Changes

Most reflective persons will agree that established religions at a particular stage of development have a [[structure]] that is clearly an inextricable mix of [[history]], [[myth]] and [[ritual]]. Religions have wasted a lot of history as well as human lives in the [[process]] of bickering over which is true and correct, and in the struggle for dominance.  In particular, this struggle to establish one's own blend of history, myth and ritual as "[[truth]]" begs the question: Is there anything of substance underneath it all?  And if so, is that thing of substance common to the various religions?  This, of course, is the question posited by the "essence theology" described above, and in the sections that follow we present yet another possible answer.

Most reflective persons will agree that established religions at a particular stage of development have a [[structure]] that is clearly an inextricable mix of [[history]], [[myth]] and [[ritual]]. Religions have wasted a lot of history as well as human lives in the [[process]] of bickering over which is true and correct, and in the struggle for dominance.  In particular, this struggle to establish one's own blend of history, myth and ritual as "[[truth]]" begs the question: Is there anything of substance underneath it all?  And if so, is that thing of substance common to the various religions?  This, of course, is the question posited by the "essence theology" described above, and in the sections that follow we present yet another possible answer.

==Foundation==

==Foundation==

To begin our [[inquiry]], let's break the world down into its very simplest building blocks.  [[Science|Scientists]] tell us the world consists of only two things--[[matter]] and [[energy]]. The [[laws of thermodynamics]] tell us matter and energy are interchangeable and can neither be created nor destroyed. However, it has always seemed to me that there is a Third Thing. This Third Thing is [[consciousness]].  So at the very outset we are forced to ask ourselves, '''"Is consciousness, like everything else, constructed out of matter and energy, or it is something [[quality|qualitatively]] different?"'''  This is perhaps the most important of all human questions, and the answer is the key to everything we believe about ourselves.  

To begin our [[inquiry]], let's break the world down into its very simplest building blocks.  [[Science|Scientists]] tell us the world consists of only two things--[[matter]] and [[energy]]. The [[laws of thermodynamics]] tell us matter and energy are interchangeable and can neither be created nor destroyed. But arguably there is a Third Thing, and this This Third Thing is [[consciousness]].  So at the very outset we are forced to ask ourselves, '''"Is consciousness, like everything else, constructed out of matter and energy, or it is something [[quality|qualitatively]] different?"'''  This is perhaps the most important of all human questions, and the answer is the key to everything we believe about ourselves.  

In the [[materialism|materialistic]] scientific [[model]], matter and energy are the two exclusive building blocks of everything, and consciousness itself is somehow constructed out of these building blocks as sort of a secondary, or derivative product. Consciousness, in this deterministic view, must (and eventually will) be explained in terms of its lowest building blocks, [[meaning]] not just the laws of [[biochemistry]], but in terms of the even more foundational [[law]]s of [[physics]] . But why should we ever expect such an explanation?  Science has never really "explained" matter or energy, much less consciousness, other than to enumerate their properties and apply them to [[technology]]. If science were ever to "explain" consciousness, it would be a case of "consciousness explaining itself," a [[paradox]] so startling as to render its own argument void. Science is best understood when we realize that it's determinism is purely methodological, and rightly so, but it does not follow that everything in the [[universe]] is thus constrained.   

In the [[materialism|materialistic]] scientific [[model]], matter and energy are the two exclusive building blocks of everything, and consciousness itself is somehow constructed out of these building blocks as sort of a secondary, or derivative product. Consciousness, in this deterministic view, must (and eventually will) be explained in terms of its lowest building blocks, [[meaning]] not just the laws of [[biochemistry]], but in terms of the even more foundational [[law]]s of [[physics]] . But why should we ever expect such an explanation?  Science has never really "explained" matter or energy, much less consciousness, other than to enumerate their properties and apply them to [[technology]]. If science were ever to "explain" consciousness, it would be a case of "consciousness explaining itself," a [[paradox]] so startling as to render its own argument void. Science is best understood when we realize that it's determinism is purely methodological, and rightly so, but it does not follow that everything in the [[universe]] is thus constrained.