
conclude no, I'm actually atheist ... like, it's an issue important
enough for me to have a strong view on (which I clearly do).

My phrase-de-jour is "Strong views, lightly held."
Ian

On 9/27/06, David M <davidint at blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Ian said to David M:
> > OK, so the point at which natural science breaks down is in the existence
> > of
> > anything at all ... as a given, a gift from God. That's the "hole" in any
> > metaphysics that cannot be viewed from the other
> > side, no one (with any sense) can presume to make strong argument for or
> > against anything in that hole. A theistic metaphor is as good as any, in
> > that context, even a sentient, intentional being. ...Other holes are
> > merely
> > circumstantial and any god vs science debate in these cases is
> > meaningless.
> >
>
>
> Hi  Ian
>
> Yep, I agree with George Steiner when he describes theology, at its best,
> as poetry on the subject of god. I started life as a lefty materialist
> atheist.
> So I studied science and saw the limitations of its scope, discovered
> philosophy as the only really interesting subject (OK I do history and
> politics and art on the side) and discovered that it has limited scope
> issues too,
> so the materialism got dropped, and so did the atheism because it really
> has no basis, and you get to see that there are experiences and possibilties
> to ponder on the other side of mere disciplines, and the best appears
> at certain extremes of religious & philosophical speculation and also
> art and poetry (maybe also some rather speculative science, about creation
> rather than mere repetition).
>
> David M
>
>
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