Ya know emay... it is nice, comforting to know others think similarly to you. Its good to know humans are thinking about these expanded views of the world, universe, reality. It turns my mind toward people all those thousands and thousands of years ago that found comfort in the very same thing. And how it was twisted, by the Ego I suppose, into demanding others believe as they did.
Most of us steer clear of the Robert Tiltons of the world. Those 'preachers' demanding money 'for god'. But I've watched far too many people dodge such blatant greed only to be ensnared by charisma into something much more insidiuos... ego. ( i'm using the examples of religion here but it applies to just about every field or profession ) We've all heard it... "But he has nothing to gain..." speaking of someone who might not profit monetarily or even materially by getting you to believe in what they are saying or seeing. They, however, do want something from you... confirmation. Confirmation that their view of the world is correct. It has got to be one of the greatest human failings... that we need to 'know' whats going on, that we can't be 'comfortable' with the unknown. And in this post perhaps I have replied to my own plea in the first post of this thread... "Why can't we ask and expect to know what really is going on in the universe". Maybe thats the reason for all of the confusion that surrounds us in this life. So that we may learn to cope with the unknown, change, the only constant. Also, writing this out I see that such egotistical pursuits, such as the person seeking confirmation, are prompted by fear. Fear of losing that comfort when confronted with new ideas.
well, whether the impetus be ego or fear it is something we must always avoid.
emay, I certainly did not want you to get the idea that I was implying you were going down this road by saying you found such things gave you a nice feeling. I know you were just expressing relief at finding others also questioning common beliefs.
Now disrobe, worship me and give me all your money!

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-greed for money or power can only be sactified as righteous by bigotry. The effects of ego, however, can far too easily be sanctified as righteous in the name of god-