This quote taken from Amarilis's paper about wiccian opinions on the meaning of life: "One essential scripture is Doreen Valiente’s “Charge of the Goddess” as it expresses the set of eight virtues that many Wiccans cultivate. “Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.” The essence of the Valiente’s poem is not only that Wiccans value these things, but that they reflect dualism." I found this quote interesting because i find the religions views on dualism to provide insight into their opinions about how life should be lived, and also on the dualistic values on which wiccans live their lives.
This quote, taken from Casey's paper on Hasidic Jeudism offers us an insight into that religions perspectives on the meaning of life; " Hasidism emphasizes four other main points: one, that the Torah is infinite, and man can gain infinite wisdom from it. Two, that there is divine providence: every action is determined by God, every detail is essential to the perfection of the world, and divine purpose is what gives meaning to life."
Friday, November 30, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Scientology and the Meaning of Life
Scientology, which means “the study of truth”, is a religion that was born out of a self-help program called Dianetics established by L. Ron Hubbard. He first published his ideas in a self-help book, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. This self-help program covers the three parts of man; the mind, the body, and the spirit and goes in depth into how to balance your life. He founded the first Church of Scientology in 1953 after the publishing of his best selling book and now the church claims to have 10 million members world wide. Because Scientology was first started as a self help program they have many practices that help a person live a meaningful life and survive. Some of these beliefs are The Dynamics, which are the eight areas in which human’s urge for survival breaks down to. There are also the two triangles, the ARC triangle, affinity + reality + communication = understanding, and the KRC triangle, knowledge, responsibility, and control. All these things help people live a more meaningful life. Along with the more personal meanings of life scientology also incorporates a bigger picture meaning that is called the “Space Opera” and involves Xenu the ruler of the galactic confederacy who brought billions of people to earths volcanoes and then proceeded to blow them up with hydrogen bombs.
To reach the state of Operation Thetan is the ultimate goal of all Scientologists and all these things like the ARC triangle and other doctrines of Scientology all lead to reaching the state of Operating Thetan. In Scientology 8-8008 L. Ron Hubbard says; “A thetan who is completely rehabilitated and can do everything a thetan should do, such as move MEST and control others from a distance, or create his own universe; a person who is able to create his own universe or, living in the MEST universe is able to create illusions perceivable by others at will, to handle mest universe objects without mechanical means and to have and feel no need of bodies or even the MEST universe to keep himself and his friends interested in existence.” This is the ultimate result of reaching the state of Operating Thetan, when one’s thetan becomes ‘enlightened’ so to speak. This is the goal of a thetan (or life) in Scientology. To reach this level one must follow all of the doctrines of Scientology.
One of the doctrines of Scientology is the Dynamics. The Dynamics are mans urge to survive broken up into eight different sections. The Dynamics are: Self, which is the individuals urge to survive. Sex, which is the individuals urge to reproduce and create a family. Group, which is a group’s urge to survive. Mankind, which is mankinds (or any specific species for that matter) urge to survive and evolve. All living things, which is all things that are influenced by life. The physical universe, which is all things that exist. Spirits, which are the source of all life. And the final dynamic is infinity, everything. “According to Scientology doctrine, these areas are used to understand one's life, and to improve one's solutions to life by bettering one understands of the different areas of life.” (Wikipedia) A balance created between all the dynamics helps a person understand their life more and further survival along the spiritual path that one is reaching for in scientology.
Happiness is also important to reach the level of Operating Thetan. L. Ron Hubbard stated in one of his speeches that “happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.” This is saying that happiness is the one of the most important things in Scientology and one must strive towards happiness. According to L. Ron Hubbard the best way to achieve happiness is to follow the doctrines of Scientology.
Happiness can be brought around by understanding in Scientology. Understanding is brought about by the ARC triangle. Happiness is good for the spiritual path in scientology and because of this the ARC triangle is very important for living a meaningful life by scientology standards. The ARC stands for: Affinity, Reality (agreement), and communication. According to scientology once you have a balance between these three things you achieve understanding. In a recent interview with practicing Scientologist, Andrew Orner, he stated “the ARC triangle helps Scientologists communicate emotions.” Scientologists often refer to the ARC triangle in conversation with a meaning of love or happiness. Balancing the ARC triangle is happy because in Scientology the happier you are the more positive your thetan is. According to Orner “The Thetan is the creator of things, the actual person, not just the body or the mind, and the Thetan must be trained.” A person can reach the level of Operating Thetan, which is that of an enlightened spiritual state, to reach this level is important for the creation of a meaningful life.
Scientology’s views on the meaning of life focus more on each individual person and the bigger picture ideas are mostly just there to give framework on which each individual persons life can be given meaning. We understand that the ultimate goal of life is to reach the final level of Operating Thetan and to obtain a sort of enlightenment. To reach this Scientology has set down a number of doctrines that include ideas such as happiness and understanding to help a person live a more meaningful life and eventually reach the level of Operating Thetan.
