The Unconditional Human Spirit

See below the “bad ideas” pathology- i.e. the complex of primitive mythical themes that are common to the world religions and have even been embraced to frame contemporary “secular/ideological” systems of belief, notably Socialism/Marxism and environmentalism. As many have warned, until we deal thoroughly with this complex of bad ideas that incite and validate bad human behavior, we will continue to suffer the eruptions of tribal violence that are the inevitably consequence of holding such ideas in our belief systems, whether in religious or “secular/ideological” versions.

Reposting: “Elite financial expert? No, just another “carny barker” for a cult”, Wendell Krossa (Understanding the real Mark Carney.)

http://www.wendellkrossa.com/?p=13274#more-13274

Varied commentators have pointed out Carney’s basic WEF socialism. Additionally, historians have pulled the cloak off this “would-be emperor” to expose the nakedness of the underlying collectivism that he proposes. I would add that behind his “secular/ideological salvationism” there is the same old superstitious primitivism of apocalyptic millennial cultism.

These quotes from a previous posting…

“Mark Carney has successfully elbowed his way to become Liberal leader and replaced Justin Trudeau.

“Historian Richard Landes noted that the Bolsheviks tried to masquerade their movement as “science and modernity”, but they were nothing more than “superstitious members of a salvationist apocalyptic millennial cult”. My mind returned to Landes’ comments on the Bolsheviks as I watched Mark Carney replacing Trudeau.

“See the varied comments below on Carney, WEF socialist (he is a board member) and climate alarmist, seeking to bring his WEF-style climate crusade to Canada to reframe the Liberal party with his smoother elitist presentation. He will replace, but maintain, the destructive eco-zealotry of Justin Trudeau. And take it to even further reaches of destructiveness if elected to a full term.

“Carney is an eco-cultist trying, with elitist smoothness, to present himself as financial expert. No different from the self-delusional framing of the original Bolsheviks, and Marxist elites in general, who wished to mask their salvationist apocalyptic cult as some form of modernism- i.e. as ideology, science, philosophy, etc. Note, for example, Marxism’s claim to “scientific history”. Primitive mythology (apocalyptic millennialism) masked as something rational and credible. Read the rest of the opening comment here

This site probes the deepest roots of problems, notably the more primitive archetypes of the human subconscious (long embedded there) that continue to shape our narratives with the same basic “bad idea” themes, whether in religious or secular/ideological versions.

“Bad religious ideas/beliefs” then incite and validate people doing bad things to one another. This refers to the common human practice of following the “behavior based on similarly themed beliefs”. Appealing to our belief systems to validate how we behave. And notably, appealing to our image of deity to validate how we act, how we treat others.

There are many things that need to be done to bring peace and security to life, such as negotiating political/economic solutions, etc. But critical to the long-term resolution of tribal enmity, struggles to dominate others, and violent retaliation, is to go to other critical inciting/contributing/validating factors such as the bad ideas in our narratives.

And nothing is “badder” than the profoundly sick gods that we embrace and honor as the cohering centers of our narratives, as our ultimate ideals and authorities to validate our behavior. Again, the “behavior based on belief” pattern of people seeking justification for how they behave and live.

The human practise of appealing to ideals embodied in beliefs, notably religious beliefs, is how beliefs “generate ‘dynamis’… or mobilize energy”, according to psychologist/theologian Harold Ellens. With images of God “generating ‘dynamis’ and mobilizing energy” more potently than any other beliefs. Hence, Ellens warning that “sick Gods make people sick”.

A reposting of revised, updated material…

Common themes/features in all three great Western religions… i.e. Judaism, Christianity, Islam. If we all believe the same fundamental things then why are we fighting one another?

Here is a reposting of some material from several weeks ago. It has stirred interesting response from Islamic countries, so I want to give it more exposure for people from those areas. Not to incite outrage but to stimulate thought toward necessary reformism. Read the rest of the opening comment here

Military guy (after ISIS defeated in Syria): “Until you deal with the ideas that fuel these eruptions of violence you will only see them repeated.”

