Brian’s Reflection: Friday, October 15, 2010

A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum
shows that faith does not prove anything.

After coming into contact with a religious
man I always feel I must wash my hands.

All things are subject to interpretation; whichever
interpretation prevails at a given time is a function
of power and not truth.

Convictions are more dangerous foes of truth than lies.

Every church is a stone on the grave of a god-man: it does
not want him to rise up again under any circumstances.

Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher, writer; he was
born on this date, 1844, in the village of Röcken
bei Lützen, near Leipzig, Germany


Well, I must have found more quotes from Nietzsche than any other person I’ve quoted!! Nietzsche is, of course, famous for having said, “God is Dead”.

Now, I will not pretend that I have read enough Nietzsche (in fact, I’ve read damn little!) so that I know what he actually might have meant by his many words on the subject of God and Religion. But then this is not a Reflection on Nietzsche’s meaning, but on where I can run to with it!

So: just in case you have nothing better to do with your day than ponder Nietzsche, I’ve listed five quotes on the subject. And here’s what I think.

One: “Faith” is not about trading slave-like submission for a Deity’s condescending favour. Faith, from the Latin “fides – trust”, means diligently adhering, often with difficulty, to a path which gives birth to the Mystery of God Within. The meaning of everything: Life, Death, Wholeness, Love, Joy is at stake. Discerning the authentic Path is the life-work of every person.

Two: History is full of religious people contact with whom destroys one’s very Being. I could make a very long list of such people presently living! Beware them, avoid them. The soul of America and much of the World is at stake.

Three: all things are indeed subject to interpretation; it’s inherent in human nature. Power is also inherent in human nature. We all have some, and many have huge amounts. The critical issue is, How is power used? My own standard is Jesus: He rejected power that denied Love. And for me, Truth is Love.

Four: Lies come from cowards; and cowards often lack the moral fiber to prevail. But people of conviction often have the power of their convictions to use cruelty in the mistaken notion that conviction of Right trumps Humility and Compassion. This is never True; it is always inhumane.

Five: Beware human institutions that claim to represent or speak for God. They can, and have, become the opposite in the twinkling of an eye. The Christ, The Enlightened One, The Prophet lies entombed under many a Temple of brick or of flesh.

Brian+