To reach the state of Operation Thetan is the ultimate goal of all Scientologists and all these things like the ARC triangle and other doctrines of Scientology all lead to reaching the state of Operating Thetan. In Scientology 8-8008 L. Ron Hubbard says; “A thetan who is completely rehabilitated and can do everything a thetan should do, such as move MEST and control others from a distance, or create his own universe; a person who is able to create his own universe or, living in the MEST universe is able to create illusions perceivable by others at will, to handle mest universe objects without mechanical means and to have and feel no need of bodies or even the MEST universe to keep himself and his friends interested in existence.” This is the ultimate result of reaching the state of Operating Thetan, when one’s thetan becomes ‘enlightened’ so to speak. This is the goal of a thetan (or life) in Scientology. To reach this level one must follow all of the doctrines of Scientology.
One of the doctrines of Scientology is the Dynamics. The Dynamics are mans urge to survive broken up into eight different sections. The Dynamics are: Self, which is the individuals urge to survive. Sex, which is the individuals urge to reproduce and create a family. Group, which is a group’s urge to survive. Mankind, which is mankinds (or any specific species for that matter) urge to survive and evolve. All living things, which is all things that are influenced by life. The physical universe, which is all things that exist. Spirits, which are the source of all life. And the final dynamic is infinity, everything. “According to Scientology doctrine, these areas are used to understand one's life, and to improve one's solutions to life by bettering one understands of the different areas of life.” (Wikipedia) A balance created between all the dynamics helps a person understand their life more and further survival along the spiritual path that one is reaching for in scientology.
Happiness is also important to reach the level of Operating Thetan. L. Ron Hubbard stated in one of his speeches that “happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in this universe.” This is saying that happiness is the one of the most important things in Scientology and one must strive towards happiness. According to L. Ron Hubbard the best way to achieve happiness is to follow the doctrines of Scientology.
Happiness can be brought around by understanding in Scientology. Understanding is brought about by the ARC triangle. Happiness is good for the spiritual path in scientology and because of this the ARC triangle is very important for living a meaningful life by scientology standards. The ARC stands for: Affinity, Reality (agreement), and communication. According to scientology once you have a balance between these three things you achieve understanding. In a recent interview with practicing Scientologist, Andrew Orner, he stated “the ARC triangle helps Scientologists communicate emotions.” Scientologists often refer to the ARC triangle in conversation with a meaning of love or happiness. Balancing the ARC triangle is happy because in Scientology the happier you are the more positive your thetan is. According to Orner “The Thetan is the creator of things, the actual person, not just the body or the mind, and the Thetan must be trained.” A person can reach the level of Operating Thetan, which is that of an enlightened spiritual state, to reach this level is important for the creation of a meaningful life.
Scientology’s views on the meaning of life focus more on each individual person and the bigger picture ideas are mostly just there to give framework on which each individual persons life can be given meaning. We understand that the ultimate goal of life is to reach the final level of Operating Thetan and to obtain a sort of enlightenment. To reach this Scientology has set down a number of doctrines that include ideas such as happiness and understanding to help a person live a more meaningful life and eventually reach the level of Operating Thetan.
Monday, November 5, 2007
When we first started the unit and discussed the meaning of life, I understood my meaning of life as being part of the bigger picture of life that I had to succeed in. Now life to me is less about the big picture but more about the smaller things of the goals of my own personal life. What I say what is meaningful tome on a personal level I am not talking about the petty things like drinking/partying but the more about the things that would affect the ultimate goal of my life.
This end goal for me is to accomplish something that will change the world and something that will have me remembered. For me this could be anything, this anything is not restricted by moral bounds for me, but as a person I doubt that the end goal to get remembered would venture out of moral bounds just because of how I am now. Possible examples of this “end goal” would be a doctor who discovers some genetic code or prevents a new disease from spreading or a world leader who creates a huge amount of change in the world. These are all things done to be remembered for after I have passed away. On my first opinion I talked more about being a good person and making a change that would help many people, now I feel that my opinion has changed and I believe I wish to be remembered after my death as well.
It may seem selfish to those who see my opinion from the outside but it is what would make my own life meaningful in my own eyes, which is what a meaningful life is. My thoughts do not include a bigger picture besides the bigger picture within my actual life that dictates the decisions I make. One could say this is a personal version of a big picture theory because it does meet and explain almost all of the criteria.
This end goal for me is to accomplish something that will change the world and something that will have me remembered. For me this could be anything, this anything is not restricted by moral bounds for me, but as a person I doubt that the end goal to get remembered would venture out of moral bounds just because of how I am now. Possible examples of this “end goal” would be a doctor who discovers some genetic code or prevents a new disease from spreading or a world leader who creates a huge amount of change in the world. These are all things done to be remembered for after I have passed away. On my first opinion I talked more about being a good person and making a change that would help many people, now I feel that my opinion has changed and I believe I wish to be remembered after my death as well.
It may seem selfish to those who see my opinion from the outside but it is what would make my own life meaningful in my own eyes, which is what a meaningful life is. My thoughts do not include a bigger picture besides the bigger picture within my actual life that dictates the decisions I make. One could say this is a personal version of a big picture theory because it does meet and explain almost all of the criteria.
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