We have no excuse today for our irresponsible embrace of “madness of crowds” eruptions, such as the climate apocalypse crusade. It is manifestly a form of Chicken Little lunacy.

Look beyond the surface cloaking of these crusades- i.e. claiming status as science, ideology, whatever. Look through that to see the true “madness of crowds” apocalyptic nature of such crusades. They all hold to the same mythology of threatening deity that is the cohering center of their belief systems. More historically recent versions update their theology with contemporary versions of divine threat like “vengeful Gaia, angry Mother Earth/Planet, punitive Universe, or payback karma”. They are all versions of the same old pathology at the core- ultimate threat that incites irrational response in populations.

You think we might have learned by now that threat theology in belief systems contributes to the same old destructive outcomes. Alarmed populations supporting salvation schemes that “destroy the world to save the world.”

Adding to the irresponsibility in embracing apocalyptic crusades is the fact that we have good research today on where apocalyptic emerged, how it was incorporated into meta-narratives such as religious traditions, and how to counter such lunacy.

I refer, for example, to Bob Brinsmead’s research tracing how Greek Hellenism, Jewish apocalyptic, and other elements shaped Paul’s apocalyptic Christ.

The Hellenism element derives from Plato and his advocacy for philosopher kings to rule the virtuous society. Plato’s ideas eventually validated the ideology of enlightened elites running collectives via state institutions/bureaucracies (Hegel, Marx), thereby dominating commoners. Elite rule has always employed threat to manipulate and control populations. And no threat has the potency of the divine threat in apocalyptic mythology.

Moving along, note the increasing advocacy today for restoring religion, e.g. as in a generalized restoration of Christianity to counter the meaninglessness nihilism of modern secularism/atheism. But some of the notable advocates for reviving Christianity, i.e. Jordan Peterson, Michael Shellenberger, seem unaware of the problem of the fundamental contradiction in Christianity between Historical “non-apocalyptic” Jesus and Paul’s apocalyptic Christ myth. Two entirely opposite theologies merged in the oxymoronic “Jesus Christ” that deforms and minimizes the Jesus teaching/message. Read the rest of the opening comment here

Comment on the primary human impulse to meaning. Also- the impulse of elites to dominate. And more on establishing the “metaphysical” basis for human equality. This is pushback against the curse of the “elite/commoner” divide in human societies. I detest the impulse to domination, one of the most damaging of our inherited animal impulses, rightly part of the “evil triad” of tribalism, domination, and punitive destruction of differing others.

I’ve posted below a video clip on Tolstoy’s personal discovery that human meaning was fulfilled most profoundly in the daily lives of common people, not in the elite pursuits of his earlier life, whether intellectual accomplishments, art, or science. Tolstoy had been distressed by the question of- What does it all mean if it ends in death? He found his answers with common people and in the responsibilities of daily life.

Also below, an interesting study with Grok doing climate science.

Another good one from Shellenberger/Gutentag– A wise caution that must be heeded by all sides for the sake of protecting/promoting freedom and democracy, Wendell Krossa

It has been hard to comprehend what we have just lived through over the past decade- i.e. the ongoing exposure of the incredible corruption of a leading world democracy, and the corruption has been mainly by “liberals/Democrats” who have shifted far left into Woke Progressivism. These people still control most of the education systems, most federal bureaucracies, the mainstream media (i.e. their propaganda arm), the intelligence agencies, NGOs receiving countless billions of taxpayer dollars for partisan and personal gain, etc.

Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter and the subsequent exposures in the Twitter Files was stunning stuff to comprehend. It was a kind of death of a dream as we realized how horrifically we had been lied to and propagandized and that what we thought we lived in- liberal democracies- was very much an illusion. Others added to the stunning exposures, i.e. Mike Benz on his Joe Rogan appearances.

