The Dalai Lama and post-religion
“All the world’s major religions, with their emphasis on love, compassion, patience, tolerance, and forgiveness can and do promote inner values. But the reality of the world today is that grounding ethics in religion is no longer adequate. This is why I am increasingly convinced that the time has come to find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics beyond religion altogether.”
Via Religion Dispatches. The writer goes on,
The Dalai Lama believes that the fundamental ethical discoveries of religion are scientifically verifiable. When we actually live religiously—and don’t just profess a set of beliefs—we become more forgiving, peaceful, tolerant, attentive and inspired. This in turn leads to profound psychological and physiological changes which can be studied—and even measured.
Discuss.
5 comments:
Actually, I think the Dalai Lama is correct here. In many respects, I have taken to living religiously, and I am conscious of bringing those values to daily life, because they are much more present to me. I am aware that I try to be more forgiving and tolerant and peaceful and caring.
BTW I had the privilege of hearing The Dalai Lama speak last year. He made very good sense. And had a charming sense of humor. I put him up there with important living saints like Desmond Tutu!
In our increasingly global culture, I think the world is increasingly dividing into various more-or-less mutually-exclusive fundamentalisms (inc antitheism), and variously-flavored (and hopefully fully-cooperative) agnosticisms.
Personally, as I think I've said before, I don't really care "if religion dies", per se. I *do* want to be able to Eat Jesus on a (at least) weekly basis...which pretty much requires (*for me*) an ordained catholic priest (small 'c', obviously. Includes ELCA Lutherans).
I'm pondering Bonhoeffer these days who said something very similar in the 1940s.
I just want to acknowledge the essentially ridiculously (but deliciously paradoxical!) stand I've taken above: "I don't know if there's a God, but I want to eat said Possible God via a *definitely* ordained priest!"
"Foolish consistancy..." and all that. ;-p
Ooops, should read "essentially ridiculous".
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