Religion21: A Primer for the First Post-Science Religion
Science observes global phenomena like gravity and electricity, and successfully captures its observations in a mathematical formula, which scientist then point to, saying: "You see, no room for God in this equation, it is perfectly Godless". By that they mean that the "Biblical Accountant God" that keeps score of good deeds and bad deeds is being ruled out. The equation is the law, not God.
Persuasive argument. To which the answer is given in the 2nd commandment in the Old Testament which says: "Make no image, offer no depiction, dare not to characterize God -- admit your unbound ignorance as to the nature, character or desires of the agency that created everything that you find around you, and further created everything that you have not yet found, not even suspected that is there.
It is that God that is identified through our admission of unbound ignorance that adherents of Religion21 believe in. It's existence is manifest in any global particularity of nature. There is a particular mass ratio between an electron and a proton, light advances in a particular speed, no another -- A Godless universe can offer no such particularity. And where from comes the motivation for the universe to comply with any natural law that we humans observe? Careful thinkers when they start digging they realize that they drown in an ocean of confusion. Every concept that we discuss must be defined. Such definition requires the use of certain words, which also require definition, which again is given through a string of words, which need to be explained... Human civilization, human understanding is built on a cornerstone of hard core confusion.
The post-science God is the agency for which what for us is confusion, for it is clarity.
When the great pre-science religions collapsed under the crashing boot of science, people theorized that religion is passè. Let us each adopt a philosophy of life of some sort and that would be enough. It turns out that philosophy of life while necessary is not enough. A philosophy is emotionally sterile, and we people, we need emotional support as well as a logical foundation. Religion21 comprises the philosophy of unbound ignorance tied in with the emotional package that says: we humans are holding each other, supporting each other, loving each other, uplifted we are by our togetherness to combine our efforts to dissolve our foundational confusion, and get closer and closer to the bosom of the one responsible for all there is, whoever it is.
All prior religions pivoted to harm and injury afflicted by their fanatics who suffered no doubt that the imperative of their religion is the pure truth and all others are falsehoods to be crashed, defeated, killed, obstructed. Fanatics on opposing sides dragged humanity to endless wars, so that today many people regard the very term 'religion' to be a dirty word. The advantage of Relision21 is that it does not suffer fanatics. It's core principle is the admission of unbound ignorance, unmitigated confusion -- in doubt we trust! Fanaticism is the equivalent of Satan for this Religion21.
The rallying cry of Religion21 is "In Doubt We Trust -- But Dare We Must!"
Next I will lay out how this core principle of ignorance, confusion, doubt leads to global human embrace and to a universal campaign to learn more, to become wiser, to innovate.
And what about "happiness"? Often comes the question. Religion21 has a good answer, coming up soon. Don't rush, take these ideas in slowly and mindfully. A rush observer will readily shrug their shoulders -- nothing there. I count on the deliberate reader. Waiting to hear from you at try@TryAgain.com