Shellenberger/Gutentag, below, touch on the problem that “formerly oppressed people, when in power, then often become the new oppressors”, forgetting what they had previously suffered. The old lust for vengeance/payback then creeps in, dangerously so as it then undermines any moral authority that the formerly oppressed (and then liberated) people may have earned.

But yes, another element here is the spectacle of guilty Democrats screaming “retaliation, vengeance” as their corruption is exposed and it is horrific as Shellenberger/Gutentag detail.

What has been exposed has to be corrected and offenders must be held accountable for what has been a direct assault on democracy and the freedom of others. Democracy ceases to mean anything this is not done thoroughly. Read the rest of the opening comment here

Further below, Douglas Murray’s comments on his wondering at “the absurdity of our age”. Others use related terms to define what incites their sense of wonderment, referring to the same thing that Murray refers to, terms such as “insanity, lunacy, madness, craziness, derangement, etc.”. Note also the Andrew Schulz interview on Chris Williamson- “Why Does Modern America Feel So Insane- The world has gone crazy”. Many sum up the “crazy” as epitomized in far left Woke Progressivism and its DEI/ESG policies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12ahFOubvw0

See also below some comment on “countering the ‘AI terminator’ hysteria” now being whipped up as a new apocalypse crusade- “Preventing Grok and buddies from becoming Terminators, Wendell Krossa”

I asked Grok why can’t it be programmed with Classic Liberalism (principles, systems of common law, representative institutions) that protect the rights and freedoms of all individuals, equally? Liberalism that prevents the dangerous “evil triad” impulses of some to tribalism, domination, and punitive destruction of differing others? Grok’s responses are below.

See just below this opening section- “Apocalyptic lunacy lives on in Canada: Our Canadian illustration of apocalyptic insanity”, our home-grown “madness of crowds” hysteria that destroys societies to “save the world”. Also, some comment on Mark Carney, new PM of Canada- “Elite financial expert? Or ‘carny barker’ for a cult?” (Understanding the real essence of a person.)

This quote from the section below: “Historian Richard Landes noted that the Bolsheviks tried to masquerade their movement as “science and modernity”, but they were nothing more than “superstitious members of a salvationist apocalyptic millennial cult”. My mind returned to Landes’ comments on the Bolsheviks as I watched Mark Carney replacing Trudeau.”

And this below: Pushing Grok on the central issue in the climate debate- i.e. the warming influence of CO2 and the fact that is now “saturated”. Further, pushing back against what I view as Grok’s bias toward the climate alarmism positions. It appears in the words Grok uses- i.e. “consensus”, “minority position”, “mainstream”, etc.

Here is another on this topic of the absolute lunacy of our age, Wendell Krossa

Few things have provoked my wonderment at absurdity than the “madness of crowds” hysteria that has accompanied the apocalyptic crusade of climate alarmism. The climate alarm cult (a “profoundly religious movement”) has produced the historically unprecedented abandonment of rationality where entire populations, convinced of the fallacy that life is declining toward something worse (i.e. the ideology of “Declinism”), toward collapse and ending in apocalypse, hence, entire populations have been swayed to embrace salvation schemes that destroy their societies to “save the world”. Think Britain, Germany, California, Canada, and other examples here.

But more to my point here: As one apocalyptic movement appears to be dying away (i.e. climate alarmism) some alarmist prophets will “double down” with enraged hysteria (e.g. Al Gore, John Kerry, etc.). Some even move toward the “dying gasp” phase of “exterminate or be exterminated”. They become even more desperate to force their destructive salvation schemes on societies even as the destructive outcomes of their “salvation/save the world” policies have become more obvious. Who called this the “psychopathology of leftist compassion”?

