Science v. Religion

What is the science of religion?

What I mean is, we all know that science could never be taken on from the religious method of discovery. Contrastingly, I consider the religious method to be very similar to the scientific method. I say that because, one forms a hypothesis first in both fields, but only science truly investigates the existence of an answer to the original problem that elicits a hypothesis. So the question is: can we apply the scientific method to religious belief in search of "God" and other paranormal phenomena? Because we all really just want the answer to the age old question: Who are we and why are we here?"

Lately I have been reading The Great Turning by David C. Korten. He suggests that in the future--in order for the "Great Turning" to be successful--science and religion must come together. Now, we all know that science and religion have been bitter rivals little longer than the universities of Missouri and Kansas have (remember: natural science studies didn't really hit their stride until the mid 19th century, Isaac Newton didn't even postulate his theories on gravity and motion until almost 1700 A.D.). However, would people actually want to encounter what (or who) God really is? Or do they just want to leave their teaching open to speculation and misinterpretation forever?

I think that science and religion are so closely related that one day their proximity in nature will inevitably lead to a true "search for God". Also, I know that science can postulate theories that explain the phenomena we see occurring in religious and prayerful people.

Modern quantum physics has discovered a pathway to the reasons that prayer works. You see, they have discovered that the thoughts we have inside our head emit a certain amount of energy that is quantifiable and has a clear signature. This energy is known as a beta wave; the stronger the emotion behind the thought, the more intense the beta wave. Now, others (including myself) have concluded that these beta waves are part of the energy continuum (carbon cycle, water cycle, etc) and that they interact with the world around us. THIS is something that can be formed into an experiment. I'm sure other scientists have studied this much more, well... scientifically. However, I have done my own (non-scientific) exploration into this phenomena - with surprising results.

The story goes that these beta waves attract the things we think of most - through their connection to the real world and eventually bring these thoughts to be visited upon the person having them. It is not as direct as it sounds because energy never returns in exactly the same way it was emitted.

After watching a movie called The Secret (the author I do not know), I did an experiment related to these recent findings in concordance with a contest in which I was entered. The contest was to win a BMW. So, my first step was to visualize myself driving the car. Eventually that led me to the British Motor Works website. I designed my ideal ride and would sit and visualize myself holding the steering wheel, checking the gauges and the like. After a couple weeks of this I attended the contest drawing. Needless to say, I didn't win. The guy standing directly next to me did.

I know for a fact he was the announcer's friend because they were hanging out together (very familiarly) the entire time before the reading of the name. I'm not saying the contest was rigged, but....

Anyway, what I noticed soon after that was that when I drove around town, I was almost surrounded by BMW's everywhere I went (even out of state, weird). I have no proof or data that compels one to believe my account word for word, but I did ride with a couple of people and point it out to them. They were skeptical but did notice the slight increase in BMW appearances as uncanny. The experiment was a success in my mind, because the longer it has been since starting the experiment - I see a less awe-inspiring number of beamers when I ride around. I also did this for Acura not long ago, because I thought that was the car I wanted. And although I didn't focus as long and hard, the fact that I knew how to target my thoughts did warrant a noticeable increase in the number of Acura vehicles I encountered. This gives me cause to believe that prayer works, but it is not the way that a preacher might tell you. Since I consider "God" to be the driving force that animates certain atoms and later others (conservation of mass and energy says we cannot create or destroy mass and energy, only change its form), then I guess technically I am praying to God when I focus on things I want (or don't want). The phenomenon works both ways. Say, for instance, that there is some person or situation you really DON'T want to happen. Your thoughts can also attract it, if you constantly mull it over.

In addition, the religion I was raised to believe says that "God may not be there when you want him, but he's always right on time", meaning that you don't get exactly what you want, but you do get what you deserve. This leads me to the thought that, it IS "God" that brings the fruit of prayer. God, to me, is just not some GUY (males dominate today's religious beliefs) in some far off locale directing the flow of life and everything else on this tiny planet set in some small region of the universe (multiverse?)

So, you can call me crazy, but I am the least likely person to admit to such an outlandish conclusion. And you don't have to believe me, but I suggest you pay closer attention to your thoughts and see where your life leads you. And who knows? Maybe this type of experimentation could eventually lead to "the science of religion". I don't think its necessary to find God, because I don't think we are meant to know everything (like a good friend of mine reminds me), but its the journey of discovery that is the fun and adventure of it all.

So I leave you with a phrase uttered to me by my mother many, many times over the years: Take care and be aware!

Peace.

Media vs. Journalism

There is not much else to explain that I haven't already about how we have come to this disastrous point in our [species'] time on this planet. Now I guess its time to raise some questions that I have in getting us out of this mess.

What I see as the ultimate equalizer is media.

News used to be journalism. They reported the facts in the most objective way possible (remember that impartiality and therefore objectivity is nearly impossible, just because of the way our brains work)... Stories were just that. The story of a mother who couldn't feed her children was not draped in some reporters opines about how the failing economy or some other smoke screen is responsible for her being downtrodden. Television news has clearly become the mouthpiece for the rich people who own most of the country, purchased right after the Great Depression. That brings it into the realm of media, which has no obligation to be arbitrary at all.

So, the question is: How do you change people's minds who are subjected to a constant barrage of propaganda from recognizable people that leads them further down the wrong way on a one way street? Chances are: they are feeding into the mix of sexual, emotional and other cues that cause a subsequent amplification of our consumer nature. I mean, it took me years to realize that I should always be skeptical of information that is handed to me, for which I did not ask. It is hard to think for yourself when it is so much easier to let "the box" think for you.

The thing is, that we MUST change these minds (of the masses) before its too late. There are some progressive institutions that broadcast the right messages, but they are drowned out by the pillars of the industry who don't care about the common person, they just focus on their profit margins and ratings returns.

Maybe its time to take a page out of history and start distributing newsletters that highlight the TRUE history of this country and the behind-the-scenes debauchery that is still occurring today (sorry President Obama, we know the deal) . There is not much that is more powerful than the printed (something you have to read, including a computer screen) word. I read an article in the NY Times that said a study found that when something is read by a person--no matter how ridiculous or contrary to truth--it is more likely to be noted and/or considered by the individual reading it, simply because it is in print. No wonder those crazy e-mails about Obama being the anti-Christ et al. were eaten up by middle and lower income (mainly white) people. I'm sure that there are newsletters out there, but it is up to us to get it into the hands and in front of the faces of the people who need it most. I think this could be a crucial first step in starting the grass roots movement toward what David C. Korten calls "Earth Community". Urban farming is another one which might not require so much effort for gaining support. Remember, the government has no power if no one gives it to them, if we take things into our own hands. Trust! The answer will not come from the top of the ranks. It comes from changing minds, showing them that there are other ways to live beside the American Imperial/Manifest Destiny lifestyle.

What do you think?

Peace.