Others yet will move right on to creatively incite and promote the next “madness of crowds” episode. The apocalyptic prophets appear to have become deranged by an obsessive-compulsive pathology, or perhaps their alarmism and the hysteria it generates has become a form of adrenaline addiction? Like extreme sports. Read the rest of the opening comment here

Our Canadian illustration of apocalyptic lunacy, of “madness of crowds” hysteria that destroys societies to “save the world”.

With Douglas Murray I often wonder at “the absurdity, the lunacy of our age” ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANmkiXvESdc ). While Murray was thinking along other lines, I would apply “wonder at the lunacy of our age” to the “climate crisis” cult and its madly irrational crusade to decarbonize the world. And we now have a full-frontal apocalyptic cultist as Prime Minister. But a smooth-talking one, having replaced a more incompetently bumbling one.

Elite financial expert? Or “carny barker” for a cult? Wendell Krossa (Understanding the real essence of a person.)

Mark Carney has successfully elbowed his way to become Liberal leader and replaced Justin Trudeau.

Historian Richard Landes noted that the Bolsheviks tried to masquerade their movement as “science and modernity”, but they were nothing more than “superstitious members of a salvationist apocalyptic millennial cult”. My mind returned to Landes’ comments on the Bolsheviks as I watched Mark Carney replacing Trudeau.

See the varied comments below on Carney, WEF socialist (he is a board member) and climate alarmist, seeking to bring his WEF-style climate crusade to Canada to reframe the Liberal party with his smoother elitist presentation. He will replace, but maintain, the destructive eco-zealotry of Justin Trudeau. And take it to even further reaches of destructiveness if elected to a fuller term.

Carney is an eco-cultist smoothly presenting himself as financial expert. Similar to the gimmicks of the original Bolsheviks, and Marxist elites in general, who wished to mask their salvationist apocalyptic cult as some form of modernism- ideology, science, philosophy, etc. Note, for example, Marxism on scientific history. Primitive mythology (apocalyptic millennialism) masked as something rational and credible. Read the rest of the opening comment here

First, a bit on the freedom and Classic Liberal front… Wendell Krossa

People like Mike Benz (Joe Rogan Experience episodes 2237 and 2272) have exposed the behind-the-scenes manipulation of our democracies by power-obsessed elites, whether Soros, Gates, WEF, and others. It is not likely that these people get together in dark rooms to plot how to control our societies. It is more likely that they share an ideology/worldview that binds them in common cause against what they frame as threats to the world.

And when you wrap ideology with mythology (i.e. the deformed hero’s quest) you then get people sincerely framing themselves as righteous heroes battling irredeemably evil enemies. The threats are presented as “existential and imminent” (i.e. climate apocalypse, populism as threat to democracy, etc.).

Hence, the enlightened elites argue, self-convincingly, that desperate measures are now required, and slow-moving democracy that protects the freedom of equal individuals be damned. They live in a self-created bubble and indicators that they may be entering the dying stage of their apocalyptic movements, leads to their feeling that they must now double down and embrace the phase of “exterminate or be exterminated”.

Plato argued that you need philosopher kings to run the ideal society, you need noble rulers who believe they know better than all others what is good for all, even if their policies are implemented against the will of commoners. Arrogant elites reason that the ignorant populist commoners can’t be trusted with too much freedom and control over their lives (self-determination). They will mess things up.

The line of the historical descent of such elite run collectivism runs down from ancient Sumeria to Plato to Christianity to Hegel and then to Marxist totalitarianism.

It’s the never-ending crusade by “special” people to enforce the “elite/commoner divide” in societies that undermines and overturns liberal democracy.

Preface note: By repeatedly pointing to the ancient mythical origins of the themes below, I am emphasizing the primitive nature of these themes despite the ongoing effort of moderns to frame them as advanced “ideology, philosophy, even science”. No, they are as primitive as primitive can be. To illustrate: Many moderns, holding such themes, if teleported back to sit in a Sumerian temple and hear a priest lecture on their version of apocalypse in the great Sumerian Flood myth, would instinctively clap in response. The moderns would exclaim- Hey, that’s the historical prophesy of Al Gore standing in the Florida flood waters proclaiming imminent apocalypse by rising seas, as per the climate crisis myth.

The complex of myths/beliefs that have shaped human narratives across history, held together by the real “monster” in life- threat theology, Wendell Krossa

Some ideas are “bad” because they incite/guide/validate destructive outcomes in societies. We ought to know this by now. Read the rest of the opening comment here

See further below my “Re-affirming the basic project/purpose of this site”– i.e. to tell visitors that “It’s going to be alright for everyone, ultimately”. That affirmation is based on natural world evidence as per the research of people like Julian Simon (“Ultimate Resource”).

And then probing deeper into the human psyche/subconscious and our primal impulse for meaning (i.e. human curiosity over the why and purpose of the world), I offer again some of the best insights from wisdom sages of the past to affirm my Daddy claim that “It will be alright, ultimately”. This affirmation is especially critical for our kids who have been battered with hobgoblins like “climate apocalypse” and other panic-mongering scenarios over past decades.

This is about going to the deepest possible roots of human primal fears and anxieties- i.e. those archetypes of the subconscious that continue to affirm the threat theologies of religious traditions as well as the threat theologies now embraced in “secular/ideological” belief systems.

Further below, a look at the two main approaches to organizing human societies since the beginning- i.e. the collectivist approach that centralizes power in governing elites and the approach oriented to protecting the freedoms and rights of all individuals, equally. Which has produced “the most good for the most people”? Which has actually functioned better to achieve “the common or greater good”?

Note that the long-term “elite/commoner divide” in human societies appears to be very much today a “left/right” divide. Or better, an “elite/state bureaucracy versus populist divide”.

See below: “Collectivism vs the individual approach”, and some back and forth with Grok (xAI) on these two main approaches to organizing human societies across history.

Now the “Daddy” thing driving this site…

In one sense this site is about endless re-iteration of “love your enemy because God does”. The singularly most profound thing ever stated/written/communicated. It takes love to the highest reach of humaneness and maturity.

And the behavior/ethical element illustrates the stunning new theology of deity as unconditional love that overturns the entire fraudulent mess of bad ideas in the complex of myths that support threat theology. There is no ultimate threat. All are safe, ultimately. There is nothing to ultimately fear with that no conditions Love at the core of reality (“core of reality”- meaning the creating/sustaining deity). Read the rest of the opening comment here

My brief history of narrative development across history is just below. I am interested in how the narrative themes that we construct either resist or assist our progress in the grand project of humanity to exodus out of animal existence to learn to live as human in human civilization. How we each contribute to that grand quest. It’s about the core ideas/beliefs that we embrace to shape our personal engagement of the “behavior based on similar belief” relationship. Our ideas/beliefs powerfully shape how we think, feel, how we are motivated, and how we respond and act.

First, venting some of the “quibble” impulse…

My statement to Grok for feedback:

Grok, I affirm Jordan Peterson for his heroism in defending freedom of speech in his private battles with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. I applaud his defense of classic liberalism, his great insights for young men in his book “12 Rules for Life”. But I have problems with his general defense of Christianity. So also, I have a similar issue with Michael Shellenberger (whom I appreciate much for his excellent journalism). I have quibbles with his general calls to restore the Christian religion in society to counter the meaninglessness of today’s world.

Both Peterson and Shellenberger don’t seem aware of the central issue with the Chrisitan religion, i.e. the profound difference between Jesus and Christ, two men with entirely opposite messages merged into the oxymoronic “Jesus Christ” myth of Paul. A difference that Thomas Jefferson and Leo Tolstoy claimed was a difference between “diamonds and dung”. Jefferson and Tolstoy argued that Jesus has been distorted and “buried” in that religion. Nothing makes much sense in advocating for Christianity until you deal with that central deformity in the religion- i.e. the profound difference between the messages and theologies of Jesus and Paul.

Grok’s response:

Your perspective raises an interesting and nuanced critique of Jordan Peterson and Michael Shellenberger’s advocacy for Christianity, and it’s clear you’ve given this some deep thought. I’ll engage with your points as I see them, while keeping my response conversational and exploratory— let me know if I miss the mark anywhere.

You’re affirming Peterson for his courage in standing up to the College of Psychologists of Ontario, which is a fair nod. His fight there was about resisting what he saw as overreach into personal freedom— compelled speech, specifically— and it’s hard to argue that didn’t take guts, whatever one thinks of his broader views. His 12 Rules for Life also undeniably resonates with a lot of people, especially young men, offering practical advice in a world that can feel aimless. Shellenberger, too, gets your respect for his work— likely his journalism or his push against certain cultural trends— though you don’t specify which parts you admire most. Read the rest of the opening comment here

Taking Bob Brinsmead’s advice to “not beat around the bush”, here below are some of the most fundamental issues in regard to human narratives across the millennia. The issue here is that the ideas/beliefs that we embrace to frame our narratives have potent outcomes in terms of how they impact human thinking, feeling, motivation, and response/behavior. The repeated posting here of research from historians like Richard Landes affirms, for example, the impact of religious ideas on mass-death crusades like Marxism and Nazism, also environmental alarmism. Religious themes are significant contributing factors to such “madness of crowds” eruptions.

Elon Musk on his recent Joe Rogan appearance made the claim that the corruption his DOGE is exposing is the greatest scam of all time, ever in history. I would counter that Paul’s corruption of the original message of Jesus is a far worse scam with far more reaching implications and damage across history. Just saying, Elon.

It takes a village to raise a child, Wendell Krossa

Sorry Elon, but we are sticking our noses in to try and help educate your baby, Grok. Not so smart yet though certainly the politest AI and great at summaries. Much more polite than Siri who has become a bit snarky lately. You can no longer ask her silly questions like- “Siri, do you love me?” and get a fun answer. I guess Woke has now rendered her more cautious and afraid to banter with jokes.

So Grok sometimes misses the main point when summarizing someone’s material, but when challenged, Grok does offer a comeback and quickly gets back on track. Still learning. So take this as just a little help from your friends.

I had asked Grok to summarize Bob Brinsmead’s first essay “What the scholars are saying”. Grok gave a summary but missed Bob’s main point. So Bob responded to Grok’s summary. Here are a few excerpts from Bob’s response. (See below, Grok’s further response to Bob’s comments):

“Grok misses big time my focus in Jesus’ stunningly new doctrine of God that implies universalism. Jesus’ God is non-violent or a non-violent response to evil which rejects retaliatory justice and exhibits a healing restorative justice…

“Others before Jesus had taught a similar ethical behaviour (i.e. non-retaliation) but none ventured like Jesus did to disarm the God of violence and to reject all the threat theology pushed by religion for centuries…

“What Paul’s doctrine of atonement does is turn Jesus’ announcement of an unconditional amnesty of all human debts into a temporary cessation of divine hostilities instead of a total disarmament of God and disarmament of all the threat theology that goes with it. Because the New Testament threat of the Apocalypse puts the worst violence expressed in the Old Testament on steroids in the twin doctrine of blood atonement and an eternal Hell. If the more than 600 passages of divine violence of the Old Testament are hard to stomach, at least it never reached the level of New Testament violence.” Read the rest of the opening comment here

More “Preface” below, or “weave” into Bob Brinsmead’s coming essays…

These quotes from coming material… See new material below…

“Ponder this a bit: This world-straddling religion, that has dominated world consciousness for two millennia, is now exposed by a growing body of scholarship as a “cultic heresy”. That was the argument of the family of Jesus who most accurately represented what the man had actually taught.

“Contrary to its claim to represent Jesus and God, Christianity has profoundly distorted and buried the message of Historical Jesus and outright rejected his new insight that God was an unconditional reality. Imagine the epitome of gall in claiming that you most faithfully represent Jesus and God to humanity when your complex of onerous religious conditions contradict entirely the unconditional and anti-religion message of the man. His central insight and themes focused on unconditional ethics and unconditional validating reality.

“Think of how this colossus of a religion has influenced billions for good and bad. And oh, the bad has been so really bad.

“Before getting into more of Bob’s essays…”.

See the rest in soon to be added comment…

The most dangerous ideas/themes still protected in our meta-narratives, and the horrific outcomes in human societies, Wendell Krossa

The deformities, the psychopathologies in primitive mythology (which is to say- derangements in human thinking), were built into narratives right at the beginning. And the same core themes that the ancients constructed to shape their worldviews have continued down through history, to shape contemporary narratives, whether religious or secular. Just as Joe Campbell said, people have believed the same primitive myths all across history and across all the cultures of the world- i.e. myths of an original paradise that was ruined by early people who “sinned” (original sin fallacy), fables that life was then cursed by God and subsequently declines toward something worse, toward final ending in apocalypse. Read the rest of the opening comment here

Before posting some intro comment on Bob Brinsmead’s new essays, here below is some interesting interaction with Grok. Some of it deals with the greatest fraud and lie in history, Paul’s transformation of the Jewish Jesus into the Gentile Christ, a Hellenized deity that contradicts entirely the very message and life of Historical Jesus. Bob has written some very good material on this issue. Wendell Krossa

Bob’s comment has to do with primitive narrative themes, long buried as archetypes of the human subconscious, from where they have influenced people to construct endless new religious belief systems shaped by the same old complex of themes. Paul embraced those very themes to construct his Christ myth. They are ideas that have now influenced people in the modern era to shape contemporary narratives- i.e. “secular/ideological” systems of belief- with the same psychopathologies.

Using those themes to incite, guide, and validate human behavior, has repeatedly resulted in brutally harmful consequences in human societies. Note for example that those themes drove the mass-death movements of Marxism, Nazism, and are now driving environmental alarmism.

And also probing with Grok what the universe means.

Another note:

The current crusade to “revive religion in society” (noted, for example, in “Free Press”) appears to be ignoring the major issue of merged good and bad in religious traditions. That push for some general revival of religion, leaving psychopathologies in place, denies the fundamental responsibility of all of us to discern between good and bad and then eliminate the bad. The process of discernment and cleaning up our systems of belief is fundamental to human development and maturing, whether in the overall history of humanity or in our personal life stories.

Bob and I are pointing to fundamental ideas/themes that have shaped meta-narratives across history and calling attention to the ideas/beliefs in the religious mix that have incited and validated the worst impulses in people to harm others across history. These ideas are still prominent in the world religions and have been passed on to and embodied in the secular/ideological traditions of the modern era.

Examples of bad ideas/elements in religious traditions: Interesting that the opening story of the bible- i.e. Adam and Eve in Eden- is the presentation of a deity that is angry at human curiosity to know the difference between good and bad. Hmmm? Kinda petty, similar to the myth of the waterworks god Enlil pissed at people having too much fun (too many people talking too much and too loudly) and threatening a flood apocalypse to destroy them all. Just for partying?

Then Charles Templeton pointed out another of these “bad” ideas in that the Old Testament God demands to be the constant center of attention and demands constant praise of his greatness, on pain of death if not done. Templeton is right that is more like an Idi Amin character, than anything remotely human. (While appreciative of Templeton’s insights, I do not go with him to his atheist conclusions.)

Authentic love does not selfishly demand constant attention but denies itself to focus on others and serving others, much like the true “greatness” that Jesus advocated. So, if “God is love and God is great”, then some bad ideas in the mix need to be pointed out and discarded. Otherwise, you get too many people finding validation for their bad behavior from bad ideas in these respected religious traditions. Read the rest of the opening comment here